Trower found guilty of assaulting infant

Thursday, June 19, 2008 ~ Updated 1:03 PM
By ERIC CRUMP/Editor

A Marshall man was found guilty of felony first-degree assault Wednesday, June 18, by a Pettis County jury.

Ronald Landis Trower, 38, was found guilty of accusations that he injured his then six-week-old son, who suffered severe injuries, including a head injury and several fractured ribs, in August 2007.

Police at the time said there were signs the child had suffered rib injuries earlier, too.

The jury of five men and seven women deliberated for a little more than half an hour before arriving at its verdict, according to unofficial court records on the Web.

The case was argued by Joby Raines, assistant prosecuting attorney for Saline County.

Raines called several witnesses to the stand, including paramedics who were first responders to the scene, as well as other medical personnel from both hospitals who treated the infant.

Bond for Trower was originally set for $300,000 but later was reduced to $75,000.

Sentencing is set for August 7 at 1:30 p.m. Trower could face as little as 10 years or as much as life in prison.

Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net

Comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on marshallnews.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

I think what was done to this child was horrible and, truly, there are no excuses for it.

Being very close to this particular case - it's so strange to read others comments about Ron. My relation to the case and the people involved in it is one that I have no control over - and much of what is said is true.

Howver, a little more should be said about Ron than is revealed in any of the reading I've seen. He never should have been left alone with these children -- this was a mistake that was made by more than one person other than Ron himself. He is not capable of handling the task at hand, quite obviously. Secondly - Joel was taken to the hospital another time that he sustained injuries (was mentioned in the article about having previous signs of having been abused) - and the hospital sent the child home with Ron -- this should have NEVER happened. A baby with such obvious injuries should never have been released back in the parents' care without an investigation. So - many times the system (state or otherwise) has failed Joel -- only now are they starting to do something about it.

Feel free to send me comments as I am very interested in what others are thinking about this case that I wish I was not so close to.

-- Posted by ReadingAlong on Tue, Jul 8, 2008, at 12:38 AM

In similar news, the United States Supreme Court recently struck down a Louisiana law that allowed child rapists to be executed, saying in a 5-4 decision that execution was not "proportional" punishment for the rape of a child. The Supreme Court also cited in its decision the statistic that in 44 years there had never been an execution of a prisoner for a crime that did not include the death of a victim.

OK.

I still say, when it comes to kids, forgiveness is up to God...and our penal system--born of "One Nation Under God"--should be willing to arrange and expedite the meeting.

-- Posted by Smokin' Cheetah on Wed, Jun 25, 2008, at 10:54 AM

This is one of the most horrible things I have ever heard of a Parent doing to their own child --and an infant at that!!! It tortures my soul just to read about it. I wonder if this sub-human piece of excrement thinks his son will someday forgive him? Surely he isnt so dumb as to think that will happen.

Perhaps the State Legislature could pass a special law allowing us to hang this SOB in the Public Square right out in front of the Court House. I guess they can't do that and it probably would be unconstitutional anyway even if they did,...but it sure would make me feel better to see him swinging from a rope.

Congradulations to the Judge, Assistant District Attorney Joby Raines, and to the fine men and Women of the Jury for prosecuting and finding him guilty in a speedy and expeditious manner. You all did a fine job, and I think I can safely say the whole community appreciates your convicting this monster.

Judge, please give this low-life, piece of trash the maximum -- give him life in prison (hopefully with out parole).

God may forgive this monster, but I never will!!!

-- Posted by news across the neocon empire on Tue, Jun 24, 2008, at 11:38 PM

You would think that people who "know" someone that is doing stuff like this to helpless children, would pick up a phone and call......oh, I don't know.........POLICE!?!?! Perhaps those people who "know" of these things could get off their lazy behinds and help do something to stop it.

-- Posted by onpoint on Sat, Jun 21, 2008, at 8:21 AM

i hope he rots in he double hocky sticks for what hes done hes done it in the past to 4 children i know well

-- Posted by angel1968 on Fri, Jun 20, 2008, at 6:45 PM

Oops.

May this individual, one day, be truly rewarded according to his deeds. I'd be glad to host the ceremony:)

-- Posted by Smokin' Cheetah on Thu, Jun 19, 2008, at 4:49 PM

I believe his future roommates will take care of that, or have fun tryin'!

-- Posted by cutler06 on Thu, Jun 19, 2008, at 11:10 AM

It's a shame that he will still have the use of the faculties he has deprived his son of.

-- Posted by SpeedwaySue on Thu, Jun 19, 2008, at 9:37 AM