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A Missouri man serving a life sentence without parole for the brutal murder of his pregnant wife is now seeking companionship through a prison pen-pal website, stirring outrage and disbelief.
Beau Rothwell, 35, was convicted of killing his wife, Jennifer Rothwell, in November 2019 during a violent confrontation triggered by his extramarital affair. Jennifer, just 28 and six weeks pregnant at the time, had reportedly searched online for advice on how to handle her husband’s anger over the pregnancy shortly before she disappeared.
Jennifer’s battered body was found a week after she vanished, approximately 45 miles from their home near Troy, Missouri. Blood evidence and cleaning supplies discovered at the couple’s residence pointed to a violent struggle. Rothwell had already been arrested by the time her body was recovered.
In court, Rothwell admitted to bludgeoning Jennifer with a mallet but claimed the attack was not premeditated. Prosecutors, however, presented evidence suggesting otherwise, including text messages to another woman and a pros and cons list about leaving his wife. Ultimately, Rothwell was convicted of first-degree murder, along with charges of tampering with evidence and abandoning a corpse, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Despite the severity of his crimes, Rothwell has recently created a profile on Wire of Hope, a social platform designed to help incarcerated individuals connect with others. On his profile, Rothwell oddly compared himself to fictional characters such as Ross Geller from the TV show Friends, and boasted about his musical talents and participation in a prison band. He described himself as a compassionate person seeking “genuine connection and companionship,” a statement that has sparked outrage from Jennifer’s family and the public alike.
Jennifer’s mother, Robin Von Hausen, expressed profound sorrow over the loss of her daughter, saying, “Jennifer was a bright light in our lives. We thought we would have more than 28 years with her.”
Prosecutor Wesley Bell emphasized the justice served by Rothwell’s life sentence: “We knew with a conviction on first-degree murder that this man who killed his pregnant wife would spend the rest of his life in prison without eligibility for parole. That is what we intended to do, and today confirms that is what he is going to do.”
As Rothwell seeks new connections behind bars, the tragic memory of Jennifer and the circumstances of her death continue to weigh heavily on her grieving family and the community.