Man accused of cutting his wife’s throat is found dead at his south Fort Worth house
A man under murder indictment in connection with the February near-decapitation killing of his wife in Fort Worth died on Oct. 7 at his house, authorities said.
Nathaniel Rowland, who had been released from jail on bond, was pronounced dead about 10:15 a.m., according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office. The house, in the 1200 block of Camden Yard Drive, was also where police alleged the homicide occurred.
The medical examiner’s office has not released the cause or manner of the 40-year-old defendant’s death.
Rowland called 911 on Feb. 23 and reported to police that his wife, 38-year-old Elizabeth Rowland, had cut herself in the throat at their house.
KC Ashmore, Nathaniel Rowland’s retained defense attorney, suggested on Oct. 9 that the circumstances of his client’s death are not clear.
“We know Nathaniel was found at the home, and that is the extent of what we do know, at this time,” Ashmore wrote in response to a reporter’s question. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Elizabeth’s family and Nate’s father.”
Nathaniel Rowland was booked on suspicion of murder on March 5. A forensic pathologist concluded his wife’s death was a homicide. Rowland’s wife was found to have defensive hand injuries.
Elizabeth Rowland was lying face up on the kitchen floor when police arrived at the couple’s house.
She had a large wound to her throat, according to the account of a Fort Worth Police Department homicide detective that is described in an affidavit supporting her husband’s arrest warrant.
There was a bloodstained knife on a counter above Elizabeth. The knife appeared to have been removed from a knife block on the same counter.
In an interview with two detectives, Nathaniel Rowland described watching his wife cut her neck.
This story was originally published October 8, 2024 at 5:01 PM.
