Rick Roeber

Rick Roeber (born December 20, 1955) was an American politician and long-distance runner. He was expelled from the Missouri House of Representatives in April 2021, as a result of an investigation of allegations that he had physically, mentally, and sexually abused his own children.

Political career
Roeber, a Republican, took office in January 2021 to fill the seat in the Missouri House of Representatives which had been held by his wife, Rebecca, who died in 2019. Roeber was unanimously expelled from the House in April 2021 following an investigation into claims of child sexual and physical abuse, allegations which he has denied.

"In March 2024, Roeber contacted Ballotpedia to announce that he switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat."

Child abuse allegations
In September 2020, Roeber's children and former spouse accused him of sexual and physical abuse. Following the release of those claims, state legislators requested his withdrawal from the race. He refused, and won the election by 301 votes over Democrat Chris Hager.

After his victory, three of his children wrote to Speaker of the House Rob Vescovo and urged that he prevent Roeber from taking office. Roeber was sworn in on January 9, 2021; however, he was barred from joining the House Republican Caucus. This prevented him from serving on committees or receiving prime office space in the Capitol typically reserved for the majority party. The House Ethics Committee began an investigation into the allegations against Roeber.

In April 2021, Vescovo and Representative Travis Fitzwater, the chair of the Ethics Committee, contacted Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker expressing concern about Roeber's time with an underage child and the previous allegations made against him. The letter to Peters stated that they were "concerned for the safety of this minor child" and requested she contact law enforcement to ensure the child's security.

Roeber announced his resignation on April 13, 2021. The House unanimously voted to reject his resignation until the Ethics Committee completed its investigation. His resignation letter makes no mention of the abuse allegations; rather, he said he planned to move out-of-state and be closer to extended family.

The Ethics Committee released its report on Roeber's conduct on April 19, 2021. The committee found the allegations credible and stated that Roeber had sexually abused two of his children when they were nine and five years old, had physically and mentally abused his children, and attempted to continue sexually abusing them throughout their childhood. The committee unanimously recommended Roeber be expelled from the House.

He was also accused of cruelty to animals when witnesses alleged he had drowned several puppies.

The House expelled Roeber on April 21, 2021, by a vote of 153–0. Roeber was the first legislator in Missouri to be expelled since 1865.

He has denied the allegations. He was reported to the authorities in both 1993 and 2001 for alleged child sexual abuse, but no charges were ever filed.

Barefoot running
Roeber has been interviewed about barefoot running by news media such as the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and the Associated Press.