Documents reveal why Kay County man was arrested for wife’s brief disappearance

KAY COUNTY, Okla. –

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story contains graphic details related to domestic violence and self-harm. If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or Oklahoma’s Mental Health Lifeline at 988.

New court documents are shedding light on why a Ponca City man was arrested for his wife’s brief disappearance in Kay County.

According to investigators, Jason Rogers reported his wife missing near Kaw City on July 22, saying the mother left her truck behind and took a pistol. She was found safe with family members a day later, and Rogers was taken into custody, deputies said.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed against Rogers, deputies found his wife with bruises and scratches on her body, plus damage to her ear drum and eye. She told deputies “‘she was in fight or flight mode’ and was tired of fighting,” the court document stated.

Two days before her “disappearance,” the woman told investigators Rogers physically assaulted and threatened her life, saying he gave her the choice of “either doing it herself or he would have it done”. She also recounted Rogers “bum-rushing” and knocking her down while she was holding a child, according to the affidavit.

Officials said as she was leaving the house on July 22, she told deputies that Rogers “walked her out and told her, ‘I either I had to kill myself, or I was never going to be seen again.’” The affidavit stated Rogers forced his wife to leave her cellphone, smartwatch and wallet behind. Rogers also made her write “goodbye” letters to their children “because that’s what they needed to see from her so they would have a ‘keepsake,’” the document read.

According to the affidavit, a day after his arrest, Rogers told deputies he “did not want to speak to them about the incident” but said he was “just glad she is home and safe.” He added that he was “absolutely terrified” and complimented law enforcement’s response with finding his wife.

Court records show the woman was granted a protective order against Rogers on July 24.

The affidavit stated Rogers’ anticipated charges are plans, attempts, conspires, or endeavors to perform an act of violence involving or intended to involve serious bodily harm or death of another person, and domestic abuse in the presence of a child.

Records show charges have not yet been officially filed.