Profile

Name: Jerry Lee Bowen
Sex: Male
Race: White
Age Now: 61
Height: 6'1\" - 6'2\"
Weight: 165 - 170 lbs.
Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair): Gray / White
Eyes (Color and Correction): Blue\r Glasses
Wanted for: Failure to Appear ; Jun 2000

Locations

Last seen: Unkown
Possible location: Florida Maine Wyoming Mexico New Mexico
Last known: Unkown

Traits

Described as an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, fishing, and hunting
Known to be an excellent marksman with firearms and archery equipment
Enjoys bowling and may frequent bowling alleys
Known to visit libraries and bookstores
Described as a neat dresser and likes to have his shoes shined
Has worked in the construction industry, primarily hanging sheetrock
Has worked as a licensed real estate appraiser
May wear glasses
Known to be sensitive about birth defect around naval area
Likes to keep extensive lists of things to do
May be using a computer to download pornographic images of women being killed
May hang out in X-rated bookstores

Case Story

Body In The Water

On the morning of January 28, 1997, 44-year-old Brenda Breckenridge disappeared from her rural home in Westover, Alabama. That evening, Brenda's car was found in a wooded area approximately 5 miles from her house, but there was no trace of the missing woman. Detectives decided to question Brenda's ex-husband, Jerry Bowen, who lived in a small apartment only 100 yards from Brenda's back door. Bowen told them he hadn't seen Brenda but detectives immediately became suspicious of him because they say he referred to his ex-wife in the past tense.  Then cops say Bowen dropped a bombshell. According to Lt. Don King, Bowen asked the detective what he thought happened to Brenda. King casually replied that he hoped she had amnesia and was getting some sun in Florida. Police say Bowen shot back, telling Lt. King he was wrong. Bowen looked Lt. King straight in the face and said that Brenda was dead and believed she could be found in the water somewhere. On March 29, 1997, the search for Brenda Breckenridge ended just as Bowen said it would. A fisherman found her body, washed up on the shore of the nearby Coosa River. It was wrapped in a sheet, tied up, and weighted down. Detectives knew that Brenda Breckenridge had been murdered, but they didn't know how. Her body was so badly decomposed that the medical examiner's office was unable to determine the cause of death.

The Ex-Husband Did It

Shelby County detectives focused on Bowen as the main suspect in the case. Investigators learned that he and Brenda had been married for 20 years before going through a nasty divorce in 1995. Detectives say Bowen murdered Brenda because of his bitterness and financial burden from the divorce.  In 1998, Jerry Bowen was arrested for killing Brenda. Prosecutors rolled the dice. The evidence in the case against Bowen was entirely circumstantial, but the District Attorney's Office hoped there was enough to get a conviction. During the trial, witnesses testified how Bowen, an avid outdoorsman, habitually fastened his camping gear with a series of specific bowline, slip, and square knots. The same combination was used to bind Brenda's wrists and ankles. On April 28, 2000, Jerry Bowen was convicted of killing Brenda Breckenridge. He faced 10 years to a life term behind bars, but Bowen never showed up for his June 20th sentencing.

Life Sentence Goes Unanswered

Detectives believe Bowen fled the area 6 days before the hearing. The next month, Bowen was sentenced in absentia to life in prison. Police searched the area but found no sign of the killer. When detectives scoured Bowen's house, hunting for clues to where the killer may have gone, they discovered some disturbing images on his computer. Police say they found thousands of files consisting of women, especially pregnant women, being tortured in various ways. FBI profilers are worried that the pressure of life on the run may drive Bowen to act on some of these sick fantasies.