Newspapers Question Integrity of Rod Jetton's Accuser

Much has been written on Daily RFT about Missouri's former Republican House Speaker Rod Jetton, his arrest on rape charges and his unintentionally hilarious choice of safe words.

On the other hand, relatively little has been reported about Mary Elizabeth Lowe, the 35-year-old Sikeston woman who accuses Jetton of binding her arms, punching her in the face and choking her during what started out as consensual sex.

Three newspapers from across the state, however, recently did some digging and unearthed some not-so-flattering details about Lowe.

The Southeast Missourian reports that Jetton and Lowe were high school classmates in Charleston, MIssouri and the couple reconnected on Facebook months before the alleged attack.

The Kansas City Star writes that the relationship started out strictly professional:

She initially contacted Jetton because of her affiliation with the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, and talked with him about legislative efforts in Missouri on behalf of victims of sexual abuse.

That's innocuous enough, but what raises eyebrows is the Missourian's report of sexting between Jetton and Lowe that referenced rough sex. She admitted some of the talks "were sexual in nature."

"We definitely flirted a lot on the phone," [she] said.

Nevertheless, she says she never wanted Jetton to hit her.

"Did you text 'I'm disobedient and you may have to punish me' to Mr. Jetton?'" [Jetton's defense attorney Stephen] Wilson asked [the woman]. "Did you say 'If it's not rough, it isn't fun'?"

[The woman] said while their text messages were playful and they talked about sex, she didn't text those words exactly.

"I recall talking how we were going to pleasure each other. I didn't know he'd like it rough," [she] said.

Even more skeptical is a piece earlier this month in the SEMO Times, entitled "Was Justice Blind."