Gerald Rowe convicted after trial by jury and co-defendant, Angel Anderson, separately pleaded guilty to first-degree murder by way of torture and poison; Rowe facing life in state prison without the possibility of parole and Anderson to be sentenced to 25-years-to-life in state prison.

San Francisco, CA – San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced today that her office secured a conviction of Gerald Rowe (52), of San Francisco, after trial by jury for the brutal murder and torture of an acquaintance in his apartment. Mr. Rowe was convicted of first-degree murder (PC 187(a)) with an allegation that the murder was intentional and involved the infliction of torture (PC 190.2(a)(18)) and the murder was intentional and by the administration of poison (PC 190.2(a)(19)) and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder (PC 182(a)(1)).

Angel Anderson (41), a co-defendant in this case, separately pleaded guilty and was convicted of first-degree murder (PC 187(a)) by way of torture and poisoning.

“We feel an overwhelming sense of relief for the victim’s family who have waited far too long to receive justice in this case. Mr. Rowe and Ms. Anderson’s actions were heinous and a beloved son’s life was lost far too early,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “We thank the jury for their time and attention to this very serious case. My office will always stand by victims and do everything in our power to ensure justice is served in each and every case.”

According to testimony and other evidence presented at trial, the victim visited Mr. Rowe and Ms. Anderson at Rowe’s apartment on the 1200 block of Market Street on February 3, 2019. There, Ms. Anderson confronted the victim with a machete before she and Mr. Rowe tied and bound him. A noose was placed around the victim’s neck with the attached rope tethered through a pulley device near the ceiling. The victim’s hands were bound behind his back with zip ties, a strap, and duct tape. The victim was tortured for more than 4 hours in this position as he was screamed at, hit, punched, sodomized, assaulted with plyers, and a bag placed over his head. Eventually Mr. Rowe left the apartment to acquire fentanyl. Upon his return, he and Ms. Anderson injected the victim with a syringe full of a fentanyl and water mixture. Within about 90-seconds, the victim began to convulse and struggle to breathe. Next, while still alive, Mr. Rowe and Ms. Anderson folded the victim into a large rolling suitcase, before zipping it up and waiting for him to die. Then, 20-21 hours later, Mr. Rowe and Ms. Anderson donned disguises and rolled the suitcase almost two miles from the 1200 block of Market Street to a location of the Bay near Rincon Park where they tossed the victim’s body into the water. Two-weeks later, on February 18, 2019, the victim was found floating in the water near Pier 39 by a local San Francisco resident. 

The case against Mr. Rowe and Ms. Anderson was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Charly Weissenbach, with assistance from District Attorney Investigators Gino Guerrero, Omega Crum, and Doug Keely, paralegals Jessica Diamond and Julio Flores along with paralegal intern Joshua Ng, and IT support from Morris Moore, Leland Chan and Noaeh Pinaire. Victim advocate Maria Reynoso worked closely with the victim’s fathers throughout the pendency of the case. Prosecutors were able to develop a strong case against Mr. Rowe based on the careful investigative work of SFPD’s Homicide unit, with assistance from SFPD’s Narcotics unit.

“I am eternally grateful to the jury for their service along with their careful and considerate approach to what are some of the most egregious charges and horrific facts anyone should ever have to hear, let alone experience,” said Assistant District Attorney Charly Weissenbach. “While this conviction cannot undo the hours of torture and painful poisoning experienced by the victim, it does condemn the depravity of the defendant’s acts along with the inhumane way he handled the victim’s remains when he threw him into the Bay like garbage.” 

Mr. Rowe is currently in custody pending sentencing. He faces life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for March 18, 2024. 

Ms. Anderson is also currently in custody and will be sentenced to 25–years-to-life in state prison for her crimes on March 18, 2024.

Court Number: 

Rowe: 19002899

Anderson: 19003268

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