Missouri House candidate’s adult children say he physically and sexually abused them
Two adult children of Rick Roeber, a candidate for the 34th District House seat in Missouri, say he abused them when they were young.
Roeber has denied all allegations of abuse. But Anastasia Roeber of Lee’s Summit, Roeber’s adopted daughter, says he made improper sexual advances toward her in 1990, when she was 9 years old.
“He made me place my hand on his genitals,” Anastasia said of the 1990 incident in Roeber’s home. “I just froze.” Some time later, Roeber asked his daughter “if he could touch me,” she said.
A sibling, Samson Roeber of New York City, said he suffered physical abuse from Roeber as a child. He was not sexually molested, but “my father’s always been physically abusive,” he said. “He had a temper.”
A third sibling, Gabrielle Galeano, says she was aware of the alleged abuse while living with Anastasia, Samson and another sibling. That fourth sibling later claimed sexual maltreatment from Roeber, an allegation investigated by the state of Missouri.
The Star Editorial Board spoke with Anastasia, Samson, Gabrielle and their mother, Michelle Keller, who was once married to Roeber. Each person was interviewed separately.
Their memories are clear and consistent. The claims were examined in a sworn deposition almost two decades ago, long before Roeber, a Republican, decided to pursue elective office.
Now, he’s running in Missouri’s 34th House District, which includes parts of Lee’s Summit and areas south and east of that city. Roeber is seeking to replace his wife, Rebecca, who held the seat from 2015 until her death in 2019.
But these alleged incidents raise serious questions about Roeber’s fitness for office. At a minimum, the claims are important information for voters to consider before casting ballots in the race, which includes Democrat Chris Hager.
A denial, and a deposition
In an emailed statement, Roeber denied any abuse. “Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is a very real mental illness in today’s world,” he said. “Our lawyer’s deposition revealed the lies of my children and their mother.”
The Star Editorial Board asked Roeber if he had given a sworn deposition in connection with the allegations. He did not respond.
Michelle Keller, Roeber’s ex-wife, gave a sworn deposition in 2003 during a dispute with him. Roeber was in the room during her testimony, a transcript shows.
Keller testified that Anastasia was molested in 1990 but didn’t tell her mother until 1993. “She said that (Rick) threatened her,” Keller testified, explaining the delay.
Anastasia recently confirmed her mother’s testimony. “He said, ‘You can’t tell anyone, I’ll go to jail, and the whole family will be in trouble,’” she told The Star Editorial Board.
Keller said state and local authorities eventually questioned Anastasia about the abuse allegations, but no charges were filed. “I believed her,” Keller said. “She would never lie to me about something like that.”
A pastor who once struggled with demons
On his campaign website, Roeber says he is an “unapologetic conservative,” an ordained pastor and a former chaplain.
While he has strongly denied the specific abuse allegations, he has admitted to poor behavior in the past. In a 2007 profile in The Kansas City Star, he revealed his struggles with alcohol in the 1980s and early 1990s.
“I was a drunk that struggled with the demon alcohol and all the sundry effects of someone who was enslaved to his own desires,” he said then. “On March 5, 1992, I put the ‘plug in the jug’ and recommitted my life to the Lord Jesus.”
Roeber and Keller separated in 1990 and eventually divorced in October 1992. The alleged abuse took place during scheduled visitations, the children say.
Keller said the fourth sibling, who did not agree to speak to The Star on the record, claimed sexual abuse by Roeber. In that case, after an investigation had been completed, the Jackson County office of the Division of Family Services in 2001 found probable cause that “sexual maltreatment” of the child had occurred.
Two years later, following a hearing, Missouri’s Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board overturned the finding. The basis for the decision is not clear from the available record.
The chairperson of the review board at the time, Kathy Bargeon, said she did not recall the case and could not comment. Missouri law says records of the board’s deliberations are confidential.
Because of those statutes, Missouri’s Department of Social Services denied The Star’s request to review documents and paperwork connected with the case.
In his email, Roeber said the board cleared him of “ALL accusations,” and he provided a redacted letter from the review board stating its findings. An unredacted version of the letter, though, shows the review only involved the fourth sibling’s allegations.
A family’s heartbreak
Roeber’s son Samson said physical abuse occurred during visitation. “He beat the s--t out of us all the time,” he said. “Also, (he would) hold us by our necks and hold us against the wall.”
The impact of these alleged incidents is clear.
Gabrielle says she is estranged from her brothers because Roeber “used me, I guess, as his little stooge. I would tell him little things that happened at my mother’s house, and he would use that to punish the boys. … My brothers hate me.”
Michelle Keller has moved to Mexico. None of the family is involved in politics in Missouri or the Kansas City region.
Reconstructing events of 30 years ago is difficult, particularly in abuse cases. Records have long since disappeared, and some of those involved in the investigation have moved on, retired or are deceased. Surviving records in these cases may also be confidential.
But current, on-the-record allegations from Roeber’s adult children and his former wife are the same as the ones made long before Roeber decided to run for office. They are credible and do not appear politically motivated since they were first made decades ago.
“He was out of control,” Gabrielle said.
Voters in Roeber’s district should ask him to explain his behavior. They should also consider this record before casting ballots Nov. 3.