In the quiet suburban landscape of Olathe, Kansas, the life of 17-year-old Rowan Padgett, a male Olathe East High School senior with a promising future in sales, was abruptly cut short on the afternoon of March 29, 2019. He was found suffering from gunshot wounds in a cul-de-sac in the 12300 block of South Mullen Court and died at the scene. The tragic event that unfolded was the result of a drug deal gone wrong over a small quantity of Xanax.
The investigation into Rowan's death led to
the arrest of three other teenagers. Jordan A. Denny, a 16-year-old fellow Olathe East High School student, was charged with first-degree felony murder and felony obstruction for providing false information to investigators. The shooting reportedly took place outside her home. Another teenager, 17-year-old Rolland Robert Kobelo, was also charged with felony murder. Prosecutors alleged that the homicide occurred during the commission of an inherently dangerous felony, allowing for murder charges even if the individuals did not pull the trigger.
The third individual charged was 18-year-old Matthew Bibee Jr., who was identified as a person of interest shortly after the incident. Bibee faced a charge of first-degree felony murder in Rowan's death, in addition to charges of attempted capital murder in a separate case where he was accused of shooting at a police officer. According to court documents, the fatal encounter was arranged for Bibee to purchase two Xanax bars for $8. Witnesses reported that Bibee was in the backseat of a car with Rowan and asked about his backpack before a single gunshot was heard. Rowan then exited the vehicle without his backpack and phone before collapsing.
The legal process that followed brought some measure of resolution. Rolland Kobelo admitted to his role in setting up the drug deal and encouraging the robbery. In 2020, he was sentenced to over four years in a juvenile correctional facility. Matthew Bibee Jr. was ultimately sentenced to life in prison and will be eligible for parole after 50 years.
