LEITCHFIELD, Ky. (WBKO) – An elderly man was beaten and robbed while showing a house in Grayson County.

The sheriff’s department says about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, a bruised and bloodied elderly man came into their office saying he had been attacked.

He told deputies he was showing a house on the lake in the Falls of Rough area to 71-year-old Keith S. Rowe.

The victim said that when they entered the house, Rowe locked the door and began assaulting him. He said Rowe then demanded that he write up a contract and sign the house over to him, and threatened to kill him if he didn’t. Rowe then ordered the victim to turn over his cell phone, or he would “beat his brains in,” so he gave Rowe his phone.

This allegedly occurred in a house right across from the victim’s home, so Rowe demanded that they go to the home to write up the contract. He told the elderly victim that if he tried to get in his vehicle, he would tie a rope around his neck and drag him with his 4-wheeler. He even pointed out a rope attached to the 4-wheeler that he drove to the scene

The victim says that as he typed up the contract, Rowe pulled a pocket knife and said he was going to kill him once the contract was written. He gave Rowe the contract, who then sat at the kitchen table.

Fearing for his life, the victim then bolted for the front door, got in his car, and drove straight to the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say later that evening, Rowe agreed to meet the sheriff and admitted to most of the things the elderly victim had described. He was arrested and charged with:

• First-degree robbery
• Kidnapping (adult)
• Assault fourth degree (minor injury)
• Third-degree terroristic threatening

Rowe is lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center under a $300,000 cash bond.

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