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Jennifer L. Bowser (Cambria County Prison)
A 41-year-old woman in Pennsylvania is accused of killing her 5-year-old son, allegedly smothering the little boy to death after “voices” prompted her to do so.
Jennifer L. Bowser was taken into custody on Monday and charged with one count each of general criminal homicide, aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury to a victim under age 13, and strangulation in the slaying of young Samson Bowser, authorities announced.
Officers with the Cresson Township Police Department and agents from the Cambria County Detective Bureau responded to a 911 call about 3 p.m. on Monday reporting an unconscious child at Martha’s Manor, a senior living facility in the 100 block of Cosey Lane, Cambria County District Attorney Gregory Neugebauer said during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.
Once there, first responders said they found the little boy unresponsive in a first-floor bedroom. Authorities estimated he had been dead for several hours but less than a full day, Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees said.
Authorities said Bowser and her son had been staying in a residence attached to the senior living facility but separated from the facility’s regular residents because Bowser’s mother owned and operated the facility.
While an official cause and manner of death will not be determined until the coroner performs an autopsy on Samson Tuesday afternoon, Neugebauer said that the case was being investigated as a homicide due to “witness statements, physical evidence at the scene, and clear observations of this little boy.”
“Physical evidence at the scene was consistent with a suffocation-type death,” he said. “It was fairly obvious from an evidentiary perspective.”
Bowser was transported to Cambria County Prison, where she is held without bond. She was arraigned Monday evening and has not yet retained an attorney, authorities said.
Neugebauer told reporters that he could not ethically discuss any statements Bowser allegedly made to authorities but noted it was “fairly obvious” that mental health played “a big role” in what transpired.
A copy of the criminal complaint obtained by Altoona, Pennsylvania, CBS affiliate WTAJ provided additional details about the disturbing allegations against Bowser.
According to the report, Bowser told investigators that “Kayla” was “trying to steal” her son and that a “voice” from a “machine box” commanded her to smother Samson so that “he did not go to H-E double hockey sticks.” Bowser reportedly spent the previous two days barricading herself and Samson in her bedroom because “Kayla” kept telling her that the boy was her child.
On the evening of Feb. 4, Bowser reportedly said the voices told her that “the cops were coming and were going to shoot through the wall and kill Samson if she didn’t smother him,” per the complaint. She succumbed to the demands of the voices, allegedly telling investigators that she believed it was better for him to be smothered that shot.
Bowser admitted using a blanket to cover the boy’s face and then put her hand over his nose and mouth. She reportedly said the child put up a fight, repeatedly biting, hitting, and kicking her. She reportedly told police that “he was a strong little boy.”
“To say this is a difficult case for the law enforcement is frankly an understatement,” Neugebauer said. “Many of us are parents, and I think we all hugged our kids a little harder last night, and it made this morning a little tougher than usual.”
