MURDER MOST FOUL
Chilling twist to tycoon wife's death
THE murdered wife of a property mogul was found with the cord of a hair-straightening iron around her neck at an exclusive wine estate.
Police at first treated the death of mother-of-three Susan Rohde, 47, at Spier wine farm outside Stellenbosch as a suicide.
But 11 days later, they launched a murder investigation after a postmortem found bruising on her neck, indicating someone had strangled her.
It is understood that her husband Jason, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International, has surrendered his passport to the police.
The couple, from Johannesburg, had been attending a company function at Spier’s fourstar hotel.
A source told the Sunday Times that Jason Rohde asked hotel staff for help when he could not open the bathroom door in their room on Sunday July 24.
When an estate employee opened the door Susan was found in a kneeling position in the bathroom with the electrical cord around her neck.
The source said Rohde started CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on his wife and was helped by a colleague. Paramedics also tried to revive her.
Susan’s funeral was held in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Other sources said hotel guests heard a “loud argument” before the murder, and confirmed that a “third party” was under investigation.
Rohde’s company has 850 estate agents around the country.
WCIS Attorneys in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, is representing him. His legal representative, who did not want to be named, said Rohde was assisting police, who had conducted tests and requested information.
Rohde was asked to provide his fingerprints “to exclude the people that were in the room”, said his lawyer.
“The family is in the process of mourning. They are going through a very difficult time. There have been a lot of allegations going around,” the lawyer said.
“Mr Jason Rohde has given his full co-operation and assistance to the police and will continue to do so. A second postmortem was conducted on Monday in Johannesburg where the body was brought. We are awaiting the results.”
It has also been established that Rohde provided police with the password to his laptop, which was left in his briefcase in the couple’s room.
The murder investigation began on Thursday.
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said: “An inquest docket was opened and has changed to murder on 4 August 2016 after a postmortem was done.
“The case is at this stage under investigation and no arrests have been made.”
Samantha Bartlett, the spokeswoman for Sotheby’s International Realty South Africa, said that Rohde was “currently on leave”, and referred all questions about the investigation to police.
Bartlett said that the company’s chairman, Lew Geffen, had expressed his “heartfelt condolences to Susan’s entire family”.
Spier Hotel general manager Joep Schoof said: “Spier Hotel management is assisting South African police in their investigation into an incident at Spier at the weekend of July 23 2016.
“We are unable to comment any further at this stage as this is a police investigation.”
The Rohde family’s Facebook accounts were filled with messages of condolence.
“Phenomenal woman, adored ALL of our kids!!! So so wrong Sue . . . broken hearts everywhere! Too many questions??? God bless Jason and his amazing girls xxx. X,” wrote one friend.
Another posted: “Our hearts find it difficult to contemplate your huge untimely loss — there simply are no words for us, so for you, the sadness, the hurt and the grief are endless areas in which you will tread.
“May you all be granted strength, courage and understanding as you grieve and mourn as a family. Support each other and know that up in the ether is a soul who will always be at your sides.
“Although we rarely connect with you, we hold special neighbourly memories of happy and carefree days gone by. God bless and our fond love.”
According to the Sotheby’s website, Rohde has more than 14 years’ experience in the property industry.
Rohde emigrated to Australia, and returned to South Africa in 1997.
Jason Rohde has given his full co-operation to the police and will continue to do so