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Tuesday, April 29, 1997

Captives believed invaders were willing to kill them

By EDUARDO MONTES Associated Press Writer

ALPINE, Texas (AP) - The West Texas couple held hostage for 12 hours by three armed members of the Republic of Texas said Monday they believed their captors were willing to kill them.

Joe and Margaret Ann Rowe, both 51, said two men and one woman, all dressed in battle-style fatigues, shot their way through their front door about noon Sunday.

"It wasn't an empty threat. If somebody will come shooting in your door, they mean it," Mrs. Rowe said at a news conference Monday outside Big Bend Regional Medical Center..

Wounded in the right shoulder by shrapnel, Rowe was in stable condition Monday at the Alpine hospital. Mrs. Rowe was not injured.

The Rowes were released to Jeff Davis County Sheriff Steve Bailey and two deputies, who were allowed into the house about midnight. In exchange, authorities freed Robert Jonathan Scheidt, a Republic member arrested early Sunday on a weapons violation, Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Laureen Chernow said.

"I honestly hated to see the law enforcement give up somebody they had arrested that morning to secure our release," Rowe said.

Rowe and Richard McLaren, the self-styled "ambassador" of the Republic of Texas, have a history of bad blood.

For several years, McLaren has battled his neighbors about the way the Davis Mountain Resort homeowners' association was spending the annual fees it collected from resort lot owners. Rowe has headed the homeowners' association.

Rowe, an outspoken critic of McLaren and the Republic, said he feels authorities must move in on the organization and end the community's problems.

"For the last several months, residents have been hoping some group of law enforcement would go in there," he said.

Mrs. Rowe said she would support bloodshed if it meant eliminating the Republic. "I don't care what happens to them," she said.

The Rowes' home was invaded about noon Sunday, 45 minutes after their son and daughter-in-law left.

Rowe said three invaders, armed with assault-style rifles, crouched behind cars and other cover outside while he stood by his front door with a 9mm pistol, watching them advance. The three called to him that he was under arrest and must surrender.

One man then shot three times, shattering a glass storm door and splintering the front door, the shrapnel wounding Rowe.

Mrs. Rowe said one of the men then stormed the door, pushed his gun barrel in her husband's face and forced Rowe to lay down his pistol.

Rowe said he had "a perfectly good shot" at one of the three, but he didn't fire.

"I would have, but to be quite honest I figured if I shot one, I'd never be able get all three of them," he said.

The Rowes said they were not abused during their captivity and were never bound or otherwise physically restrained. Mrs. Rowe, who is in training as an emergency medical technician, tended to her husband's wounds.

Rowe said the leader of the group claimed to be on a military mission.

Mrs. Rowe said she and her husband spoke with their captors throughout the evening and that she served them leftover lasagna. However, she said neither she nor her husband dined with the trio. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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