Former Olathe man is third person charged in alleged rape on Lake of the Ozarks boat
A Missouri prosecutor has charged a 43-year-old former Olathe, Kansas man in connection with an alleged rape on a boat at the Lake of the Ozarks last year — the third person to be charged in the case.
Prosecutors charged Jeremy S. Robinson of Barnett, Missouri, last month in Morgan County Circuit Court in Versailles, Missouri, with first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy and first-degree rape or attempted rape, according to court documents.
Earlier this year, the Missouri Highway Patrol announced that an Overland Park, Kansas couple, Carl Mort and Cassandra Wedeking, were arrested and charged in Morgan County in January with first-degree rape, four counts of sodomy and drug charges.
The charges stemmed from an investigation encompassing the entire Lake of the Ozarks region, including Camden, Miller and Morgan counties over the past five years, the highway patrol said in a release.
At the time, the highway patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control requested anyone who knew about any sexual assaults during that time period to come forward.
The highway patrol said its investigation involved a male and female suspects who may have befriended victims, provided them alcohol or drugs before or after taking them to a boat and then sexually assaulting them.
Charge of rape
According to court documents:
Wedeking, Mort and Robinson are accused of raping a woman in July 2019 at the Millstone Marina, 18096 Highway O, in Gravois Mills, Missouri.
The victim told the highway patrol that she met Wedeking and Mort at the Coconuts Bar and Grill, where they allegedly introduced each other as brother and sister.
After socializing and consuming alcohol, the three and two others boarded a vessel to go to a different bar. The victim told the highway patrol that they were going to Shady Gators, but once underway, Wedeking and Mort said they had to stop at their dock first.
Once there, Wedeking asked the victim to go with her to her boat to change clothes and charge her phone. Once aboard the boat, the victim told investigators that Wedeking allegedly placed what she believed was cocaine onto a counter and asked the victim if she wanted any.
The victim said she tried to leave, but Mort had boarded the boat and blocked her exit. Wedeking allegedly forced the victim to the bed where Wedeking and Mort allegedly sexually assaulted her.
Afterwards, the victim escaped when Mort left to get the victim a bottle of water.
When questioned by authorities, Mort said he and Wedeking had been married and separated but were back together. He allegedly said they had consensual sex with the victim, but she was embarrassed and did not want her friend to find out so she claimed she was raped.
Mort allegedly confirmed they met the victim at Coconuts Bar and Grill and traveled by boat back to their dock. He denied that there were drugs on the boat.
Wedeking also allegedly told investigators a similar story about meeting the victim at the bar and later going back to their dock. Wedeking said the victim made the first sexual move. Wedeking told investigators she didn’t hold the victim down.
Afterwards, the three walked off the boat together and Wedeking and Mort left to watch fireworks. When questioned about drugs on the boat, Wedeking denied there were any. She then alleged the victim tired to get them to go to her room to use cocaine, but Wedeking said she refused.
The victim was taken to a hospital, where a sexual assault exam was conducted and evidence collected.
Charges against Robinson
During an interview with Robinson, he allegedly told investigators that there were several periods of time he was unaccounted for and he was “wandering” around looking for the victim, Mort and/or Wedeking. He said he boarded Mort’s boat, but didn’t go inside because he didn’t want to disturb them if they were there.
Results from a DNA test did not match Mort or Wedeking. Under a warrant served early last month, the highway patrol collected DNA from Robinson. At the time, Robinson allegedly denied having sex with the victim.
In late August, the results came back saying the DNA found in the alleged sexual assault matched Robinson’s DNA.
Neither Robinson nor his attorney immediately returned messages seeking comment on the charges.
Both Mort and Wedeking have pleaded not guilty in the case. Last month, they were granted a motion to change the venue of the case to Miller County. A motion for a separate trial was denied.
