Dad stomps mom to death because she "prevented him" from seeing the son he had previously been convicted of battering (Columbia City, Indiana)

Need a good case study for understanding the warped thinking of abusers (and the fathers rights people who love them)? Here it is. Dad RODNEY HOUSER has been convicted of stomping is ex-wife to death--even the judge calls him a "violent and controlling man." But you see, in the twisted thinking of killers and their clueless enablers, the ex-wife's horrible murder was the "result of choices she made in her life," namely that she (allegedly) prevented him from seeing their son! Violent control freak abusers must have free access to the kids you know, since in their minds, any uppity mom who tries to stop them is, well, uppity and deserving death. And sure enough, Daddy has a battery conviction against this child in addition to a previous intimidation charge against the mother. So much for his sorry delusions of being a loving daddy who reads Dr. Seuss.

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20100615/LOCAL/306159996/1002/LOCAL

Published: June 15, 2010 3:00 a.m.
‘Controlling’ killer gets maximum
Houser draws 65 years for brutally stomping ex
Rebecca S. Green The Journal Gazette

COLUMBIA CITY – Calling Rodney Houser a “controlling and violent man,” Whitley Circuit Court Judge James R. Heuer sentenced him to the maximum 65 years for stomping his ex-wife to death.

In May, a Whitley Circuit Court jury convicted Houser, 44, of murder, rejecting the option of convicting him of voluntary manslaughter, meaning they did not believe defense claims that he acted in “sudden heat” when he stomped Debra Houser to death with a pair of black cowboy boots in her driveway last November.

Police arrested Houser the day after his ex-wife went missing, after a friend told the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department that Houser had killed 49-year-old Debra Houser at her Old Trail Road home and asked for his help in disposing of the body.

On Dec. 15, 29 days later, her battered body was discovered in a Whitley County creek by detectives acting on a tip from a farmer who thought he had seen Rodney Houser’s truck in the area the day of Debra Houser’s disappearance.

An autopsy revealed she died from multiple blunt-force injuries.

During Monday’s sentencing hearing, Houser’s girlfriend, Denise Overlin, spoke on his behalf, telling the court, “Debra Houser is where she is because of choices she made in her life.”

When Overlin started to insinuate Rodney Houser’s violence was a result of Debra Houser’s preventing him from seeing their young son, Whitley County Prosecutor Matt Rentschler objected. Heuer agreed, trying to rein Overlin in by having Houser’s attorney, Anthony Churchward, ask her questions.

She went on to tell the court what a loving father Houser is, citing his repeated reading of a Dr. Seuss book as an example.

But Rentschler quickly noted that Houser has a felony conviction for battering the child, as well as an intimidation charge related to Debra Houser.

Debra Houser’s mother, Gail Bellis, read a prepared statement to the court and to Houser.

“I’ve not gotten to the forgiveness state yet,” she told Houser.

Bellis went on to describe Debra Houser as a generous woman, “not rich in money but rich in friends and family.”

Heuer extended the court’s sympathy to Bellis and to Debra Houser’s family and friends as he passed sentence.

He said he listened again to a transcript of testimony from the trial, specifically Houser’s friend quoting Houser as he asked for help in hiding the body.

“No body, no crime scene, no conviction,” Heuer said, quoting trial testimony.

He added that if Houser had gotten his way, there would have been no accountability or justice.

“You are a controlling and violent man who stomped the life out of a woman,” Heuer said.

“You are a vicious murderer and you will be sentenced accordingly.”

After the hearing, Bellis went to Houser’s parents in the gallery and hugged them.

Outside the courtroom, she said she believes the sentence is fair and is glad Houser received the prison sentence he did.

As sheriff’s deputies led Houser out of the courtroom, he passed within inches of Bellis and caught her eye.

“I’m sorry, Gail,” he mouthed, then looked down as he was led away.

rgreen@jg.net