Detectives Identify Girls Found Dead in Freezer

Detectives Identify Girls Found Dead in Freezer

October 9, 2008 

Dan Morse

Washington Post

Montgomery County detectives have tentatively identified the bodies of two young girls found in a Calvert County freezer as those of Renee Bowman's two unaccounted for adopted daughters, Montgomery police said today. A family friend helped in the identification.

Montgomery authorities stressed that the match "does not meet the standards for official identification established by the Medical Examiner's Office" but said they didn't expect the identifications to change as the medical examiner's office completes its tests.

Police tentatively identified the children as Jasmine Nicole Bowman, who would be 9 years old, and Minnet Cecila Bowman, who would be 11. Although the bodies were discovered in Calvert, officials have said the deaths probably occurred in Montgomery, where Bowman lived in the Aspen Hill area until last fall. Officials said this morning that detectives still don't know for sure when, where or how the children died.

Bowman, 43, remains held without bond in Calvert on the child abuse and assault charges related to another adopted daughter, whose escape from their home last month prompted police to search a Lusby residence, where they found the freezer in the basement.

Bowman lived in Montgomery, Prince George's, Charles and Calvert counties and the District. Detectives continue to try to put together a timeline of where and when the girls were last seen alive. The detectives want anyone who had contact with either of the girls to call them at 240-773-5070.