Fizz and Fury: White Claw Fuels Poolside Domestic Drama
In an incident that escalated from a casual poolside hangout to a chaotic domestic dispute, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office found themselves diving into drama on the evening of June 17th, 2024. Responding to frantic 911 calls reporting screams for help, Deputy A. Ricketts and Deputy Bailey arrived at the scene to unravel a case as fizzy as a White Claw.
Upon arrival, they encountered Rowdy McAtee, a white male who seemed to be having a less-than-refreshing evening. Bleeding from a cut on his hand and bicep, McAtee’s only explanation for the chaos was a dismissive “bullshit” when questioned by deputies.
The victim, identified as Kimberly McAtee, provided a detailed account of the ordeal that began with a seemingly trivial argument over a phone call and spiraled into an alcohol-fueled altercation. According to Kimberly, what started as a disagreement over giving her daughter a ride quickly led to Rowdy storming out, only to return an hour and a half later demanding a divorce and a pack of cigarettes.
Things took a dramatic turn when Rowdy, described by Kimberly as “highly intoxicated,” tried to leave in his truck. In an effort to prevent him from driving drunk, Kimberly hid the keys, which led to an aquatic showdown on the pool deck. As Kimberly went to give Rowdy his requested cigarettes, he allegedly pushed her into the pool, jumped in after her, and began strangling her and holding her head underwater.
Kimberly, who was already at a disadvantage with a post-operation ankle boot, managed to escape and called for help. Rowdy, not one to calm down easily, apparently began tossing outdoor furniture into the pool and at Kimberly, leaving a chaotic scene that included submerged chairs, a floating porch screen, and a phone and ankle boot at the bottom of the pool.
Deputies documented the aftermath: wet clothes, defensive wounds on Rowdy, and a multitude of White Claw cans strewn about the backyard. Kimberly’s physical state corroborated her story, showing signs of strangulation and a fresh bloody laceration on her ankle.
Rowdy McAtee, now facing charges of domestic battery by strangulation, was less chatty post-Miranda rights invocation and has been lodged in the Marion County Jail with no bond due to the nature of his alleged actions.
It appears this summer pool party ended not with a splash but with sirens, as the McAtees’ tumultuous ten-month marriage hit a new low amid the fizzy remains of what was supposed to be a refreshing evening.
