HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that a Cambria County man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his former girlfriend in 2016.
Christopher Rowe, 50, was convicted by a Cambria County jury in November 2024 of first-degree murder and other charges for strangling Kaylene Roedel.
“This defendant ended one life and devastated many others with the premeditated and cold-hearted killing of the mother of his child,” Attorney General Henry said. “We hope this first-degree murder conviction and life sentence — which ensures he will never harm another person in free society — provide a sense of justice for Kaylene’s family and friends.”
In 2016, Rowe was in Cambria County Jail for previously allegedly assaulting Roedel, when the couple shared a home and custody of their child.
During the trial, it was revealed that Rowe threatened Roedel at her workplace, days before she went missing. She was found dead Aug. 7, 2016, on a hiking trail in Johnstown.
On surveillance, Roedel’s vehicle was seen driving near the location where Roedel’s body was found; Rowe was in possession of the vehicle.
A witness told police that Rowe admitted to strangling Roedel and that if the witness told anyone they would also be killed.
This case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Evan Lowry and Deputy Attorney General Aaron McKendry.
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