2nd UPDATE |
Lilly, Pa. – (WJAC) — Cambria County coroner Jeff Lees has released the official cause of death for 5-year-old Samson Bowser, who authorities say was allegedly killed by his mother, Jennifer Bowser, on Monday afternoon.
Lees has ruled Bowser's death as asphyxia due to "compression of the chest and obstruction of the airway.'
The coroner's office has also formally ruled his death as a homicide.
Police say 41-year-old Jennifer Bowser was arraigned Monday night after her son was found unresponsive at Martha's Manor, in Cresson Township, where she and her child were reportedly living.
Authorities say Bowser is accused of killing her son because "voices" told her to do so.
UPDATE |
During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Cambria County coroner Jeff Lees identified the 5-year-old boy who was reportedly killed by his mother, 41-year-old Jennifer Bowser.
Lees said that when authorities arrived at Martha's Manor, in Lilly, Monday afternoon, Samson Bowser had reportedly been dead for hours already.
Officials say an autopsy of the boy is scheduled for late Tuesday.
Authorities noted that Jennifer Bowser and her son had reportedly been living at the facility, for approximately one year, since the facility was owned by the child's grandmother (Jennifer Bowser's mother).
According to the criminal affidavit, police say Bowser had allegedly killed her son because "voices" told her to do so.
Authorities also noted that, according to her family, she had recently sought treatment at a mental health facility due to the so-called "voices."
6 News reached out to the medical facility where Bowser was reportedly taken to and received the following response:
"We have seen the reports regarding the tragic death of a local child and are deeply saddened by this event. While we cannot comment further, we want to express our heartfelt condolences to all those impacted by this devastating loss. Our thoughts are with the family and the community during this difficult time," a spokesperson said.
When asked if said facility could face any responsibility or liability in the boy's death, Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer said that he could not comment on the matter, but noted that Bowser's medical records will likely be reviewed during the course of the investigation and the case's movement through the court system.
WATCH: Homicide press conference
Editor's note: We lost signal near the end of the press conference, what was recorded prior to the loss of signal has been linked above.
ORIGINAL |
Authorities in Cambria County say a Cresson Township woman reportedly strangled and killed her 5-year-old child on Monday, telling them she did it because voices in her head told her to do it.
Police charged 41-year-old Jennifer Bowser with homicide and strangulation.
Police and EMS crews were called to a residence around 2:30 Monday afternoon for a cardiac arrest of a child. Court documents say Bowser was reportedly staying with her mother on Cosey Lane when she barricaded herself in her room with her 5-year-old son.
According to the criminal complaint, Bowser told the Cresson Township police department, along with county detectives, that she needed to keep her son from “Kayla,” who “is trying to steal him” from her.
She told detectives that a voice, “Carlos Perez,” also told her to smother the child so "he didn't go through hell," the affidavit said.
The affidavit describes a very violent sequence of events that led to the boy’s death and him fighting back, as evidenced by scratches and bruises on her body, police say.
The affidavit said she told detectives that "he was a strong little boy."
According to the affidavit, her family also told officers that they took Bowser to a mental health facility on January 30th for an evaluation due to her hearing voices. They told police that they do not have an official diagnosis.
Bowser is being held in the Cambria County Prison.
Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neugebauer, along with Coroner Jeff Lees, have scheduled a news conference for 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon related to the investigation.
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