Committee passes Slayer Rule after emotional testimony

By KARLA POMEROY

CHEYENNE — The Senate Judiciary Committee, after hearing emotional testimony voted unanimously to pass Senate File 66 – Slayer Rule Applied to Joint Ownership on Monday morning.

Sen. Ed Cooper (R-Ten Sleep) is the main sponsor of the bill and opened the discussion stating that the bill comes from a tragic situation involving a Worland family.

Cooper said in an earlier interview, that the current law states that “no person who feloniously takes or causes or procures another to take the life of another shall inherit from or take by devise or legacy from the deceased person any portion of his estate.” It does not address joint tenancy or right of survivorship.

SF 66 applies the slayer rule to joint tenancy with rights of survivorship. “It’s a real simple thing, but it’s not,” Cooper said.

The bill, which now goes before the Senate Committee of the Whole, states, “No person who feloniously takes or causes or procures another to take the life of another shall: (i) Inherit from or take by devise or legacy from the deceased person any portion of his estate; Inherit, receive or otherwise take any property held with the deceased person in a joint tenancy with rights of survivorship, tenancy by the entirety or any other form of co-ownership with rights of survivorship.”

Mel Walker of Worland brought a photo of his daughter Deidra Walker Rowe to display before the committee and then discussed the murder of his daughter on Feb. 15, 2020. His daughter, 33, of Casper, was killed by her husband of 10 years, Darren Rowe, 35, of Casper, in a murder-suicide. Darren Rowe, according to Walker and, according to media reports, also killed the five family pets, four dogs and one cat.

Walker and one of Deidra’s friends, Erica Ketchum of Casper relayed events when they learned that Deidra has been murdered and implored the committee to move the bill forward.

Walker said the police initially wanted to “pass it off as a domestic violence. This was not a domestic violence case.” He added that the Casper Police went above and beyond in the investigation and provided a final report to the family in April.

“This was an assassination of my daughter,” Walker said, noting she was shot multiple times. “I have tried to put myself in the position of my daughter to feel the sheer terror that she encountered in that few minutes time. I can’t fathom that.”

He said early on he hired an attorney for his daughter’s probate and that is where the problems started.

“We were advised by several attorneys and law enforcement officials that it was going to take a while a year or so. The road blocks we have ran up against has been unbelievable. We have done everything we know what to do by the book, by the law.” He said the road blocks have been put up by Darren Rowe’s estate attorney and Rowe’s father.

Walker said, “Since my daughter died first, everything goes to her husband’s estate, because of this law that doesn’t do us much good.”

“They shut us down on every avenue,” he said.

At one point a judge did allow Walker to take possession of and sale his daughter’s car. Funds from that sale are now in an account until the probate on her estate can be finalized.

He said Darren Rowe’s family and attorneys have stated that the judge did not have permission to allow the sale of the car.

He said he does not know why Darren’s family would prevent him from taking charge of his daughter’s possessions except that “he is a ruthless, very uncaring, rotten SOB.”

“I’m not a vindictive man, but these comments and remarks and road blocks and hurdles stir a fire in me that I’ve never had in my life. I’m not going to quit. We’re not going to back down. I will guarantee they have never met the likes of me,” Walker said.

“We have no closure and I have no idea if I ever will. The grieving process hasn’t even started yet and it’s been over a year,” he said.

He said they have gotten insurance on her possessions inside the Rowe home in Casper, insurance on the home that is now in foreclosure and have taken inventory of all the possessions inside the home.

Walker said he has also filed a wrongful death suit on behalf of his daughter’s estate in order to slow the process.

While the stress involved has taken its toll at times on family relationships and on his business, he has been amazed at the overwhelming support the family has received.

He said, “I never thought people could be supported the way we have been supported, but you go home at night and it’s still where it is, it never goes way.

“I feel robbed on so many levels with this, every day I come up with a new way to feel robbed. Her possessions are still in the house that is getting foreclosed on. This should have been done months ago.”

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Tara Nethercott (R-Cheyenne), a co-sponsor of the bill, said, “You have our sincerest condolences, the horror continues this day.” She said as a co-sponsor her goal is to try and help and to provide clarity on the Wyoming law so what Walker is going through does not happen to another family.

MORE TESTIMONY

Two friends of Deidra’s from Casper also testified Monday.

Sarah Szewczyk said, “We are asking for your support to apply the slayer rule to domestic homicide.”

She said that Wyoming’s law is severely outdated and SF66 will bring it in line with all other states in the federal 10th Judicial District.

“It may not help Deidra’s family immediately, but it will help protect future families,” she said.

Erica Ketchum, a friend and coworker of Deidra’s at Casper Municipal Court, said it has been 387 days since her passing and there has been no peace and no understanding of why it happened. The home she was murdered in is filled with her possessions and her memories and her parents and siblings have had no closure.

Ketchum is the friend who went to the house on Feb. 16, when she was unable to contact Deidra and Darren. She is the friend who called the police for a welfare check, fearing something was wrong.

“No family should have to endure this loss this great. No family should have to get a letter from an attorney stating that your daughter died first so all her belongings belong to her murderer.

“This bill will protecting future families of victims of domestic homicide, domestic homicide-suicide. A family should focus on healing on the loss not on the legal battles to retain personal property,” she said.

Mel Walker’s wife, Darlea, also testified briefly.

The committee approved a bill to make the law go into effect immediately if approved and signed by the governor.

Senator Kolb, who offered his condolences, asked about making the law retroactive to help the Walker family.

Nethercott said making laws retroactive creates unfair playing field and in this case could impact all past probate cases.

Kolb said if it could be done they should consider it. “I understand the issues, but I don’t see why anyone should profit from murder.”