A woman who missed out on her dream home in San Diego has been convicted of stalking the young family who outbid her.
Kathy Rowe waged an escalating campaign
of abuse, signing the buyers up to magazine subscriptions and sending
them $1,200 worth of adult diapers before posting ads for fake parties
at their home and leaving their photographs on sex websites.
Ms. Rowe, 53, viewed 100 homes before
setting her heart on a Spanish-style bungalow at the end of a cul-de-sac
in San Diego’s Carmel Valley.
A few years earlier, she had been named
one of “San Diego’s best 50 mothers” in a competition, an award for the
way she cared for her severely disabled daughter.
She was described by her lawyer as an “outstanding mother, wife and community member.”
But Ms. Rowe snapped when she lost out
on the house. There had been seven bidders and it went for US$779,000
(about $970,000 CAD) to Jerry Rice, a special education teacher, and his
wife Janice Ruhter, a microbiologist at a children’s hospital.
Soon after they moved in with their two
young children, Ms. Rowe used a false name to re-list the house for sale
on the Internet and would-be buyers began turning up at the door.
Leaflets went to neighbouring houses warning that a sex offender had moved onto their street.
On Valentine’s Day, wives in the
neighbourhood received romantic cards apparently signed by Mr. Rice when
he had done no such thing.
Then someone put an ad online inviting
high school teenagers to a New Year’s Eve party at their home. On July
4, their address was advertised as giving away free fireworks. Religious
organizations were also invited.
Mr. Rice found posts on the Internet advertising sex with his wife.
Her picture was posted under the heading “Carmel Valley Freak Show. Come see me during the day while my husband is at work.”
Ms. Rowe posed online as Ms. Ruhter and
sent her address to one man instructing: “I like to be surprised and
have a man just show up at the door and force his way in the door.”
Another invitation said: “Will make it extra wild and worth your time.”
Two men did indeed show up. On one occasion, the house was locked. The other was confronted by Mr. Rice.
Becoming increasingly scared, the couple took self-defence classes and installed extra security.
Ms. Rowe was caught after police traced
the ads on sex websites to her computer. She was initially charged with
solicitation to rape, and identity theft.
She pleaded guilty to stalking and was
sentenced last month to one year of home electronic surveillance and
five years probation. A judge ordered her to stay away from the couple
for 10 years.
Her lawyer said Ms. Rowe’s behaviour had
been affected by sleep deprivation incurred from caring for her
daughter, and the stress of her husband being diagnosed with stage four
cancer.
Ms. Rowe told ABC’s 20/20 television
program she was sorry. She said: “I had put so much hope into this
house. It’s almost like, you know, you hear bluebirds sing and music
play. I walked in, it was my house. And when I found out we didn’t get
it, it was devastating. It was heartbreaking.
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