A young child, manipulated by their father, has disclosed the heartbreaking final words spoken to their mother before her tragic murder, expressing how their father has devastated their life. Robert Rhodes, 52, hailing from Withleigh in Devon, manipulated the child, who was under 10 years old at the time, and meticulously orchestrated the murder of his wife, the child’s mother. Rhodes claimed he killed her in self-defense after she allegedly attacked him and their child.
The child was complicit in the scheme, as prior to the murder, they were instructed by their father to ask their mother to close her eyes and await a picture. The child was directed to say, “I drew a picture for you, close your eyes and hold out your hands,” as recounted in court.
Following the instructions, the child left the room, securing themselves in the bathroom, while Rhodes viciously attacked his wife with a knife as she stood unsuspecting with her eyes shut. Subsequently, the child dialed 999 after the murder, at 7:34 pm, and Rhodes falsely claimed his wife had assaulted him and their child.
Post the tragic event, Rhodes coerced the child into stabbing him in the arm, declaring, “We’ve done this now. There’s no going back.” Despite the murder, Rhodes continued to manipulate the child, even while on bail for his wife’s murder in 2016 and 2017, maintaining contact with the child covertly to conceal his crime and perpetuate his manipulation.
While incarcerated, Rhodes used a hidden phone to communicate with the child, reminding them of their agreement and cautioning them with the phrase “Snitches get stitches.” The child, being under 10 years old at the time of the incident, bore no legal responsibility for aiding the murder but carried immense guilt. In 2022, they confessed to the police, expressing their reluctance and compliance with their father’s commands.
During the subsequent trial, the child recounted the emotional turmoil of testifying against Rhodes and condemned their father for gaslighting them while destroying their lives. The child expressed to the court the irreversible impact of Rhodes’ manipulation and abuse, acknowledging the devastation inflicted upon them and their mother.