MARSHFIELD, Mo. — In a shocking move that has sparked anger and confusion across Missouri, a judge has placed a man convicted of violent domestic assault and child endangerment on probation instead of sentencing him to prison. The case involves Eric “Jordan” Rowe, whose actions were captured in a harrowing home surveillance video showing him violently attacking his wife, Haleigh Rowe, while their toddler looked on helplessly.
On December 3, Judge Chuck Replogle of Webster County sentenced Rowe, 35, to three years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on a felony charge of Domestic Assault in the Third Degree. He was also sentenced to 12 months in county jail for Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a misdemeanor. However, both sentences were fully suspended, and Rowe was instead granted five years of supervised probation, a decision that has triggered a wave of outrage from both the victim’s family and the broader community.
The surveillance footage that surfaced in the days leading up to the sentencing shows Rowe assaulting his wife in a brutal attack inside their home. In the disturbing footage, Rowe is seen grabbing Haleigh by the head and neck, slamming her to the ground, and choking her while their young child stood just feet away, screaming for help. “You’re hurting the baby,” Haleigh can be heard pleading as the violence continues.
Rowe, who fled the scene before police arrived, refused to turn himself in and later deleted portions of the footage, which had been recorded by the family’s home surveillance system. His father, David Rowe, was also implicated in the case for allegedly attempting to influence Haleigh during the investigation. Following the release of the footage by Haleigh’s sister, Shelby Leigh, the victim’s family has been subjected to threats from members of Rowe’s family for exposing the truth.
At the sentencing hearing, an emotional Haleigh Rowe gave a moving victim impact statement, recounting years of abuse, both physical and emotional, at the hands of her husband. She detailed a long history of violence, starting with a fractured nose in 2020, an attack that was also caught on a Ring camera and later deleted by Rowe. She described multiple assaults and incidents of coercion, including a violent episode in 2021 when Rowe attacked her just before she was set to return to her career.
The abuse didn’t stop at physical violence; Haleigh revealed the psychological torment she endured. Rowe repeatedly locked her out of the house, sometimes with their children witnessing the scene. He also engaged in constant surveillance of her, using tracking devices and threatening messages. Haleigh’s testimony also included details about how Rowe subjected their nonverbal, special-needs child to dangerous situations during his violent outbursts.
In her statement, Haleigh expressed the heavy toll the abuse had taken on her mental health and her life. “I suffer from depression, nightmares, hypervigilance, and fear,” she told the court. “I have lost financial stability, health insurance, and I’ve spent thousands of dollars on legal fees to protect myself and my children.” She also revealed that marital funds were used to cover Rowe’s criminal defense, bond, and GPS monitoring, further adding to the emotional and financial burden she had already borne.
Despite the severity of the abuse and the undeniable evidence, including the video footage, the family was frustrated by the reduced charges against Rowe. They claim that multiple felony charges initially filed against him and his father were significantly lowered without their consent, leaving only the current felony and misdemeanor convictions. Haleigh, however, remained composed in her closing words to the court, stating, “I do not seek bitterness. I seek safety.”
The victim’s family has been vocal in their outrage, arguing that Rowe’s prior history of violent behavior, which included a previous assault on his first wife while he was attending therapy and church, shows that probation and anger management have proven ineffective. They contend that the court’s decision to offer Rowe probation instead of prison only perpetuates the cycle of violence, placing Haleigh and her children at continued risk. They are now demanding a formal review of the case, hoping that stricter protections and a reconsideration of incarceration might finally deliver justice.
As the case continues to unfold, it has become a focal point for advocates of domestic violence awareness, who argue that Rowe’s sentence fails to hold him fully accountable for the brutality he inflicted. For many, the decision reflects a disturbing trend of leniency in the justice system when it comes to domestic violence cases, particularly when the victims are vulnerable women and children. With Rowe still free, the family’s fight for justice is far from over, and the community in Marshfield remains on edge, hoping that future cases will take into account the full gravity of domestic abuse.
