Jury recommends life in prison for Rogers, who was convicted of raping elderly Alzheimer’s patient

A Sequoyah County jury on Wednesday reportedly found Darrell W. Rogers, 69, of Marble City, guilty on felony charges of the first-degree rape, sodomy and sexual battery of an 89-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s disease.

According to a press release issued by District 27 District Attorney Jack Thorp’s office, the elderly victim had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2022. According to law enforcement reports, the victim’s family had installed cameras in her home to monitor her safety and well-being after she’d fallen and was on the floor for an extended period of time.

However, when some of the recordings from June and July of 2023 were viewed, some unexpected and disturbing images of Rogers’ actions were discovered.

One of the victim’s children reportedly contacted Sallisaw Police Detective Jeff Craghead to report the alleged sexual abuse. Craghead, accompanied by Sequoyah County deputies Duelly and Rigsby, arrested Rogers on July 21, 2023, and took him to the Sallisaw Police Department, where he was interviewed and admitted to multiple sexual acts with the victim.

“I definitely want to commend the officers who participated in the investigation,” said Janet Hutson, Assistant District Attorney who prosecuted the case. “Detective Craghead deserves recognition for the wonderful job he did in the investigation and interrogation of Rogers.”

Rogers was originally charged in Sequoyah County District Court with one count of sexual battery, sodomy (victim mentally incapacitated), and rape in the first degree (victim of unsound mind).

Rogers was found guilty on each count and jurors recommended he receive the maximum sentence of 10 years for the sexual battery charge, 20 years for the sodomy charge, and life in prison for the rape charge.

“It was an honor to work with such a diligent jury in Sequoyah County, who brought justice to the family of [the victim],” Hutson said.

“I am thankful to the jury for their commitment to justice,” said Thorp. “The facts of this case were disturbing, but the jurors did their duty and reached a just decision based on the evidence presented at the trial.”

The trial was presided over by Associate District Judge Kyle Waters.

Rogers will appear in court next for formal sentencing.