Jody Lynn Bowman

Case record: Jody Lynn Bowman

STATUS

Jody Lynn Bowman was acquitted of a murder charge by a Florida jury in May 2004.

Background

Jody Lynn Bowman lived with her boyfriend George Jupin and her two daughters. Maddie was born in 1999 and was a product of Bowman’s second marriage. Sarah was her daughter from her first husband, John Herndon, and was born in 1992.

By April 2002, Jupin and Bowman had moved in together with her daughters. Investigators described the Micco, Fla., home as an illegal drug emporium.

The offence

On Jan. 20, 2003, Bowman shot and killed George Jupin, 40, as he lay in their bed. She claimed she had good reason: she said she had caught Jupin molesting her 3-year-old daughter. Prosecutors alleged that Bowman fabricated the story and that she murdered him in cold blood, motivated by fear that he was going to leave her.

Bowman admitted she shot Jupin to death. She said she wanted to question him about why he would do that to her daughter, and she said he taunted her and then lunged toward her. Convinced she would not leave the house alive, Bowman said she pulled the trigger and shot Jupin dead.

After the shooting, Bowman returned to Maddie and said she told her Jupin would never hurt her again. She slept with the girls that night and avoided going back into the master bedroom where Jupin lay dead. The next day, she took both girls to school and called Bruyere. She told him what happened.

The State’s case also included allegations about Bowman’s conduct after the killing. Prosecutors said Bowman dressed her boyfriend’s corpse in her own panties after she shot and killed him.

Investigation

A search of the Micco, Fla., residence uncovered heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and prescription drugs such as OxyContin. Jupin was described as selling and abusing many of these drugs. Jupin’s autopsy report revealed metabolites from cocaine use and other controlled substances.

The medical examiner testified that the victim suffered nine wounds, including several to the abdomen that were survivable and one lethal shot to the head. The medical examiner testified that the head wound was inflicted while the victim was still alive.

Crime scene experts testified about several items, including a bed sheet, bathrobe, pillow, and shirt that appeared to be bloodstained. The items were found in the laundry room, supporting the prosecution’s notion that someone had started to clean up the crime scene.

Arrest and charging

Bowman was arrested for first-degree murder. The charge was later reduced to second-degree murder after evidence showed there was no heightened premeditation.

Trial

Bowman was tried for second-degree murder before a Brevard County jury in March 2004. She faced life in prison if convicted.

Prosecution case

Prosecutor Rob Parker argued that even assuming the molestation occurred, Bowman had already managed to get her daughter out of the house and out of harm’s way. Parker contended Bowman lied about her daughter being abused and fabricated the story to justify the shooting, and he argued Bowman murdered her boyfriend because he was planning to leave her.

The prosecution alleged Bowman abused drugs and alcohol and was an active part of Jupin’s drug dealing business. Friends of the couple testified for the state that Bowman was not a good parent, and that it was Jupin who cared for the girls. Babysitters observed that Maddie suffered from such severe diaper rash that there were open sores, causing her to resist having her diaper changed.

The prosecution’s star witness was John Bruyere. Bruyere claimed that when Bowman called him following the shooting, she asked him for help getting rid of the body. Bruyere admitted he wanted Bowman to get the guns and drugs out of the house before calling police, but he said he did so because he was concerned about the children’s safety and did not want her to get into any more trouble.

Bruyere testified about the motorcycle trip he went on with Bowman and Jupin shortly before the shooting. He said Bowman accused Jupin of molesting her daughter, and that the allegations emerged when she “liquored up.” Bruyere also testified Bowman had accused other men of molesting Maddie, suggesting that Bowman had a pattern of making false accusations of molestation when she was drunk.

The prosecution conceded there were unanswered questions but argued that the forensic evidence did not support Bowman’s self-defense claim. Prosecutors pointed to her odd behavior after the shooting: her failure to call police, her call to Bruyere, and her own admission that she got Maddie out of the house before the shooting. Parker asked the jury to convict her of second-degree murder.

Defence case

Bowman claimed self-defense, stating that Jupin had lunged at her after she observed him masturbating within arm’s reach of her naked daughter.

Bowman described the day of the shooting as follows: while her 9-year-old daughter, Sarah, went off to school, she kept Maddie home from day care. Jupin was home as well, and Bowman said he had not left the bedroom following a drug binge. She left Maddie watching television in the Florida room and went to do household chores. While cleaning, Bowman said she realized the little girl was not where she left her. When she tried to go into her bedroom, she observed that it was locked; Bowman said the bedroom was normally locked because drugs, guns, and knives were often kept in that room. Bowman sought the key for the door, which she said was kept on a key chain on top the refrigerator. She said that when she opened the door, she observed that Jupin was on the bed wearing nothing but her underwear, masturbating within arm’s reach of her naked daughter.

Bowman said she grabbed Maddie, took her outside, and zipped her up in a pup tent. Bowman said Jupin hollered after her, “You better not f---in' tell anyone, no one will believe you.” Bowman said Jupin also threatened to pour acid on her genitalia.

Bowman said she returned armed with a 9mm handgun to protect herself and wanted to question Jupin about why he would do that to her daughter. Bowman said Jupin taunted her and then lunged toward her. She said she pulled the trigger and shot Jupin dead.

Bowman said she was so traumatized after the shooting that it was a wonder she did not get into an accident that day because she was numb. She avoided going back into the master bedroom where Jupin lay dead. The following day she took both girls to school and called Bruyere, telling him what happened. Bruyere advised her to get the firearms and drugs out of the house and said he was on his way.

Bruyere called their friend William Lane, and William Lane called police.

Key events leading up to the shooting

Bowman was suspicious of her boyfriend after her younger daughter, Maddie, told her that Jupin played a “bear game” with her. Bowman asked what the bear game was. Maddie told her that George made her lie on the bed and touched her “girlfriend.” Bowman explained that “‘girlfriend’ was the name she and Maddie used to refer to her genital area, because she was in toilet training.”

Bowman kept Maddie under close watch. The following day, Bowman and Jupin were scheduled to go on a motorcycle trip with their friend John Bruyere and Bruyere’s girlfriend. Bruyere was described as an ex-convict and a former drug addict and motorcycle gang member. Bruyere said he earned the nickname “Booster” by stealing tractor trailers. He lived in New Jersey but frequently visited the couple in Florida.

Bowman said she tried to talk to Bruyere about her daughter’s allegations, but Bruyere kept putting her off, saying they would discuss it later. Bowman said that when she could not contain the information much longer, she told both Jupin and Bruyere. Bowman said Jupin became very angry and defensive, but he also reassured her that he loved Maddie and would not do anything to harm her. Bowman said she believed him. She said they returned from the three-day motorcycle trip, and things seemed to return to normal.

People involved

Jody Lynn Bowman

Jody Lynn Bowman was 34 years old during the trial and was tried for second-degree murder in Brevard County. She claimed self-defense after she said she caught her boyfriend molesting her 3-year-old daughter.

George Jupin

George Jupin was 40 at the time of his death. He was described as a drug-dealing, pierced, tattooed biker and as having a penchant for porn. Investigators described the home as an illegal drug emporium. Jupin was described as selling and abusing drugs; his autopsy report revealed metabolites from cocaine use and other controlled substances.

Jupin served a stint in prison for armed robbery. Friends and relatives said he went to prison for beating an accused child molester, described as proof of how offended he was by such behavior.

Bowman’s friends described him as tough, gentle, and lovable. One prosecution witness said he liked to refer to himself as a “big ol’ bear.” His physical appearance included tattoos depicting demon-like creatures and gothic battle scenes, and a swastika over his chest. He also had the words “Hardcore Choppers,” on the side of his neck, described as reflecting his passion for motorcycles. The description also stated that almost every part of his body bore bold tattooing, including one on the inside of his lip. His nipples were described as pierced with silver rings and lead bullets dangled from them.

Jupin was on parole when he met Jody Lynn Bowman at the end of 2001. Ex-girlfriend Tina Mastandrea said he tried to remain on a straight path and that the two opened a jewelry business together, but that drugs tempted him back into a life of crime. Friends said he was a drug-dealing, philandering racist, and they “vehemently denied” he was a child molester. Friends described that Jupin often went on drug binges that lasted for days.

John Bruyere

John Bruyere was described as Bowman’s friend and as an ex-convict and former drug addict and motorcycle gang member. Bruyere frequently visited the couple in Florida. He earned the nickname “Booster” by stealing tractor trailers. Bruyere testified for the state as the prosecution’s star witness.

William Lane

William Lane was described as the person Bruyere called, after which he called police.

John Herndon

John Herndon was Bowman’s first husband and had long-term custody of Sarah, his biological daughter by Bowman. He was also seeking custody of Maddie.

Maddie and Sarah

Maddie was Bowman’s 3-year-old daughter at the time of the killing, and she was born in 1999. Sarah was Bowman’s 9-year-old daughter on Jan. 20, 2003, and was born in 1992.

Sentencing

Bowman faced life in prison if convicted.

Outcome

A jury of three men and three women deliberated for nine hours before acquitting Jody Lynn Bowman. The acquittal occurred in May 2004.

Prosecutors had offered Bowman a plea deal in which she could avoid a life sentence by pleading guilty in exchange for a 25-year term, but she turned it down.

Aftermath

Bowman’s first husband, John Herndon, had long-term custody of Sarah and was also seeking custody of Maddie.