FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Date: | March 20, 2023 |
| Contact: | Emily Lowe Public Information Officer 208-287-7700 |
| RE: | State v. Thomas Rowley – Trial Conviction |
BOISE – Following a month-long jury trial, a jury found Thomas Rowley, 25, guilty for the first-degree murder of his four-month-old son, Milo.
The verdict was returned Thursday, March 16, after approximately six hours of deliberation. On June 20, 2020, Mr. Rowley was found to have severely shaken Milo before dropping him face first in his crib, causing the victim to suffer a fatal brain injury from which he died. Mr. Rowley waited more than four hours before calling dispatch to get assistance for his son, who later died at a local hospital.
Mr. Rowley’s sentencing is set for 9 a.m., May 22 before the Honorable Ada County District Judge James Cawthon. The maximum punishment for first-degree murder is up to life imprisonment.
“The abuse and homicide of Milo is heartbreaking for his loved ones, our community, and every single person involved in this case,” said Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts. “I greatly appreciate the time and attention the jury put into this lengthy trial. And finally, I am thankful for the tireless work of my trial team, the numerous Boise Police Detectives assigned to this case who did a thorough investigation, and all of the medical experts involved who are dedicated professionals doing difficult work. These partnerships are incredibly important to ensuring our ability to obtain justice for child abuse victims.”
St. Luke’s CARES located at the Faces of Hope Victim Center provides medical evaluation, treatment, counseling, and other community support services for children experiencing abuse. Children are primarily referred to CARES by law enforcement, the court, or the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. More can be learned here: St. Luke’s CARES (Children at Risk Evaluation Services) (stlukesonline.org). Idaho is a mandatory report state, meaning if you suspect abuse or neglect of a child has occurred or is occurring, you are required within 24 hours to report it to your local law enforcement agency or to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.