A Coeur d’Alene man has pleaded guilty to killing his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend earlier this year, accepting a plea deal to avoid the death penalty, according to court records.
Jason M. Rook, 48, entered a guilty plea last week to first-degree murder in the death of 46-year-old Nathan Rogers. Rook also submitted an Alford plea to first-degree stalking, acknowledging sufficient evidence for conviction without admitting guilt.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped charges of burglary and destruction of evidence, and agreed to withdraw their intent to pursue the death penalty.
Rook now faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole and has waived his right to appeal or withdraw his plea.
Family Sought Closure Without Lengthy Appeals
Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Stan Mortensen said Rogers’ family supported the plea deal after learning about the long appeals process associated with capital punishment.
“The family wishes to attempt to get some closure in the matter without having to deal with decades of appeals,” Mortensen told the court.
The Crime
On February 26, a woman called police to report someone entering her Post Falls home and shooting her boyfriend, Nathan Rogers. Responding officers found Rogers dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
Security footage reportedly showed Rook entering through an unlocked door, remaining in the home for several hours before fatally shooting Rogers.
Rook was arrested three days later in Coeur d’Alene. He has been held without bail in the Kootenai County Jail since February.
Sentencing Scheduled for November
First District Judge Keisha Oxendine has scheduled Rook’s sentencing for early November.
