A Kentucky man is heading to prison after authorities say he brutally attacked a real estate agent during a home showing and threatened to kill him unless he signed over a $225,000 lake house.
Seventy-one-year-old Keith Rowe pleaded guilty Friday to robbery, unlawful imprisonment, terroristic threatening, and assault charges connected to the disturbing attack.
The shocking incident happened on June 18, 2025, at a lake house in Falls of Rough, a small community located southwest of Louisville.
According to investigators, the elderly real estate agent was showing the property to Rowe when the situation suddenly turned violent.
The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office said Rowe allegedly attacked the victim, locked him inside the house, and demanded he “write up the contract and sign the home over” to him.
Authorities say Rowe claimed the property was supposedly for his niece.
The defendant then allegedly threatened to kill the realtor if he refused to cooperate.
According to court documents, Rowe demanded the victim hand over his cellphone or he would “beat his brains in.”
The terrified realtor gave up the phone but explained he couldn’t prepare a contract without using his computer, which was located inside his own home across the street.
Investigators say Rowe then forced the victim to walk with him to the second house while warning him not to try escaping.
At one point, Rowe allegedly threatened to tie a rope around the realtor’s neck and drag him behind a four-wheeler if he attempted to run.
Authorities said Rowe even pointed to a rope attached to the ATV he had driven to the property.
Once inside the second home, the victim began typing up the fake contract while Rowe allegedly pulled out a pocketknife and warned he planned to kill him once the paperwork was complete.
After finishing the document, the realtor handed the contract over while Rowe sat down at the kitchen table to read it.
That’s when the victim saw his chance.
Fearing he would be murdered if he stayed any longer, the bloodied and bruised realtor reportedly bolted from the home, jumped into his car, and sped directly to the sheriff’s office.
Authorities later located Rowe through family members, and he eventually turned himself in.
Investigators said Rowe largely admitted to the sequence of events described by the victim.
Following his guilty plea, Rowe was sentenced to 15 years behind bars, along with five years of probation and six months of home incarceration after his release.
Officials also banned him from returning to Grayson County.
“Rowe is not to step foot in Grayson County and have no contact or communication with the victim,” Sheriff Norman Chaffins said.
I’ll bet that elderly realtor feels real safe with that restraining order. The Perp should not be allowed out of jail at least until the victim has passed.
A 71 year old A hole!!