“I’m finally safe.” That’s the reaction of a 13-year-old girl finding out that her mother’s killer will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Our Brock Owens spoke with the family of Kaylene Roedel one day after Christopher Rowe was convicted in her murder.
Shouting, crying, happiness, relief and pretty much everything in between are emotions Eden Hicks, the daughter of Roedel, describes that she felt after hearing that Rowe was found guilty of first-degree murder.
Rowe was convicted Wednesday of strangling Roedel to death and leaving her body on the side of the Honan Avenue Hiking Trail, in Johnstown, in August of 2016.
At the time, Roedel’s daughter, Eden Hicks, was just 5 years old.
Eden is now 13 years old and says she remembers Roedel as a good mother and says she has many memories that stick with her about her mom, including their time spent horseback riding.
Since her mom’s death, Eden has been living with her father, Michael Hicks.
Michael says that the last eight years has been a long road and it’s been difficult with Roedel unable to be there for Eden.
He described the feeling of learning about Rowe’s conviction as a “70-thousand pound bear being lifted off his chest.”
He also adds that he hasn’t seen Eden smile like she is in years.
“The stuff going through my head was like, ‘I don’t even know how to say it,’ it was like joy, happiness, a little bit overwhelmed,”
“I woke up this morning feeling okay because she finally felt safe. So, it was long overdue,”
As for Rowe, he’s set to be sentenced in January and is facing life in prison without parole, the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder.
But Rowe and his defense team both say an appeal of the jury’s decision will be coming.