Human remains found in freezer during search

Human remains found in freezer during search

September 29, 2008

CAROL HARVAT

While the Calvert Investigative Team was executing a search warrant on Sept. 27 on a Lusby residence to investigate the possible abuse of a child, they found human remains inside a drop freezer in the basement of the residence, a Calvert County Sheriff's Office press release stated.

The home of 43-year-old Renee D. Bowman, who reportedly adopted three children from Washington, D.C., was searched after a 7-year-old girl was picked up from a neighbor's home by the sheriff's office, "showing signs of extreme abuse and neglect," according to the sheriff's office press release.

The remains found in the freezer have not yet been determined to be that of Brown's two adopted children, who, according to birth certificates found at the Buckskin Trail residence, were born in 1997 and 1998, Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans said at a press conference Monday morning.

None of the children, whose names were not released, were registered in Calvert County schools, Evans said.

Evidence in the investigation is showing that the two children may have been murdered in Montgomery County, but Calvert County State's Attorney Laura Martin said she could not comment further on any evidence.

"We're working very closely [with Montgomery County]," she said at the press conference.

Bowman told police during an interview that the remains located within the freezer were that of her two other adopted daughters. She said that the remains had been in the freezer since she moved from Rockville, according to police. Bowman moved to Lusby in February, according to a press release.

At this time investigators do not know for sure if the remains are that of the two children or how many remains are contained in the freezer, Evans said.

Due to the condition of the remains frozen within the freezer, the Maryland Office of the Medical Examiner requested the entire freezer be brought to Baltimore so the evidence could be removed, a press release stated.

Bowman is being held at the Calvert County Detention Center, and has been denied bond, Martin said. Bowman has been charged with first-degree child abuse.

Bowman turned herself into police on Saturday night and confessed that she beat the 7-year-old with a "hard-heel shoe," Evans said.

The 7-year-old girl, who jumped from a second-story window to escape from the residence, had injuries all over her body when police met with her at a neighbors residence after the neighbor called police, Evans said.

"I think she [the 7-year-old] knew the other children, but she did not know what happened to them," Evans said.

Evans said as far as he knows, Bowman does not have any mental health history, and she does not have a criminal record in Calvert County.

charvat@somdnews.com