Naman Shrestha
In the winter of 2017, the entire community of Kansas City, Missouri, was rocked to its core when Rodney Vernon Thurber, an integral member of the community, passed away all of a sudden. The case and the extensive investigation that ensued are explored in a detailed manner in the episode titled ‘Remember Me?’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘See No Evil.’ As the detectives dug deeper into the murder, they uncovered some dark secrets that led them straight to the perpetrators responsible for the murder of the former military man.
Rodney Thurber Was Ambushed in His Own Kansas City Residence
Rodney Vernon Thurber was welcomed into the world on October 9, 1965. While very little is publicly known about his familial and personal background, we believe he had a seemingly regular childhood where he was raised surrounded by the love and care of his family. He appeared to be a private individual who mostly kept to himself. However, he never hesitated to extend a helping hand to anyone in need. Rodney’s sense of duty and intense desire to serve the nation drew him to enlist in the US Army. He began his service in 1985, at the age of 20. The young man harbored a strong work ethic and technical prowess. Due to his hard work and disciplinary conduct as a junior enlisted personnel, Rodney earned the honorific rank of Private First Class. He served in the force for two years and was discharged in 1987.
Life threw many adversities on Rodney’s path, but he overcame every hurdle with his resilience and perseverance. Lovingly referred to as Hot Rod by those close to him, his warm and kindhearted nature earned him many friends. He treated everyone with respect and grace, but his world revolved around his kids. The 52-year-old was reportedly a proud father to three kids, who were seemingly 16, 17, and 12 years of age. He was always there for them, making sure they had everything they needed. He was likely a longtime resident of Kansas City, Missouri, and worked as a Hotel Manager at Red Roof Inn. The doting father of three was a respected member of the community with a close circle of friends and family who loved and admired him. Therefore, his sudden passing in 2017 left a deep void in their lives.
On November 11, 2017, the authorities received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the area. When the Kansas City police reached the 2nd floor of the apartment at 4616 Tracy Avenue, they discovered a man shot to death on the floor. He was identified as Rodney Vernon Thurber, a local father of three who tragically lost his life after being shot multiple times. The medical examiner officially determined the cause of death to be multiple gunshots.
Two Individuals Were Responsible For Rodney Thurber’s Murder
During the investigation, the detectives interviewed several possible witnesses and the loved ones of the victim to get a clearer picture of what could have happened. One of the witnesses told the authorities that a woman named Caitlyn Riffle knocked on Rodney Thurber’s front door on the fateful day to retrieve a gun that the latter had been keeping for her. Not long after, Caitlyn’s boyfriend, Patrick Ryan Powell, busted through Rodney’s door and shot him several times. On top of this witness statement, the investigators also heavily relied upon the surveillance video of the nearby area.
In the security footage, they spotted a silver BMW with Caitlyn and Patrick inside it. The couple reportedly abandoned the vehicle at a Walmart in Lee’s Summit, where they bought a pack of cigarettes and a Brisk Tea. Moreover, they combed through the cell phone records of Rodney, whose last communication had been with none other than Caitlyn. Upon identifying the two suspects and gathering enough evidence against them, the detectives zeroed in and arrested Caitlyn and Patrick on December 4, 2017, in connection with the gruesome murder of Rodney Thurber.
Both were reportedly held at a $500,000 cash bond. Initially, during her interrogation, Caitlyn denied having any knowledge or involvement in the shooting death of Rodney. She claimed that her boyfriend, Patrick, had met him at his residence to retrieve a gun for her. However, as per the cell phone records, she was already inside the house when her boyfriend showed up unannounced. By the end of the interview, on December 5, 24-year-old Caitlyn and 29-year-old Patrick were charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action.
Patrick and Caitlyn Are Incarcerated at Separate Missouri Prison Facilities Today
More than a year later, around March 2019, Patrick Powell was the first of the two to stand trial for the murder of 52-year-old Rodney Thurber. During the trial, the prosecution presented all the incriminating pieces of evidence in front of the jury. Moreover, a witness testified that the defendant had also taunted Rodney Thurber while shooting him multiple times. In the end, on March 7, Patrick was found guilty of all the charges against him. A couple of months later, on May 10, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing Rodney. On top of that, he was also ordered to serve 10 years for the armed criminal action conviction concurrently with his life sentence.
As for Caitlyn Riffle, she stood trial for being involved in the killing of Rodney in April 2021. Despite the best efforts of her defense attorneys, the jury ultimately convicted her of first-degree murder and armed criminal action on April 16. On June 24, 2021, she was also sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for her involvement in the crime. She was also sentenced to 15 additional years for the armed criminal action conviction. While Patrick Powell is serving his sentence at Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri, Caitlyn Riffle is incarcerated at Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, Missouri.
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