Monica Renee Bowie, 34: Abducted From Atlanta Parking Lot In 2007
Pittsburgh native Monica Renee Bowie was a class act. After graduating high school, she attended Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, where she was honored as class valedictorian. Wanting to start a new chapter in her life, Monica moved to Atlanta, but even with the distance, the 34-year-old remained close with her stepfather, mother, and four siblings.
When she first arrived in the ATL, Monica got a job working as an exotic dancer, but that only lasted for a few months. By 2007, she was working as an accountant for a handful of clients. However, she also owned two businesses: an event planning and promotions company and a clothing boutique.
On June 20, 2007, Monica and her fiancé, Shernotta “Rico” Walters, found themselves on the wrong side of the law. The two reportedly faced felony charges following an incident where police searched her vehicle and located a firearm and marijuana. At the time, Walters was driving the vehicle because he was borrowing the car. When questioned by police, Monica was adamant that she was unaware of the gun and drugs in her vehicle. She had never been in trouble with the law before, and after an investigation, the charges were dropped against Monica and Walters.
However, Walters was taken into custody because he was on parole after serving two years for a drug conviction. The handgun located in Monica’s car while he was operating the vehicle was a parole violation.
The Brazen Abduction Of Monica Bowie
Two weeks after the couple was arrested on those felony charges, Monica met with her lawyer on the afternoon of July 5, 2007. According to his accounts, she didn’t seem out of sorts and appeared to be acting normally. Later that evening, between 11:00 p.m. and 11:15 p.m., residents at the Lenox Apartments in Atlanta heard a woman screaming for help in the parking lot. Five witnesses checked to see what was happening and saw a woman being abducted.
The witnesses shared with police that Monica was taken by two men described as in their late 20s or 30s. One of the men was said to be heavyset with a beard. The vehicle they were traveling in was a maroon-colored 2002 Mercury Sable. One witness on the scene had the thought to write down the license plate before calling the police.
The Initial Police Investigation At The Scene
Upon arrival, investigators found several items in the parking lot. There was jewelry, a manila folder, food items, eyeglasses, a broken perfume bottle, a woman’s green jacket, and two broken fingernails. Police were able to locate the vehicle the following day. However, according to The Charley Project, the car had been burned and set ablaze.
An Arrest Is Made In The Case
Two days after Monica Renee Bowie was kidnapped, detectives arrested a man named Jasper Keels. He was charged with stealing the Mercury Sable because, during the investigation, police learned that Keels borrowed the vehicle from a friend but never returned it. While he was initially only arrested for theft, investigators tacked on the kidnapping charge two months later.
Detectives don’t know if Keels knew Monica personally, but they think her abduction was related to drug activity. There have been no arrests concerning her disappearance, yet investigators believe she is deceased. Walters was in jail at the time of Monica’s disappearance, and her family nor investigators believe that he was involved in his fiancé’s kidnapping.
Monica Bowie: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Monica was 5 foot 4 inches tall and 135 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a dark green dress shirt and blue jeans. She has braces on her teeth, and both of her ears are pierced. Monica would be 46 years old today.
Anyone with any information regarding this case is urged to contact the DeKalb County Police Department at (770) 724-7715.
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