Mom’s killer went free while I was on my honeymoon

A woman whose mother was murdered and her body hidden for 20 years has said she was about to leave on her honeymoon when she was told the killer would be released.

Michael Bowen was life imprisonment He was convicted of murdering his wife Sandy Bowen in 1998 and released on parole in January 2015, but has since been recalled to custody twice.

Ms Bowen’s daughter Anita Fox said she should never have been released from prison after it emerged she was originally granted parole despite being a high risk.

The Parole Board said the decision to release prisoners was taken “thoroughly and out of an abundance of caution” and that protecting the public was its “number one priority”.

Ms Fox said she was at Heathrow Airport preparing to board a flight to Spain in November 2024 when she learned Bowen would be freed again.

Ms Bowen, 53, disappeared from the home she shared with her husband in Llandogo, near Monmouth, in August 1997.

Her remains were found tied to the kitchen sink Washed up on the banks of Wentwood ReservoirNear Newport, in February 2017.

72-year-old Bowen, now known as Raymond Bowen, refused to tell police where Sandy’s body was and never admitted to her murder.

Court documents seen by BBC Wales now reveal that Bowen was considered high risk at the time of his initial release in 2015.

Ms Fox said this meant Bowen should not have been released.

“He took away my mother, my chance to grow old with her, and my grandchildren’s chance to meet her,” he said.

“I can never say what the real closure is, because he never admitted to killing my mother.”

Any prisoner serving a life sentence will be subject to license conditions for the rest of his life after release.

Bowen was recalled to prison for the first time in December 2015 after breaching his license and remained there until September 2016.

He was recalled again in May 2020 after an incident where threats were made and remained in custody for the next four and a half years.

When deciding whether to release her once again, the parole board panel said it had considered the risk factors of her attitude towards relationships, including “a desire to control a partner”, “jealousy” and “acceptance of relationships”. Being unable to do”.

The panel heard that Bowen had undertaken programs in prison to address his propensity towards violence.

But Anita said she believed Bowen “has not made any changes to become a better person”, especially in his relationships with women.

“It troubles me because as far as I’m concerned, he should never have been let out in the first place,” he said.

Retired Detective Chief Inspector Justin O’Keeffe of Gwent Police said it was “disappointing and disappointing” to see that Bowen completed the same course in prison that he had completed during his first stint in prison.

He said, “You would like to think that someone who has spent a significant amount of time in a prison environment would be able to see the error of his ways.”

“You would think they might reflect on their behavior.”

Ms Fox, who lives in Folkestone, Kent, said her victim liaison officer had called to tell her about Bowen’s release from custody as she was about to start her honeymoon.

The parole board said it was “satisfied that imprisonment is no longer necessary for the safety of the public”.

Bowen’s release is subject to license conditions including “observing the exclusion zone”, increased monitoring and supervision, and disclosing developing relationships.

Mr O’Keeffe said the Sandy Bowen case was “unique” for the Gwent force, where the killer was brought to justice without a body.

He described Bowen as “a violent, controlling, coercive, jealous bully”, whose trial found evidence of attacks on previous partners.

He said, “I remember how he lied to everyone, including his family, and how he kept up that appearance.”

Ms Fox campaigned Helen’s LawWhich ensures that murderers who hide information about their victims, including the location of their remains, can be kept behind bars for a longer period of time.

She said that when her mother’s body was finally found she left her ashes at home because she “needed to keep them with me”.

Her partner and son then scattered Ms Bowen’s ashes at the spot they both loved.

“That’s when I knew I could move forward.”