2 Girls Found Encased In Ice In Freezer

Maryland Adoptive Mother Suspected Of Killing 2 Children In Her Care

(AP)  A bruised and starving 7-year-old girl walking alone on a gravel road led investigators to an even grimmer discovery: remains in a basement freezer that her adoptive mother said were the youngster's sisters.

Authorities said Monday they believe the mother, Renee Bowman, is responsible for killing her other two daughters. The three girls were foster children in Bowman's care before she adopted them.

Sheriff's deputies were investigating an abuse complaint Saturday when they discovered the child-sized remains encased in ice. The mother told investigators they had been in her southern Maryland home's freezer for at least seven months and police said they are considering the case a homicide.

"We have reason to believe that's the two children in the freezer," said Lt. Bobby Jones of Calvert County Sheriff's Office. "We believe that the mother, who adopted the two children, is responsible for it."

Autopsies would need to be completed before authorities know for sure whether it is the girls, who would be 9 and 11. Deputies made the gruesome find in Lusby, about 50 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. They were at the home with a search warrant to investigate what happened to a runaway 7-year-old girl who was found wandering the neighborhood, injured and hungry in a blood- and feces-soaked nightshirt.

Bowman, 43, has been arrested, and a judge ordered her held without bond. She is charged with first-degree child abuse in the beating of the 7-year-old.

"I asked if she was OK. She said no," said neighbor Phillip Garrett, who found the girl walking down the street. "She said, 'My mother beats me to death all the time."'

She escaped from a locked bedroom by jumping out a second-story window, and Bowman admitted beating her with a "hard-heeled shoe," officials said.

Bowman told detectives she brought the remains of her other daughters with her when she moved in February from Rockville, about 60 miles away. Montgomery County Police said they are investigating whether the deaths took place in Rockville and that detectives are trying to pin down when the older girls were last seen alive. Bowman has not been charged in the deaths.

The medical examiner's office in Baltimore planned to examine the freezer and its contents, but it was unclear how long it would take for the remains to thaw sufficiently.

Bowman was a foster mother to all three before adopting them in the District of Columbia, officials said at a news conference.

According to charging documents in Calvert County, the youngest girl went door-to-door looking for help Friday night.

The girl had open sores and lesions on her buttocks and lower thighs, marks on her neck made by a cord, rope or other item and bruises on her hands and lips, police said.

The girl was brought to a hospital. The Maryland Department of Human Resources planned to petition the court Tuesday to gain custody, said Nancy Lineman, an agency spokeswoman.

Garrett, 21, who lives two houses down from Bowman, said he brought the girl to a neighbor's house, called 911 and ordered her a pizza. She indicated she had last eaten on Tuesday when her father was at the home, said Garrett, who realized he had met her mother once and described her as "frazzled."

"She didn't seem like all her pieces were there," Garrett said.

Later Friday, authorities went to Bowman's modest, single-story house in the secluded, heavily wooded subdivision but nobody was home. Bowman showed up later at the sheriff's office and said she had locked her daughter in the child's bedroom.

She told the deputy who interviewed her about the 7-year-old's abuse "that she knew what she did was wrong," according to the charging documents. "She advised she (Bowman) was out of control and needed help."

Sheriff Mike Evans said the surviving girl was never enrolled in Calvert County Schools and that no trouble had ever been reported at the house. Bowman's only contact with the sheriff's department since she arrived was a traffic stop.

Lineman said her agency had no records to indicate the involvement of child-protective services with Bowman's family, but a review of statewide records has been ordered.

Evans said Bowman had a boyfriend who was cooperating with investigators. The boyfriend was a potential witness, but Evans would not comment on whether he was a suspect. He said the man did not live with Bowman and was not a father to her children.

No attorney had entered an appearance on Bowman's behalf Monday afternoon.

Bowman adopted the oldest girl in July 2001, D.C. officials said. Three years later, she adopted the girl who would now be 9 and her 7-year-old sister. She is not biologically related to them.

[observer2020]

These poor kids...had to go through the emotional pain of adoption and then the worderful "mother" kills them. DYFS at it''s greatest, again.

[thevicar1]

And now the girls can get a proper burial, the Mother can get the help she needs, and the Maryland Department of Human Resources can sleep well knowing that their screening process cost these girls their lives.

[txgrouch2006]

How many other cases are there like this one?

Does this explain the mysterious child''s severed foot that was brought home by a family''s dog recently?

Perhaps not one of THESE children, but how many other children are being butchered by such insane parents, foster parents, or adoptive parents?

[observer2020]

Perhaps not one of THESE children, but how many other children are being butchered by such insane parents, foster parents, or adoptive parents?
Posted by txgrouch2006

They all have an out now...road trip to Nebraska. At least until they close that huge loop-hole.

[mandalay-bay]

Mom''s crazy as he11. She should have a "who''s crazier" competition with that guy in Austria who locked up his daughter for 20+ years in his basement while he raped her daily.

[citizenusa-2009]

I thought the adoption process was designed to fully investigate potential parents to make certain they were emotionally and financially equipped to take on the responsiblity of having children. This woman is clearly insane, yet she was allowed to adopt THREE? What is wrong with this picture?

[republic1776]

DYFS,
Has so many politically correct rules such as race, age, gender.
A liberal America.
In bet in the children''s eye%u2019s, race, age, gender. would did matter.
Love is what they needed.

[amerifemale]

Yet another reason not to vote for McCain.


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Posted by jh6379 at 10:29 AM : Sep 30, 2008


And WHY does this have anything to do with McCain or even Obama for that matter---even though I support McCain


The state is at fault for not keeping a closer eye on these children

[minnick8-2009]

Mom''''s crazy as he11. She should have a "who''''s crazier" competition . . .

Posted by MANDALAY-BAY

No, they should just have to go through what they put the children through. Maybe they could be sent to Guantanamo Bay to be housed with the terrorists; they could be tortured and water boarded.

[donovk1]

What happened to social services? How could they let this happen?

[sparky0058]

Yet another reason not to vote for McCain.


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Posted by jh6379 at 10:29 AM : Sep 30, 2008


And I thought for sure it was George Bush''s fault...

[missingamerica]

I always look at the pictures of the alleged suspects in the vain hope that someday I will be able to pick such evil out of a crowd.

But I can never see anything that, without the accompanying story to give my mind cues, would alert me to the horrors that they commit....

[musethalia]

There should be a screening process that includes a background check before pregnancy.

Posted by proisrael

yeah...''cause people like this are already so responsible, I''m sure that''s the first thing they''d take care of???

[antepamfe200]

They should do the exact very same thing to her as she did her daughters. I do not have any tolerance for those who abuse others. Espically children. An eye for an eye and toot for a tooth. Thank you.

[troglobyte]

The only one to blame is the woman who murdered and the society that allowed such a monster to come in to existence. We are all to blame, we are all part of the problem, for we no longer care about each other.

[troglobyte]

The only one to blame is the woman who murdered and the society that allowed such a monster to come in to existence. We are all to blame, we are all part of the problem, for we no longer care about each other.

[tps777]

This is horrible, hard to imagine how someone could do this to children. We definately need to consider how we place children with people. It burns me up when I think of all the good people who would love to adopt children, including gay couples, who are not allowed to, but yet we place them with people who freeze children to death. When are we going to wake up? People''s ability to love and care for children and give them a stable home is all that should matter. WITH FOLLOWUP FOR 10 YEARS+

[yeswecan09]

Does this explain the mysterious child''''s severed foot that was brought home by a family''''s dog recently?
******

That foot in question was tested and found out to be a bear cub''s foot, not a human child''s foot.

Regards,

[random_radar]

What happened to social services? How could they let this happen?

Posted by donovk1 at 11:46 AM : Sep 30, 2008

She was a foster parent who adopted the girls through social services. She could not have done this without the assistance of social services. The real question is why we trust the government with children.

[averjane]

Why is everyone so alarmed? I don''t hear anyone crying out for the mutilated remains of pre-born children thrown into garbage cans everyday around America. You bunch of hipocrits! At least these children got a chance to live and their inalienable right to life was not taken from them. They had the misfortune of being adopted by this insanely wicked woman. People who practice abortion are no less of a monster. They just have the blessing of the government for their crime. If people like Obama are allowed to ever influence our government, they will break the ice to a new frontier where we will be allowed to kill our children even after they''re several years old if we decide we don''t want them anymore; just another form or extension of abortion. I have to say though, he shows some compassion in that he is against saving the lives of botched abortions. I mean, wouldn''t it be better for them to die then to try to survive with what''s left of their brain when the partial birth abortionists are done with them? It''s very humane of him don''t you agree?

[txgrouch2006]

That foot in question was tested and found out to be a bear cub''''s foot, not a human child''''s foot.
Posted by yeswecan09 at 12:04 PM : Sep 30, 2008

Thanks for the update.

THAT doesn''t get into the "top stories," does it.

[erasmus81]

"...but how many other children are being butchered by such insane parents, foster parents, or adoptive parents?" Posted by txgrouch2006 at 10:21 AM : Sep 30, 2008

Thousands.

It makes me sick thinking about it.

[thevicar1]

The state is at fault for not keeping a closer eye on these children ------------------------------------------------------ Posted by amerifemale


...and the Freezer Manufacturer, for making it so easy to conceal the bodies for seven months.

[thevicar1]

Tie their tubes at birth and the only way to get them untied is when you can prove you can be a good parent
------------------------------ Posted by proisrael


RIGHT! Al Sharpton would be six feet up your colon befrore you could sneeze!

[erasmus81]

Yet another reason not to vote for McCain.

Posted by jh6379 at 10:29 AM : Sep 30, 2008


"And WHY does this have anything to do with McCain or even Obama for that matter---even though I support McCain"

Posted by amerifemale at 11:38 AM : Sep 30, 2008


Please tell me why people have to bring up politics in articles that have nothing to do with it?

I think there should be a punishment for doing it.

[sebastian27-2009]

Regardless of how hard we try, society will always have the mentally ill, criminally insane, or misfits who do these types of things. Life is not perfect, and never will be.

[roachcrusher]

How can people like this adopt and others with stable homes, two parents, etc. have to wait, sometimes, years to adopt?

We need laws that require Social Services to invite the families to office interviews at least twice a year and have representatives, in turn, visit these homes twice a year, at least.

We have social programs for the rich (we have to report to insurance companies for our health [HMO''s], we have to give welfare to oil companies and corporate farms in the form of subsidies [welfare], we have to give welfare (taxpayer dollars) to the financial institutions in Bush''s bailout plan).

When are we going to use social programs for people who really need it? Like these poor children, living miserably and dying as we speak.

A truly sick society under the Repubs and Cons.

[i-b-a-voter]

averjane:
they got a chance to live and thier inalienaable right to life was not taken from them..?

Did you miss the fact that these children are dead?
How many children have you adopted or provided a SAFE LIVING to?

[jennmarie620]

Stories like this make me want to leave work early, run home, and wrap my arms around my children and never let go. I don''t understand how anyone can harm their child - let alone kill them.

Blaming anyone other than this woman for the deaths of these children, and the abuse of the third, is asinine and ignorant. She admitted to knowing what she had done was wrong - and she knew enough to go to the police for help AFTER this little girl escaped and was found. Nothing stopped her from asking for help long before now.

She is responsible for her actions, and the only one responsible for her actions.

Everyone in this country needs to stop blaming everyone else for everything. That''s why things like this keep happening.

[thevicar1]

Stories like this make me want to leave work early, run home, and wrap my arms around my children and never let go. I dont understand how anyone can harm their child - let alone kill them --------------------------------------- Posted by jennmarie620



The authorities DONT KNOW what the casue of death was...could be natural, and the baby momma just couldnt afford coffins...these kinds of rushes to judgement almost got O.J. wrongly convicted!

Unless you are playing the race card...

[blazercoach1]

proisrael,

I can''t believe that comment. You probably know someone who has been a victim of abuse. You might not know it, they might not tell you. (Especially if you think such people are weird for wanting to have lived and survived through it).

"Many who live deserve death. But many who die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Don''t be so quick to deal out death and judgment"--Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)

[lewiston14]

Kid sickles on a stick.... This world is sick.

[thevicar1]

I am not for abortion but I tell you, these unwanted children should have been aborted. Look at the life they had to endure. You call that a life??? -------------------------------------- Posted by proisrael


ITS NOT TOO LATE!!! Vote for Bronco Bomber...he wants partial birth abortions in the 17th tri-mester!!!

[thevicar1]

Kid sickles on a stick.... This world is sick ---------------------------------- Posted by lewiston14



She was just doing some home-made cryogenics! She was gonna un-freeze em when the wearfare check came!

[colonieny]

We need not be too quick to judge. We do not know what this woman went through for her own personal struggles, the possible abuse from men or men driven institutions, or the imbalanced caused by societal-ecnomic hardships. When we do, we need compassion, not hate, we need undestanding, not "blame". Who do we blame for war ?

[nwarky1]

I''ve heard it before, and I''ll ask it again....

HOW DOES THIS TRAILER TRASH SCUM END UP WITH CHILDREN GIVEN TO THEM BY OUR GOVERNMENT???

[biomegaly]

We need not be too quick to judge. We do not know what this woman went through for her own personal struggles, the possible abuse from men or men driven institutions, or the imbalanced caused by societal-ecnomic hardships. When we do, we need compassion, not hate, we need undestanding, not "blame". Who do we blame for war ?


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Posted by ColonieNY at 12:53 PM : Sep 30, 2008

Ug, you need your head examined, I dont think you are thinking so clearly here. Who cares what this woman may have or may not have been through!!!! She is an adult, and as such owes it those kids to get herself help. A tragedy like this can be prevented. Compassion, understanding? I understand she had no compassion and that is why two innocent girls are gone forever.

Your post sounds as though you are a man basher.

[FHMullane]

Anyone who stands up for this scumbag woman deserves to be left alone with her for a week.

[liberalnok]

How could she have been allowed to foster these children and then adopt them to begin with. Seems like either extreme incompetance or there are are serious flaws in the foster parent program that are jeopardizing children''s lives. The government employees whoapproved this woman to adopt should be held criminally acountable for the deaths of the 2 kids as well.

Even adopting a dog or cat from the local animal shelter has a more rigorous screening process than this woman was subjected to. Every gov''t employee involved should at least be charged with voluntary manslaughter if not 2nd degree murder too.

[biomegaly]

The government employees who approved this woman to adopt should be held criminally acountable for the deaths of the 2 kids as well.

Posted by liberalnok at 01:25 PM : Sep 30, 2008

You can not be serious. Is the gov''t holding some kind of magic ball predicting the future? They havent been too good at that lately. There are signs that must be noticed. Evidently, nobody saw the signs.

[biomegaly]

'''' .. i am a tiny speck magically erupted inside a tiny speck magically erupted inside a endless oblivion .. i do not have infinite lines of resolution with infinite fast refresh, i do not have infinite divergence with infinite wishes come true .. i am a tiny speck magically erupted inside a tiny speck magically erupted inside a endless oblivion .. ''''

'''' .. don''''t dance get well feed world get sick tax world hike naked dance dressed hike dressed dance naked porn songs partyd rallyd round sick beds what swim drift spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail crossing yseedsberry trail group subsistence farms .. ''''



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Posted by brdliksssss at 01:29 PM : Sep 30, 2008

Ahhh what, no trillion dollars war babies today?

[biomegaly]

Oh there it is, you just got it in before me.

[bdrlnt4rl]

look at her, sometimes idiots just look the part.

[biomegaly]

Ok, a little harsh, but you get my point.

[biomegaly]

Chores to do. Gotta go.

[dbann1]

I saw we beat her on her A** with a hard-heeled shoe until she is dead.

[edward1975-2009]

This just brings out glaring holes in the adoption process. How deep do they investigate these people. You hear so much about things like this happening to already damaged kids, who go looking for someone to care and love them, and end up dead. What a shame. This " mother" should be locked away forever and a day. She has lost her right to be free card, what an animal.

[dragon8me]

I wonder why they were in state custody to begin with? I have seen all too many times children removed from parents who did nothing wrong, and others who should have been who weren''t until it was too late. CPS gets thousands of dollars from the feds for each child removed and about $100,000 for each adoption. If the parents are poor they are more likely to be removed than those from well to do families.
My brother had his children removed unde false allagations and they havn''t proven they did any thing wrong and still they won''t return them here in Texas. Sound familier? My mother has them now but there putting her thru hell and it has dragged on over 2 years now and she won''t know for sure if she will get them for at least another 6 months. Not only that, there have been many foster parents here who have abused the children under there care. It''s a sick system that needs overhauling as much as the banks and wall street.

[marannpie]

There''s a lack of oversight due to children being undervalued in this society.Toss them into the first home that has someone reasonably sane, can plan a meal, do laundy, put together a sentence. But that''s only that day. No one is FOLLOWING these children and they are LOST and injured and then killed. I took care of a little girl whose twin brother was killed and she was starved by her adoptive parents. Thye actually brought him to the hospital stating he had fallen down the steps and "wasn''t acting right". You rarely do when you are dead. It was a huge mess in the state of Indiana and was one thing of many that sparked reforms ago-go in our child welfare system. They are long overdue in this country. Children are our most precious resource people.

[osceolarhame]

This story is tragic to me because I went to H.S. with Renee. I was in touch with her via email & a few phone calls (unknowingly just a few months before she put the two girls in the freezer). I never knew they were adopted. I don''t understand why the boyfriend/man at the house isn''t being held accountable for not reporting the abuse of the 7 year old. How could she move from Rockville to Lusby and her husband from a year ago not wonder where the other two girls are? I have always believed that people who have been abused should not be allowed to foster or adopt children and this case firmly supports my belief. This tragedy is something that has truly caused me pain for the children although I''ve never met them but do have photos and email stories about them, shared between two former highschool friends, Renee and me. It also hurts to see someone that I knew so closely at one time to have the capacity and ability to actually commit such a heinous crime. There are no winners in this tragedy except for society in having her removed from it where she can do no more harm. This has nothing to do with politics, religion, race or class. Because she is a republican Catholic black middle class woman has no bearing on what she did. This is a woman with mental issues that caused her to do the unthinkable. I wish we had kept in touch and that I could have in some way intervened and helped the girls. My prayers go out to them and all the other children who are abused.