MARSING, Idaho — Four years ago, an Idaho farmer was killed at his home. The Owyhee County Sheriff said someone affiliated with a motorcycle gang showed up at the home with a medieval type weapon and at the end of the night Rod St. Clair was dead.
There are still questions as to why gang members were at the St. Clair home in the first place, and for the first time, his loved ones are talking about what happened that night and still hoping to find answers after what they are calling a botched investigation.
"I feel like it's right in front of us and nobody is doing anything about it," said Rod's wife Carol.
Marsing is a small rural community in Owyhee County and the scene of Rod's murder. On Nov. 15, 2019, Rod his wife Carol and their daughter Debbie were at their home, when Debbie heard a noise. Someone shattered the windows of Debbie's car. Moments later, Carol said they heard the bedroom window break.
"As we were walking out the bedroom, my daughter saw somebody on the back porch. And it was [a man named] James Rushworth and he was hollering all bent over holding his stomach and said, 'I'm hurt I'm hurt I'm hurt'," Carol said.
She said when Rod went outside Rushworth took off running. He was later caught, but never charged. Carol said police originally told them that it was probably some kids who had ran off and not to worry about it.
The Owyhee County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) arrived a short time later, but then deputies got a fingerprinting kit.
"Debbie was in here and she said, 'mom Rod went outside.' And I said, well, honey, don't go out there by yourself, go with him. So, I handed her this little pistol," Carol said. "We have these big bushes that had grown about six feet tall by the garage, and Mark Warner was hiding in those bushes. And he come running out, and he had was intoxicated," Carol said.
Warner also had a weapon.
"There was this steel ball, a two-pound steel ball with little triangle points on it," Carol said, "and he was swinging that on a three foot grain rope. He swung that and it wrapped around Rods head and hit my husband right here on the side of the head and on the temple. And my daughter started pointing the gun at Mark Warner and she fired and him she hit him in the foot. She hit him in the stomach and a bullet ended up in his arm."
Sadly, one of the bullets struck Rod.
Warner took off running and, Carol said, at that point deputies got back to the house.
The current Owyhee County Sheriff, Larry Kendrick, was not sheriff when this happened but knows the story and that Warner was arrested.
"The property backs up to a bluff which overlooks the river and he was hiding on the bluff where he was taken into custody," Kendrick said. "Originally with this case, I wasn't privy to anything on it."
Warner was convicted and is serving life in prison.
"We know that the Vagos motorcycle gang was involved in some way, somehow we know that Mark Warner was affiliated with a gang in one way or the other," Kendrick said. "So, people may or may not talk because they're afraid, and with good reason."
Kendrick said the Vagos are an outlaw motorcycle gang that originated in southern California but has made its way to Owyhee County.
"They involve themselves in racketeering, drug sales, drug, drug trafficking, prostitution, you name it," Kendrick said.
He said Warner was the only one charged in connection with the case because he was found there with the weapon; "Other ones that haven't been charged, were interviewed or wouldn't talk."
The question that remains is why Warner was at their home in the first place. Carol said she's never met Warner.
"I didn't even know what a Vago was," Carol said. "I don't care about Mark Warner. I just want to know who sent him. I don't believe that he was there acting on his own accord."
Rod's son Grant said he got a message from his dad that night.
"We get a message, we're at home in Caldwell, and a message that there's been an attempted break in," Grant said.
His dad and Carol had called to ask him to come and help patch the broken windows. He said when he arrived, it was nothing like he expected. The image of his father laying in the driveway is an image that's still fresh in his mind, he said.
"Just chaos lights everywhere," Grant said. "We stayed there all night, he was laying out in the driveway, and no, none of us would leave until he was picked up. And he just laid out there all night."
Carol said she was able to read some of the statements Warner made to investigators—which she said mentioned he was sent to the house to rattle the woman who lives there.
"And so I feel like Mark Warner was sent here after me. And that's an awful big load to carry thinking my husband died because somebody wanted me hurt or gone," Carol said.
Looking back at the report, Sheriff Kendrick said what happened at the initial scene strikes him as unusual.
"I wouldn't have left if there is a chance of a suspect still being in the area. But I'm not going to second guess the cops that were at the scene that day," Kendrick said. "And as far as the investigation, me as Sheriff, I would have immediately asked for help outside because you need resources that you don't have in a small department."
He said he recently reached out to the Idaho State Police (ISP).
"They looked at the case and declined to help us. Because of the they said that the case had been mismanaged. And there wasn't anything they could do," Kendrick said.
Carol had also been urging the sheriff's office to ask ISP for help.
Statement from ISP:
After discussions with local law enforcement authorities, it was determined the Idaho State Police (ISP) would not be able to assist with this case. ISP has communicated with the victim's family, but despite rumors, comments, or other statements on social media, we are not involved with the investigation. ISP remains committed to supporting law enforcement efforts throughout Idaho and will continue engaging in collaborative approaches to address challenges and ensure justice for all involved parties.
For Rod's grandson Grayson, the investigation has gone on for too long.
"We are very unsatisfied with how this case has been handled. It's been mistreated to the greatest degree," Grayson said.
Rod's son Grant agrees.
"I wish the system wasn't broke. I wish it really was the way we grew up thinking it is that bad people get caught. Things get solved. People go to jail, they pay for their crimes. The sad truth is that it's not always that way," Grant said. "Why was he there? And why was he there trying to break windows out of their house in the night with all the lights on and no window coverings. You can see them in there, breaking windows trying to lure them out. And then even after the sheriff's department shows up, returns, well, what's going on here?"
Sheriff Kendrick said everyone is still wondering why this happened.
"And everybody's looking for answers. And right now there are none to be had, because all we have is Mark Warner in jail. So that's why we're looking at other places to get people answers," Kendrick said.
Because Marsing is such a small town, Rod's family and Sheriff Kendrick believe someone knows something.
"I'll give everything I own. I just want to know why," Carol said.
While they wait for answers, Rod's loved ones are remembering him for the man he was.
"I miss his laugh," his grandson said. "I miss, you know, when he would tell stories. He told lots of stories."
His son Grant said, "he was my dad he was my best friend."
There have been several arrests in this case, but the only person charged in connection with is Warner.
Sheriff Kendrick said if anyone knows anything at all, to contact the department. They will do their best to protect anyone who comes forward with information.
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