I (Almost) Got Away with It (2010–2016): Season 1, Episode 3 - Got No Fingerprints - full transcript

Narrator:
OUTSIDE BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA,

THE BODY OF BRENDA BOWEN
IS FOUND FLOATING IN A RIVER.

Curry:
IT WAS WRAPPED IN A SHEET.

IT WAS WRAPPED IN SOME CHAINS.
IT WAS TIED WITH SOME ROPE.

Narrator: HER EX-HUSBAND,
JERRY LEE BOWEN,

JUMPS BAIL

AND LEADS INVESTIGATORS
ON A CROSS-COUNTRY MANHUNT.

POLICE!
LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!

LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!

Storey:
WE WERE ALWAYS AFRAID

THAT IF HE DID IT ONCE,
HE COULD DO IT AGAIN.



Narrator: BOWEN IS DESPERATE

AND TAKES DRASTIC MEASURES
TO ERASE HIS IDENTITY.

Bowen: IT WAS EXACTLY LIKE
HOLDING YOUR FINGER TO A FIRE.

IT WAS VERY, VERY PAINFUL.

Narrator: CRIMINALS SOMETIMES
TRY TO ESCAPE FROM JUSTICE.

THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW ONE MAN
ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

ON A COLD WINTER DAY
IN SHELBY COUNTY, ALABAMA,

BRENDA BRECKENRIDGE BOWEN,

A MOTHER OF TWO
AND A LOCAL CHURCH LEADER,

DISAPPEARS.

I'M THE ONE
THAT RECEIVED THE PHONE CALL

FROM MR. BRECKENRIDGE,
BRENDA'S DAD,

SAYING THAT SOMETHING
WAS WRONG...



[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

...THAT BRENDA HAD NOT COME TO
THE HOUSE TO PICK HER MOTHER UP

TO TAKE HER TO
A DOCTOR'S VISIT THAT MORNING.

Narrator: SHERIFF CHRIS CURRY
IS A 27-YEAR VETERAN

OF THE SHELBY COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE

AND KNOWS THE FAMILY WELL.

Curry: IT WASN'T
THAT THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE

OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

ENOUGH TIME HAD GONE BY,
AND HE REALIZED

THAT NO PHONE CALL,
NO CONTACT FROM BRENDA,

THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING
DEFINITELY WRONG.

Narrator:
BRENDA IS WELL-KNOWN IN TOWN,
AND WORD OF HER DISAPPEARANCE

QUICKLY SPREADS
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

HER CLOSE FRIEND DARLENE STOREY
KNOWS BRENDA FROM CHURCH.

I FIRST LEARNED
OF BRENDA'S DISAPPEARANCE

PROBABLY AROUND LUNCHTIME
THE DAY SHE DISAPPEARED.

I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG

AND JUST GOT IN THE CAR AND LEFT
AND HEADED TO THE CHURCH.

THAT'S WHERE THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE LOOKING FOR HER WERE.

Woman: WE HAVE ABOUT 20 ZONES
WE'RE GONNA BE COVERING TODAY.

Narrator:
MANY IN THE COMMUNITY TURN OUT
TO HELP SEARCH FOR BRENDA.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING
THAT BRENDA MAY HAVE DROPPED,

ANYTHING THAT YOU...

A LOCAL CHURCH
SERVES AS THE COMMAND POST.

LET'S GO.

Narrator: THE VOLUNTEERS
FAN OUT FROM THERE.

Storey: TO BE ABLE TO SEARCH,

YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE DOING
SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE.

Curry:
WE HAD JUST A TREMENDOUS EFFORT

PUT FORTH BY THE VOLUNTEERS
AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT,

THE RESCUE SQUADS,
TO TRY AND LOCATE HER.

Narrator:
DESPITE THE HUNDREDS OF
VOLUNTEERS SEARCHING FOR BRENDA,

THERE IS ONE INDIVIDUAL

SUSPICIOUSLY ABSENT
FROM THE EFFORTS --

BRENDA'S EX-HUSBAND,
JERRY LEE BOWEN.

BY THE TIME
OF BRENDA'S DISAPPEARANCE,

JERRY AND BRENDA
HAD BEEN DIVORCED FOR TWO YEARS.

BRENDA AND THEIR CHILDREN
ARE LIVING IN THE MAIN HOUSE,

WHILE JERRY,
A SUCCESSFUL CONTRACTOR,

LIVES IN THE CONVERTED GARAGE
NEXT DOOR.

Bowen:
YOU ALWAYS MAINTAIN HOPE.

I MEAN,
THE LADY AND I WERE DIVORCED,

AND EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T WANT
TO LIVE WITH HER ANYMORE,

SHE WAS THE MOTHER
OF MY TWO CHILDREN,

AND I DIDN'T WISH HER ANY HARM
IN ANY WAY.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS THINK OTHERWISE.

THEY SEARCH BOWEN'S HOUSE,
LOOKING FOR ANYTHING

THAT MIGHT LINK HIM
TO BRENDA'S DISAPPEARANCE.

DEPUTIES COME UP EMPTY-HANDED.

AS THE SEARCH
CONTINUES INTO THE NIGHT,

THEY MAKE A GRIM DISCOVERY.

A VOLUNTEER SPOTS BRENDA'S CAR.

IT'S BEEN ABANDONED
ON A DIRT ROAD

DEEP IN THE WOODS,
NOT FAR FROM HER HOUSE.

Curry: IT'S VERY CRITICAL
AT THE EARLY STAGES OF A SEARCH

TO DO ALL YOU CAN DO,

BECAUSE AS TIME GOES ON, THE
CHANCES OF FINDING THE PERSON,

OR WORSE -- FINDING THE PERSON
STILL ALIVE -- DWINDLE.

Narrator: DEPUTIES FOCUS THEIR
ATTENTION ON JERRY LEE BOWEN.

Bowen: AND THEN THAT NIGHT,

ABOUT 2:00 OR 3:00
IN THE MORNING,

THEY ASKED ME IF I WOULD GO
DOWNTOWN TO TALK WITH THEM.

MR. BOWEN, I WANT YOU
TO COME DOWN TO THE OFFICE

AND ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.

IT'S KIND OF LATE.

BOWEN WAS A SMART,
MANIPULATIVE PERSON

WHO LIKED TO BE IN CONTROL,
WAS VERY ORGANIZED.

AND I THINK
THAT WHEN YOU DEALT WITH HIM,

YOU HAD TO BE ON YOUR GUARD.

Bowen: I WAS SO EMBARRASSED.

I HAD NEVER BEEN ARRESTED,

NEVER SPENT A MOMENT IN JAIL,
NOTHING.

IT TURNED MY WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

Narrator: BOWEN GIVES DEPUTIES
LITTLE INFORMATION.

THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO HOLD HIM,

SO BOWEN IS RELEASED.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL TERMINATE
THE INTERVIEW, THEN.

AS WEEKS GO BY,

BOTH THE INVESTIGATORS
AND THE COMMUNITY

BEGIN TO SUSPECT THE WORST.

Storey: WHEN SOMEBODY YOU LOVE
IS MISSING,

THERE'S ALWAYS THAT HOPE EVERY
NIGHT THAT WHEREVER SHE WAS,

THAT GOD WOULD KEEP HER SAFE

AND THAT THE NEXT DAY
YOU WOULD FIND HER

AND SHE WAS GONNA BE OKAY.

BUT AS TIME WENT ON, YOU KNOW,

YOU COME TO REALIZE
THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

Narrator: ON MARCH 29,

TWO MONTHS
AFTER BRENDA'S DISAPPEARANCE,

A BODY IS FOUND
FLOATING IN THE COOSA RIVER

16 MILES FROM THE BOWEN HOUSE.

Curry:
AND THIS PHONE CALL COMES IN

THAT TWO FISHERMEN DISCOVERED
SOMETHING IN THE RIVER.

THE BODY HAD BEEN IN THE WATER
AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME.

IT WAS WRAPPED IN A SHEET.

IT WAS WRAPPED IN SOME CHAINS.
IT WAS TIED WITH SOME ROPE.

Narrator: THE FORENSICS TEAM
ARRIVES AND EXAMINES THE BODY.

THEY ARE UNABLE
TO LOCATE MANY CLUES.

Curry: THE CORONER'S OFFICE
AND THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT

OF FORENSIC SCIENCE'S
MEDICAL EXAMINER

COULD NOT PINPOINT
A SPECIFIC CAUSE OF DEATH

BECAUSE THE BODY
HAD BEEN IN THE WATER

APPARENTLY THE ENTIRE TWO MONTHS

AND HAD DETERIORATED
SIGNIFICANTLY.

Narrator:
NEWS OF THE GRISLY DISCOVERY

REACHES A HEARTBROKEN COMMUNITY.

Storey: AFTER TWO MONTHS,

YOU KNOW
IT'S NOT GONNA BE A GOOD ENDING.

IT'S A HARD THING TO REALIZE,

THAT THAT'S TRULY
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

Narrator:
WITH FOUL PLAY CLEARLY EVIDENT,

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BEGINS
THEIR HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION.

POLICE CONTACT
BRENDA'S NEIGHBORS,

CHURCH MEMBERS,
BUSINESS ASSOCIATES,

AND HER EX-HUSBAND,
JERRY LEE BOWEN.

Curry: WE KEEP WORKING
THROUGH THAT LIST,

ELIMINATING THEM
FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER,

AND KEEP COMING BACK TO JERRY

WITH ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS AND ISSUES,

WHICH, YOU KNOW,
HE WASN'T VERY FORTHCOMING.

Narrator:
BOWEN IS THEIR PRIME SUSPECT,

AND FOR NEARLY A YEAR,
DEPUTIES CONTINUE TO WATCH HIM,

GATHER EVIDENCE,
AND BUILD THEIR CASE.

INVESTIGATORS RECONSTRUCT

THE EVENTS LEADING UP
TO BRENDA'S DISAPPEARANCE.

THEY RETURN TO THE LOCATION
WHERE BRENDA'S BODY WAS FOUND.

Curry: SO, IT WAS
AN 11-MONTH INTENSIVE EFFORT

PUT ON BY OUR INVESTIGATORS
AND ASSOCIATES

BEFORE WE REACHED A POINT

WHERE WE WERE READY
TO PRESENT IT TO A GRAND JURY.

Narrator: LAW ENFORCEMENT HEADS
OUT TO ARREST JERRY LEE BOWEN.

Curry: JERRY WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED
FIREARMS EXPERT.

HE'S SHOT A LOT,
OWNED A LOT OF GUNS.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
KNOW THAT HIS GUN COLLECTION

INCLUDES A .44-CALIBER MAGNUM
AND A 12-GAUGE SHOTGUN.

Curry: HE HAD THE POTENTIAL
TO BE DANGEROUS

IF HE CHOSE TO MAKE A STAND,

SO WE TOOK SUFFICIENT FORCE

TO MAKE SURE
IT WAS HANDLED EFFECTIVELY.

Narrator:
LATE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON,

THE SHERIFF, HIS DEPUTIES,
AND THE S.W.A.T. TEAM

ARRIVE AT BOWEN'S HOME.

THEY SURROUND THE BUILDING
AND CUT THE PHONE LINES.

MR. BOWEN, COME OUT
WITH YOUR HANDS UP NOW.

YOUR HOUSE IS SURROUNDED.

Bowen: I GOT A PHONE CALL
FROM SOMEONE THAT TOLD ME

THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN
THE INDICTMENT

AND WERE GONNA COME TO ARREST ME
ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON --

THAT FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

Narrator: THE SHERIFF
OFFERS ONE FINAL WARNING.

MR. BOWEN, IF YOU DO NOT
COME OUT NOW, WE ARE COMING IN.

THERE IS NO RESPONSE
FROM INSIDE.

THEN THEY CHARGE IN.

POLICE!
LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!

LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!

LEFT CLEAR.

RIGHT CLEAR.

THEY SEARCH THE PREMISES.

BOWEN IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

Bowen:
I WAS TOLD BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF

THAT THE SHERIFF HAD SENT
THE S.W.A.T. TEAM OUT THERE

WITH A BODY BAG, SAYING,

"WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE
TO CONVICT HIM.

BRING HIM BACK IN A BAG."

THAT'S THE REASON I RAN.

Narrator: BOWEN KNOWS THAT THE
AUTHORITIES ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED

AND FEARS THAT THE ARREST
COULD TURN VIOLENT.

HE LEAVES THE COUNTY
AND SPENDS THE NEXT TWO DAYS

LAYING LOW IN A CHEAP MOTEL.

BOWEN WANTS TO TURN HIMSELF IN
ON HIS OWN TERMS.

FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING,

BOWEN CALLS HIS ATTORNEY
TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS.

JERRY LEE BOWEN
IS INDICTED FOR MURDER.

HE MAKES BAIL THE NEXT DAY.

THE COMMUNITY IS TERRIFIED

THAT AN ACCUSED KILLER
IS WALKING THE STREETS.

Storey: AFTER JERRY WAS ARRESTED
AND THEN HE WAS OUT ON BAIL,

IT WAS A VERY SCARY TIME.

Narrator: BOWEN RETURNS TO WORK
AS A CONTRACTOR.

FOR HIM,
LIFE CONTINUES ON AS BEFORE.

HE SHOPS AT THE HARDWARE STORE
WHERE DARLENE WORKS.

Storey: AND I REMEMBER ONCE
WHEN HE WALKED UP,

HE OFFERED ME HIS HAND
TO SHAKE HANDS WITH ME,

AND I JUST LOOKED AT HIS HAND,
AND ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS,

"THIS IS THE HAND
THAT KILLED HER."

THERE'S NO WAY
I COULD TOUCH HIM.

Narrator: THE TRIAL BEGINS
ON APRIL 17, 2000.

MR. BOWEN IS A...

THE D.A. PRESENTS HIS CASE.

THIS IS NOT
THE UPSTANDING CITIZEN

HE WOULD LIKE YOU
TO THINK THAT HE IS.

Narrator:
THERE IS NO DIRECT EVIDENCE

LINKING BOWEN
TO THE MURDER OF HIS EX-WIFE,

BUT THE D.A. PRESENTS A BARRAGE
OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

HE HAD THE MOTIVE,
HE HAD THE ABILITY,

AND HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

Narrator: FIRST,
HE CHALLENGES BOWEN'S CLAIM

TO HAVE BEEN HOME DURING THE
TIME OF BRENDA'S DISAPPEARANCE.

ACCORDING TO A WORKMAN
WHO STOPPED BY THE HOUSE,

NO ONE WAS HOME.

SECONDLY, THE D.A. SHOWS

THAT THE KNOTS USED
TO TIE BRENDA UP WERE UNUSUAL

AND WERE KNOTS
THAT BOWEN KNEW HOW TO TIE.

AND FINALLY, ON THE NIGHT
OF BRENDA'S DISAPPEARANCE,

BOWEN WAS ALREADY REFERRING
TO HER IN THE PAST TENSE,

LONG BEFORE
HER BODY WAS FOUND.

IT HAD BEEN
LESS THAN A DAY.

Storey: SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
WE SAW AND HEARD AFTERWARDS,

YOU'LL NEVER FORGET.

THERE WERE PICTURES
FROM THE SCENE.

THERE WERE DETAILS ABOUT HOW
SHE LOOKED WHEN THEY FOUND HER.

AND JERRY JUST SAT THERE
SO CALM.

Narrator: AFTER DELIBERATING
FOR THREE DAYS,

THE JURY RETURNS
WITH THEIR VERDICT.

Judge: JERRY BOWEN...

THE JURY HAS FOUND YOU GUILTY

OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

Narrator:
DESPITE THE LACK OF EVIDENCE,

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
HAS CONVINCED THE JURY

THAT THEY FIND JERRY LEE BOWEN
GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

AND I WAS JUST SHOCKED,
TOTALLY SHOCKED

THAT THEY COULD CONVICT ME

WITH NO EVIDENCE
AND NO WITNESSES

AND, BASICALLY,
TRUMPED-UP FACTS.

WHEN THE VERDICT DID COME...

THERE WAS SUCH A RELIEF,

AND THERE WAS CRYING,
BUT IT WAS QUIET.

IT WAS VERY QUIET
IN THE COURTROOM.

SENTENCING WILL TAKE PLACE
IN TWO MONTHS.

Narrator: REMARKABLY, DESPITE
BEING CONVICTED OF MURDER,

BOWEN IS RELEASED ON BAIL.

Bowen:
THEY LET ME OUT ON BAIL

BECAUSE
I HAD SUCH A CLEAN RECORD.

SO IT WAS NOT THAT HARD
TO GET A BOND.

Narrator:
THE SHERIFFS OPPOSE HIS RELEASE

BUT ARE UNABLE TO PREVENT IT.

HIS BAIL IS SET AT $150,000.

BOWEN PUTS HIS PROPERTY UP
TO COVER THE BAIL

AND RETURNS HOME.

HE IS DUE FOR SENTENCING
IN TWO MONTHS.

Curry:
SO, THAT BOTHERED ME.

BUT HIS BEHAVIOR
DIDN'T DIVULGE ANYTHING.

HE WAS IN TOWN,
HE WAS AT NORMAL PLACES,

HE WAS DOING
SOMEWHAT NORMAL THINGS.

WE DID KEEP AN EYE ON HIM.

WE DID MAKE SURE
WE WERE WATCHING, SO TO SPEAK.

BUT EVERYTHING
SEEMED TO BE NORMAL.

Narrator: IT'S BEEN 2œ YEARS
SINCE BRENDA DISAPPEARED.

JERRY BOWEN
HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF HER MURDER

AND IS NOW DUE IN COURT
FOR SENTENCING.

Curry:
YOU COULD FEEL THE TENSION.

YOU COULD FEEL THAT PEOPLE

WERE ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT
THE SENTENCE WAS GOING TO BE.

SO, AS TIME GOES BY
AND WE ALL LOOK AT OUR WATCH

AND WE LOOK AT THE CLOCK
ON THE WALL,

AND IT'S 15 MINUTES,
IT'S 20 MINUTES

PAST TIME THAT THE COURT
WAS SUPPOSED TO CONVENE,

YOU CAN SENSE AND FEEL THAT
EMOTION DEVELOPING IN THAT ROOM.

Narrator:
FINALLY, ONE OF BOWEN'S
LAWYERS ENTERS THE COURTROOM.

HE'S WORRIED.

WHERE IS MR. BOWEN?

I'M SORRY, YOUR HONOR.
WE --

Narrator:
BOWEN'S LAWYER TELLS THE JUDGE

THAT THEIR CLIENT
IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SENTENCING.

IN FACT, HE'S GONE,

AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA
WHERE HE IS.

Narrator:
SHELBY COUNTY, ALABAMA.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF

SINCE FISHERMEN DISCOVERED THE
BODY OF A LOCAL CHURCH LEADER,

BRENDA BRECKENRIDGE BOWEN.

HER EX-HUSBAND, JERRY LEE BOWEN,

HAS BEEN CONVICTED
OF HER MURDER.

THE JURY
HAS FOUND YOU GUILTY.

ON THE DAY OF HIS SENTENCING,

BOWEN IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

Curry: FIRST THING
THAT WENT THROUGH MY HEAD

WAS WE NEED
TO GET A SEARCH WARRANT,

AND FROM THAT POINT FORWARD,

A NATIONWIDE SEARCH
WAS INSTITUTED.

Narrator:
THE SHERIFF ACTS QUICKLY.

HIS DEPUTIES SEARCH BOWEN'S HOME

AND DISCOVER A NOTE
HE HAS LEFT BEHIND.

Bowen:
I LEFT A NOTE FOR MY FAMILY,

SAYING THAT I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE

I SHOULD HAVE TO
SPEND TIME IN PRISON

FOR A CRIME
THAT I DID NOT COMMIT

AND THAT I WAS GOING ON THE RUN,

TO LET THEM KNOW
THAT I WAS LEAVING.

Narrator: BOWEN BEGAN PLANNING
HIS ESCAPE TWO MONTHS EARLIER,

THE DAY AFTER BEING CONVICTED
OF MURDER.

HE RESEARCHED
HOW TO BE A FUGITIVE,

HOW TO DISAPPEAR,

AND HOW TO ASSUME
A NEW IDENTITY.

HE KNEW
THAT DEPUTIES WERE WATCHING HIM

AND THAT HE WOULD BE SPOTTED
IF HE TRIED TO LEAVE TOWN

IN HIS OWN TRUCK.

HE NEEDED A CAR THAT AUTHORITIES
WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE.

Bowen: I PUT ON A FEDORA HAT,

WORE MY GLASSES,
DRESSED IN SUBDUED CLOTHING,

AND CARRIED A CANE.

Narrator:
BOWEN PAID CASH FOR THE CAR

AND THEN PREPARED
FOR HIS NEW LIFE ON THE RUN.

Bowen: SO I TOOK EVERYTHING
I COULD IN THESE THREE BAGS,

PUT THEM IN THE CAR,

AND THE NEXT NIGHT,

AS SOON AS IT GOT DARK,
I LEFT.

I WAS KIND OF, LIKE,
HOPING FOR THE BEST,

EXPECTING THE WORST.

Narrator:
UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS,

BOWEN LEAVES HIS HOME,
HIS FAMILY,

AND THE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
HE'S BUILT.

HE'S NOW A FUGITIVE ON THE RUN.

Bowen:
A PAIR OF HEADLIGHTS WOULD
POP UP IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR,

AND, "I WONDER IF THEY'RE
FOLLOWING ME," YOU KNOW?

AND I JUST LEFT,

PARANOID, EXTREMELY SAD,

AND JUST A LITTLE SCARED.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS QUICKLY REALIZE
THAT THE MANHUNT FOR BOWEN

WILL REQUIRE A NATIONAL
OR EVEN AN INTERNATIONAL SEARCH.

THEY CONTACT THE FBI
AND REQUEST ASSISTANCE.

THE FBI ASSIGNS A SPECIAL AGENT
TO THE CASE.

HE IS UNDERCOVER
AND CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED.

Agent:
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS

YOU WIND UP DOING
IN ANY INVESTIGATION

IS YOU GO BACK AND CONTACT
FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND ASSOCIATES.

Narrator:
THE FBI SEARCH BOWEN'S HOUSE

AND SEIZE HIS COMPUTER.

Agent: AT THE TIME,
WE HAD NO REAL INDICATION

AS TO WHICH DIRECTION
THAT HE WAS TRAVELING.

ALL OF HIS INTERNET SEARCH TERMS

PRETTY MUCH WENT
TO ALL CORNERS OF THE U.S.

I MEAN, TO ME,
IT BECAME PRETTY APPARENT

THAT HIS INTENT WAS TO LEAVE,

TO CHANGE HIS IDENTITY,
AND NOT TO COME BACK.

Narrator:
BOWEN'S COMPUTER ALSO REVEALS
SOME DISTURBING INFORMATION.

THERE WERE SOME PORNOGRAPHIC
IMAGES ON THAT COMPUTER

THAT I WOULD NOT EVER DREAM

OF BEING ALLOWED TO BE SEEN
BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THEY WERE EXTREMELY GRAPHIC,
EXTREMELY BRUTAL.

THAT KIND OF REVELATION

THAT, HERE'S THE INNER WORLD
THAT BOWEN LIVED IN --

IT WAS VERY, VERY FRIGHTENING.

IT WAS INDICATIVE
THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS PERSON

THAT LIVES WITHIN
THAT SEEMINGLY NORMAL SHELL.

Narrator:
THE FBI ALERTS BORDER OFFICIALS

THAT BOWEN MAY ATTEMPT
TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

THEY ALSO CONTINUE
THEIR SEARCH OF ALABAMA,

SCOURING THE ENTIRE STATE.

WHAT THE POLICE DON'T KNOW

IS THAT BOWEN
IS 1,500 MILES AWAY.

HE'S ROAMING THE STREETS
OF RENO, NEVADA.

I ARRIVED IN RENO,

AND RENO WAS OPEN ENOUGH
AND LAID-BACK ENOUGH

THAT I FELT
MORE COMFORTABLE THERE,

THAT I COULD BLEND IN
AND MORE EASILY DISAPPEAR THERE.

Narrator:
BOWEN NEEDS A FAKE I.D.

HE PLANS TO FIND A HOMELESS MAN,
BEFRIEND HIM,

AND THEN ASSUME HIS IDENTITY.

Bowen: I STARTED SHOPPING
FOR SOMEONE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME.

I STARTED HITTING THE
SOUP HALLS, THE PUBLIC PARKS,

AND BEFRIENDING HOMELESS MEN

WHO WERE CLOSE TO MY AGE,
CLOSE TO MY HEIGHT, TOO.

Narrator:
BOWEN FINDS IT EASY

TO MANIPULATE
THE HOMELESS MEN HE MEETS.

YOU GUYS TAKE CARE.
YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY, OKAY?

Bowen: HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE EAGER
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT USED TO BE --

HOW STRONG AND GOOD-LOOKING
THEY USED TO BE,

HOW THEY USED TO WORK,

BECAUSE PRESENT DAY
IS TOO PAINFUL.

I'M DOIN' ALL RIGHT.
ANYBODY THIRSTY?

Narrator:
IT DOESN'T TAKE BOWEN LONG

TO LOCK ON TO A GOOD PROSPECT.

Bowen:
I BEFRIENDED RICHARD BASSETT,

WHO WAS AN OLDER GENTLEMAN

WHO SLEPT ON THE BANKS
OF THE TRUCKEE RIVER IN RENO.

I FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD
ALMOST NO CONTACT WITH FAMILY.

I FOUND OUT HE WOULD NOT WORK.

HE FIT THE CRITERIA.

OH, YOU GO AHEAD, RICHARD.
I GOT YOUR BACK.

YOU GO AHEAD
AND TAKE A SLEEP.

Narrator: BOWEN GETS AHOLD
OF RICHARD BASSETT'S

DRIVER'S LICENSE
AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.

BOWEN HITS THE ROAD

WITH THE MAKINGS
OF A NEW IDENTITY IN HAND.

HE TRAVELS FROM RENO, NEVADA,
TO SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH,

A JOURNEY OF 500 MILES.

Bowen:
WHEN I GOT THE INFORMATION
FROM RICHARD BASSETT,

I DECIDED TO GO TO THE DMV
IN SALT LAKE CITY

AND GET MY DRIVER'S LICENSE
AND MY STATE I.D.

THAT WAS A VERY HIGH POINT
OF ANXIETY FOR ME.

Narrator:
CAMERAS LINE THE CEILING.

POLICE MAN THE DOORS.

IF HE GETS THROUGH THIS,
HE'S HOME FREE.

IF HE GETS CAUGHT
TRYING TO STEAL AN IDENTITY,

IT'S STRAIGHT TO PRISON.

Bowen: I MADE SURE I WAS DRESSED
VERY NEAT, CONSERVATIVE.

EVEN WITH ALL THAT AND THE
DOCUMENTS I HAD IN MY HAND --

A CERTIFIED SOCIAL SECURITY CARD

AND THE INFORMATION

FROM RICHARD BASSETT'S
OLD DRIVER'S LICENSE --

IT WAS STILL
A VERY ANXIOUS FEW MINUTES.

Narrator:
BOWEN FILLS OUT THE PAPERWORK
USING BASSETT'S INFORMATION.

HE'S CAREFUL,
BUT THE TENSION IS TOO MUCH.

HE SLIPS UP
AND USES HIS OWN YEAR OF BIRTH

INSTEAD OF RICHARD BASSETT'S.

HAVE A SEAT.
IT'LL JUST BE A MINUTE.

Bowen:
WHEN THEY NOTICED THE MISTAKE,

I NOT ONLY
HAD BEEN SITTING THERE,

DOING NOTHING BUT WORRYING,

WAITING FOR THE PHOTO
TO PRINT OUT

AND LETTING MY ANXIETY BUILD,

THEY CALLED ME ON THE MISTAKE.

AND AT THAT POINT,
I THOUGHT I WAS DEAD.

THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE.

Narrator:
THE TELLER AT THE DMV POINTS OUT
THE DISCREPANCY IN BIRTH DATES.

ON THE OUTSIDE,
BOWEN REMAINS CALM AND AT EASE,

BUT ON THE INSIDE,
HE'S TERRIFIED.

THAT'S MY S-SON'S BIRTHDAY.

Bowen: I THINK
BECAUSE OF THE WAY I LOOKED,

THE WAY I WAS TALKING, ACTING
SO COMFORTABLE AND NONCHALANT,

THAT IT WAS PASSED OFF
AS AN HONEST MISTAKE.

OKAY, WELL,
SEEMS TO BE FINE.

Narrator:
THE TELLER LETS THE MISTAKE GO

AND GIVES BOWEN HIS NEW I.D.

Bowen: AND I GOT OUTSIDE.

IT WAS LIKE A FLOOD OF RELIEF...

JUST ALMOST TANGIBLE...

WASHING OVER ME.

Narrator: JERRY BOWEN
IS NOW KNOWN AS RICHARD BASSETT.

USING HIS NEW IDENTITY,

BOWEN BEGINS TO ESTABLISH A LIFE
FOR HIMSELF IN SALT LAKE CITY.

HE FALLS BACK
ON HIS DRYWALL EXPERIENCE

AND LANDS
A SMALL SUBCONTRACTING JOB.

Bowen: I STARTED FINISHING THE
DRYWALL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY --

I MEAN WITHIN JUST A FEW DAYS --

AND THEN I STARTED --

MY PARANOIA
STARTED KICKING IN.

Narrator: BOWEN DECIDES
IT'S TIME TO LITERALLY ERASE

THE LAST LINK
TO HIS PAST IDENTITY.

I DECIDED TO ETCH, OR ERASE,

MY FINGERPRINTS
FROM MY FINGERTIPS.

Narrator: FROM HIS RESEARCH,

BOWEN LEARNED HOW TO USE ACID TO
BURN THE PRINTS OFF HIS FINGERS.

AAH!

BOWEN BEGINS
THE SLOW, PAINFUL PROCESS

OF HOLDING EACH FINGER IN ACID

FOR AS LONG
AS HE CAN TAKE THE PAIN.

Bowen: BURNING LIKE FIRE.

A LOT OF TIMES,

I WOULD LIFT MY FINGER
OUT OF THE ACID,

AND IT WOULD BE HURTING SO BAD,

I WOULD PACE
UP AND DOWN THE ROOM.

Narrator:
BOWEN NEEDS TO KEEP WORKING.

HE CAN'T AFFORD TO DAMAGE
ALL OF HIS FINGERS AT ONCE.

SO OVER A PERIOD
OF SEVERAL MONTHS,

HE WORKS ONE FINGER AT A TIME.

THEN HE GETS TO HIS RING FINGER
AND GOES TOO FAR.

[ GROANS ]

Narrator:
AFTER BEING CONVICTED

OF MURDERING HIS EX-WIFE
IN 1998...

...JERRY LEE BOWEN FLEES
SHELBY COUNTY, ALABAMA,

AND TAKES ON THE ALIAS

OF A HOMELESS MAN
NAMED RICHARD BASSETT.

IN THE WINTER OF 2002,

HE'S LITERALLY ERASING
PROOF OF HIS TRUE IDENTITY

BY BURNING OFF HIS FINGERTIPS
WITH ACID.

[ GROANS ]

Bowen: AS THE ACID
WAS WORKING ON THE FINGER,

APPARENTLY,
IT PENETRATED BELOW THE SKIN

AND KILLED
THE END OF THE FINGER,

BECAUSE IT IMMEDIATELY TURNED
BLACK LIKE SEVERE FROSTBITE.

AND OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
IT SHRIVELED

AND BECAME
AS HARD AS A PIECE OF WOOD.

I KNEW THEN THAT
THE END OF THE FINGER WAS DEAD.

WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A SEAT
AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK?
THANKS, DOC.

SO, UH,
TELL ME WHAT YOU DID.

Narrator: BOWEN MUST GET
MEDICAL ATTENTION.

HE KNOWS IT'S A RISKY MOVE,
BUT HE HAS NO CHOICE.

IF THE DOCTOR SEES SCARRING
ON HIS OTHER FINGERTIPS,

HE MIGHT BECOME SUSPICIOUS.

I DO CONSTRUCTION, AND
IT GETS KIND OF ROUGH SOMETIMES.

Bowen: SO, I MADE UP A STORY
ABOUT BEING HURT ON THE JOB

AND WENT TO A DOCTOR.

I WAS VERY CAREFUL,

WHEN HE WAS WORKING
ON MY FINGER,

NOT TO LET HIM SEE THE PADS
OF THE OTHER FINGERS.

Narrator: LUCKY FOR BOWEN,
THE DOCTOR DOESN'T NOTICE.

HE SIMPLY REMOVES THE DEAD PART
OF BOWEN'S FINGER.

HE SAVED THE LAST JOINT,

BUT I STILL LOST ABOUT
A HALF AN INCH OF THE FINGER.

Narrator:
BOWEN LIVES IN SALT LAKE CITY
FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

HE'S FEELING CONFIDENT IN HIS
NEW IDENTITY AS RICHARD BASSETT.

BACK IN ALABAMA,

INVESTIGATORS
ARE STILL FOLLOWING UP ON LEADS.

Curry: WHEN YOU HAVE
A FUGITIVE MISSING, OF COURSE,

YOU START
RIGHT AROUND WHERE YOU ARE,

AND THE LOCAL MEDIA
WAS VERY HELPFUL.

WE PUT POSTERS, FLYERS OUT
THAT THEY SHOWED ON TV,

TOLD THE STORY, PICTURES.

WE PUT FLYERS
ALL AROUND THE COMMUNITY.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,
JERRY BOWEN IS ON HIS WAY

BACK TO RENO, NEVADA.

HE HAS A NAGGING FEELING
ABOUT THE REAL RICHARD BASSETT

AND RETURNS TO CHECK ON HIM.

I WAS CONCERNED
ABOUT RICHARD BASSETT

AND HIS BEING HEALTHY AND ALIVE,

BECAUSE HE WAS
A HARD-CORE ALCOHOLIC

WHO APPARENTLY
HAD A LOT OF INTERNAL DAMAGE

THAT THE ALCOHOL HAD DONE TO HIM
OVER THE YEARS.

Narrator:
SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVING IN RENO,

HE RUNS INTO
A FEW FAMILIAR FACES.

IT TURNS OUT THAT THE REAL
RICHARD BASSETT HAS DIED.

BOWEN CAN NO LONGER USE
HIS IDENTITY.

NOW THE PROCESS OF FINDING
AN I.D. HAS TO START AGAIN

SINCE RICHARD BASSETT
IS NOW DEAD.

SO, I GO BACK FROM RENO
TO SALT LAKE CITY,

QUIT WORK,

AND STARTED THE WHOLE PROCESS
ALL OVER AGAIN.

Narrator:
IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH,

BOWEN BEGINS TO FREQUENT
THE SALVATION ARMY SOUP HALL.

ONCE AGAIN,
HE'S IN NEED OF A NEW IDENTITY.

YOU GOT ANY SPARE CHANGE
ON YOU, MAN?

YEAH, YEAH.

BOWEN IS LOOKING
FOR AN IDEAL CANDIDATE

WHEN HE MEETS A HOMELESS MAN
NAMED STEVEN BELL STARBUCK.

I THINK HE HIT ME UP
FOR A DOLLAR --

OR BUMMED CHANGE,
AND I GAVE HIM A DOLLAR.

AND HE GOT EMOTIONAL.

HE SAID, I'VE BEEN HERE
"X" AMOUNT OF WEEKS,

AND HE SAID, "YOU'RE THE FIRST
PERSON WHO EVER HELPED ME."

YOU GOT FAMILY
TO BACK YOU UP?
OH, NO, NO.

AND FROM THAT POINT,
I STARTED TALKING TO HIM.

I BEFRIENDED HIM

WITH THE IDEA TO FIND OUT
EVERYTHING I COULD ABOUT HIM.

FOUND OUT HE WAS
LESS THAN A YEAR OLDER THAN I.

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS
SEVERAL INCHES SHORTER,

HIS I.D., I FOUND OUT,
SHOWED HIM AS BEING 6'1".

Narrator: BOWEN LEARNS
THAT STARBUCK HAS NO CHILDREN,

HAS NEVER BEEN MARRIED,
AND CAN'T KEEP A JOB.

HE'S A PERFECT CANDIDATE.

ONE NIGHT,
STARBUCK COMES BACK LATE.

HE'S DRINKING HEAVILY.

HOW YOU DOING, STEVE?

BOWEN WAITS FOR AN OPENING...

THEN MAKES HIS MOVE.

Bowen: I STOLE
HIS SOCIAL SECURITY CARD,

AND, UH...

I STOLE IT WHEN
HE WAS DRUNK AND UNCONSCIOUS.

Narrator:
BOWEN LEAVES SALT LAKE CITY
AND HEADS BACK TO THE SOUTH.

HIS DESTINATION IS
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

ON THE WAY,
HE STOPS BY A SMALL-TOWN DMV

AND EASILY OBTAINS
A NEW DRIVER'S LICENSE

UNDER THE NAME
"STEVEN BELL STARBUCK."

I'M A LITTLE BIT APPREHENSIVE

ABOUT BEING BACK IN THE SOUTH
THIS CLOSE TO ALABAMA,

BUT I REASONED
THAT I'M FAR ENOUGH AWAY

THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE
HARDLY ANY CONTACT

WITH ANYBODY
THAT REALLY KNOWS ME.

IT WAS ONE FULL STATE
AWAY FROM ALABAMA,

AND I FELT LIKE THAT WAS ENOUGH.

Narrator:
IN THE SUMMER OF 2004,

BOWEN BEGINS
TO SET UP A NEW LIFE

IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

HE MEETS A WOMAN,
AND THEY BEGIN DATING.

ONCE AGAIN, BOWEN FINDS WORK

INSTALLING DRYWALL
AND RENOVATING HOMES.

LATE ONE AFTERNOON,
ON HIS WAY HOME FROM WORK,

BOWEN HAS AN ENCOUNTER HE'S BEEN
TRYING TO AVOID FOR FOUR YEARS.

Bowen: I WAS COMING HOME
FROM WORK ONE DAY,

AND A POLICEMAN
PULLED IN BEHIND ME.

HE TURNS ON HIS LIGHT,

AND I KNEW THAT I WAS ABOUT TO
GET A SPEEDING TICKET.

Narrator: BOWEN KNOWS
THAT NO TRAFFIC STOP IS MINOR

WHEN YOU'RE A FUGITIVE.

Narrator: JERRY LEE BOWEN HAS
BEEN ON THE RUN FOR FOUR YEARS.

HE'S LIVING IN
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA,

UNDER THE ALIAS
"STEVEN STARBUCK."

LATE ONE AFTERNOON,
ON HIS WAY HOME FROM WORK,

A POLICE OFFICER PULLS HIM OVER.

LICENSE AND
REGISTRATION, SIR.
SURE.

YOU KNOW HOW FAST
YOU WERE GOING?
NO, SIR.

YOU WERE DOING 47 IN A 35.

SORRY. I DIDN'T KNOW. I WAS A
LITTLE TIRED COMING OFF OF WORK.

OKAY.

WELL, IF YOU CAN WAIT HERE
FOR A MOMENT, MR. STARBUCK.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

SURE.

Narrator: THE OFFICER
RUNS BOWEN'S LICENSE.

THIS IS THE MOMENT HE'S SPENT
FOUR YEARS PREPARING FOR.

MY DRIVER'S LICENSE AND PHOTO
WAS VALID.

MY FINGERTIPS WERE ALREADY
ETCHED AT THAT POINT.

WELL, MR. STARBUCK, EVERYTHING
SEEMS TO BE IN ORDER HERE.

Narrator: BOWEN'S LICENSE
COMES BACK CLEAN.

THE OFFICER LETS BOWEN GO.

NEXT TIME, YOU MIND SLOWING IT
DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT,

SAVE OURSELVES THE TROUBLE?

I WILL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, OFFICER.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME, SIR.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
THANK YOU.

IT LOOKS LIKE BOWEN IS GETTING
AWAY WITH LIFE AS A FUGITIVE,

BUT HE'S NEVER FELT SO ALONE.

I GUESS BECAUSE
I WAS NO LONGER AS ANXIOUS,

I WAS GETTING
MORE AND MORE HOMESICK,

MISSING MY CHILDREN,

MISSING MY FAMILY, MY SISTERS.

Narrator:
BOWEN GIVES IN TO THE LONGING.

HE RISKS EVERYTHING AND
DRIVES BACK TO SHELBY COUNTY.

Bowen: JUST DROVE
THROUGH THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD

AND DIDN'T STOP,
DIDN'T SAY HI TO ANYONE.

I HAD IT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND
THAT I MIGHT TURN MYSELF IN,

THAT BEING ON THE RUN,

OUT OF CONTACT
WITH MY FAMILY, MY CHILDREN --

I JUST WAS NOT HAPPY.

Narrator: BOWEN HASN'T FORGOTTEN
ABOUT SHELBY COUNTY,

AND THE COMMUNITY HASN'T
FORGOTTEN ABOUT HIM, EITHER.

Storey: THE IMPACT OF HIS CRIME
WAS FELT VERY WIDESPREAD.

THERE'S NOT THE WORDS TO SAY...

JUST HOW STRONGLY EVERYBODY FELT

ABOUT THE FACT
THAT HE HAD TO BE FOUND,

THAT HE HAD TO PAY
FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE.

IT WENT ON SO LONG

THAT WE DID BEGIN TO THINK
THAT WAS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.

Narrator: AFTER NEARLY FOUR
YEARS OF SEARCHING FOR BOWEN,

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE
HAS RUN OUT OF LEADS.

ALL THEY CAN DO NOW IS WAIT

AND HOPE
THAT BOWEN GETS CARELESS.

WE WERE IN NEUTRAL, YOU KNOW?

ALL OF OUR EFFORTS
HAD BEEN UNPRODUCTIVE.

WE HAD SUPPORT
FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES

THAT HAD NOT TURNED
ANY ROCKS OVER.

WE HAD HEARD NOTHING
IN QUITE SOME TIME.

SO, IT WAS A VERY LOW EBB.

Narrator: THE FBI IS MAKING
LITTLE PROGRESS, AS WELL.

Agent: SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW,

ESPECIALLY AS
THE INVESTIGATION DRAGS ON,

YOU KNOW, THE LONGER IT GOES,

YOU FEEL LIKE
THE LESS LIKELY YOU ARE

TO ACTUALLY CATCH THE PERSON.

Narrator: AS THE YEARS GO BY
AND BOWEN REMAINS ON THE LOOSE,

THE PUBLIC LIVES IN FEAR.

Storey: I THINK
EVERYBODY'S ANTENNAS WERE UP.

WE WERE ALWAYS AFRAID

THAT IF HE DID IT ONCE,
HE COULD DO IT AGAIN,

BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A REASON
THAT HE HAD

TO HAVE DONE WHAT HE DID.

SO, I FELT LIKE
EVERY LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

IN THE COUNTRY WAS IN DANGER.

I FELT LIKE THAT FAMILY MEMBERS
AND PEOPLE THAT HAD TESTIFIED

WERE POTENTIALLY IN DANGER.

Narrator: THEY HAVE ONE MORE
ARROW IN THEIR QUIVER

AND CONTACT
A POPULAR CRIME SHOW.

THEY HOPE THE MEDIA
CAN HELP CATCH BOWEN.

Agent: IT'S BETTER THAN SITTING
THERE, NOT DOING ANYTHING.

SOMETIMES
NONE OF THE LEADS PAN OUT.

SOMETIMES YOU GET LUCKY,
AND PRETTY QUICKLY, THEY WILL.

OH, MY GOD.

Narrator:
IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA,

A WOMAN SEES THE BROADCAST
AND THINKS SHE RECOGNIZES BOWEN.

IT'S STEVE. IT'S STEVE!
IT'S STEVE. STEVE.

A MAN SHE KNOWS
AS STEVEN STARBUCK

HAS BEEN DATING HER SISTER
ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST YEAR.

[ GASPS ] OH, MY GOD.
OH, MY GOD.

AT THIS POINT, SHE KNOWS

THAT STARBUCK
IS REALLY JERRY LEE BOWEN.

HER HUSBAND CALLS
THE FBI'S VIOLENT CRIME SQUAD

AND REPORTS BOWEN.

Agent:
THE AGENT HERE IN BIRMINGHAM

RECEIVED A CALL
IN DECEMBER OF 2004

IN WHICH THE CALLER
IDENTIFIED HIMSELF

AS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT THOUGHT
THAT HE HAD INFORMATION

AND KNEW NOT ONLY
WHO JERRY BOWEN WAS POSING AS,

BUT ALSO HIS WHEREABOUTS.

Narrator: THE AGENT
PASSES THE INFORMATION ALONG

TO THE CHARLESTON
POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YEAH, JENKINS.
YEAH.

Narrator: IT'S THE END
OF THE SHIFT FOR TWO DETECTIVES,

BUT THEY DRIVE TO BOWEN'S HOUSE
AND FOLLOW UP ON THE TIP.

Bowen: IT WAS A WORK NIGHT,

I THINK TUESDAY,
RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

AND I WENT TO BED AT MY NORMAL
TIME -- AROUND 9:00 OR SO.

WENT TO SLEEP.

ABOUT 11:00 OR SO AT NIGHT,
I HEARD A KNOCK ON MY DOOR.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Narrator: BOWEN IS SURPRISED
TO SEE TWO DETECTIVES

STANDING AT HIS FRONT DOOR.

Bowen: HE SAID, "MR. STARBUCK,
WE NEED TO TALK TO YOU A MINUTE.

WE NEED YOU TO PROVE THAT
YOU ARE WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE."

I KNEW AT THAT SECOND
THAT THE GAME WAS PROBABLY UP.

Narrator: POLICE TELL BOWEN TO
GET DRESSED AND COME WITH THEM.

CAN YOU JUST
GIVE ME A MINUTE?
MAKE IT QUICK.

BOWEN AGREES
AND HEADS BACK TO HIS ROOM.

Bowen: SO, I WALKED
BACK INTO MY BEDROOM,

AND LET ME SAY,

THERE WAS TWO GUNS IN MY BEDROOM
I LOADED.

Narrator:
BOWEN HAS A DECISION TO MAKE --

GRAB THE GUNS

OR TAKE HIS CHANCES
DOWN AT THE POLICE STATION.

POLICE!
LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!

LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS!

Narrator: CONVICTED MURDERER
JERRY LEE BOWEN

HAS BEEN ON THE RUN
FOR FOUR YEARS

SINCE JUMPING HIS BAIL
IN ALABAMA.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

POLICE HAVE FINALLY CAUGHT UP
WITH HIM

IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

WE'RE HERE TO ASK YOU
SOME QUESTIONS.

YOU NEED TO GET DRESSED
AND COME ON DOWN TO THE
STATION WITH US, OKAY?

AS BOWEN DRESSES
TO GO TO THE STATION...

...HE EYES HIS LOADED WEAPONS,

ASKING HIMSELF
IF HE SHOULD PUT UP A FIGHT.

HE DECIDES TO LEAVE THE GUNS
AND GO PEACEFULLY.

Bowen: I WAS GONNA HOLD OUT

BECAUSE OF MY FINGERTIPS
BEING ETCHED.

I WAS STILL HOLDING
TO THAT HOPE.

Narrator:
BOWEN HAS SPENT 4œ YEARS

ERASING HIS OLD IDENTITY
AND BUILDING A NEW ONE.

NOW HE'S ABOUT TO FACE
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN.
LET'S GO.

I THINK THAT'S YOU.

THAT'S NOT ME.
I'VE NEVER BEEN ARRESTED.

Bowen:
HE IMMEDIATELY STARTED SAYING,

"YOU REALLY LOOK LIKE
THE GUY I'VE GOT HERE."

HE MADE A COMMENT AT ONE POINT,
HE SAID,

"I WOULD BET THE FARM
YOU'RE JERRY BOWEN."

STEVEN STARBUCK.

I DON'T KNOW
WHO THIS JERRY BOWEN IS.

THAT'S NOT ME.

WE'RE GONNA PROCESS YOU
AND FIND OUT, ALL RIGHT?

Narrator:
POLICE RUN HIS FINGERPRINTS
TO CONFIRM HIS IDENTITY.

THE SCARRING ON HIS FINGERTIPS
OBSCURES MOST OF HIS PRINTS,

BUT THERE'S
ENOUGH INFORMATION LEFT

FOR POLICE
TO MAKE A POSITIVE I.D.

WHEN THE GUY
STARTED ROLLING MY FINGERS,

I KNEW THE JIG WAS UP,

AND THEN I ADMITTED
TO BEING JERRY BOWEN.

OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.

I'M THE GUY YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
I'M JERRY BOWEN.

I'M JERRY BOWEN.

WHAT'D I TELL YOU?

GOOD. MADE IT
EASIER ON YOURSELF.

Narrator:
THE CHARLESTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
CALLS THE SHELBY COUNTY SHERIFF.

Curry: IT'S AROUND MIDNIGHT.

THE NORTH CHARLESTON POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS CALLED,

AND THEY BELIEVE
THAT THEY HAVE JERRY BOWEN.

ARE YOU SURE IT'S HIM?

HE'S SITTING
RIGHT NEXT TO ME.

Narrator:
SHERIFF CURRY IS HOPEFUL.

BUT HE'S NOT CONVINCED.

I ASKED HIM,
"ASK HIM HIS CHILDREN'S NAMES."

AND HE NAMED BOTH HIS CHILDREN.

AND I SAID,
"SPELL HIS DAUGHTER'S NAME,"

AND SHE SPELLS HER NAME
WITH A "J"

INSTEAD OF A "G,"
AS MOST PEOPLE WOULD.

AND WHEN I HEARD HIM SAY,
"'J' IS THE FIRST LETTER,"

I TOLD HIM, I SAID,
"DON'T LET HIM GO.

THAT'S THE GUY."

Narrator:
BOWEN IS FINALLY CAPTURED.

HE HAS BEEN ON THE RUN
FOR 4œ YEARS

SINCE BEING CONVICTED
OF MURDERING HIS EX-WIFE.

Bowen: WHEN I FINALLY ADMITTED
TO BEING JERRY LEE BOWEN,

THERE WAS A SENSE OF RELIEF
AND ALMOST NO SENSE OF ANXIETY.

IT WAS LIKE,
"I KNOW HARD TIMES ARE COMING,

BUT I'VE BEEN
THROUGH HARD TIMES."

Narrator:
TODAY BOWEN'S NEW IDENTITY

IS INMATE NUMBER 238713.

HE'S A CONVICT AT THE
LIMESTONE CORRECTION FACILITY

OUTSIDE OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.

HE IS SENTENCED TO SPEND
THE REST OF HIS LIFE

BEHIND THESE BARS.

I CAN'T SAY
THAT I REGRET GOING ON THE RUN,

'CAUSE I GOT
AN EXTRA 4œ YEARS OF FREEDOM --

IF YOU WANT TO CALL BEING AWAY
FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS

"FREEDOM."

I AM ALIVE TODAY,
EVEN THOUGH I'M INCARCERATED.

AND IF I HADN'T WENT ON THE RUN,

I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW
IF I WOULD BE ALIVE OR NOT.

Narrator:
IT WAS BOWEN'S CAREFUL PLANNING

THAT KEPT HIM OUT OF THE HANDS
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.

Agent: IN THE END, YOU KNOW,
ALL THE STEPS HE HAD TAKEN,

ALL THE PRECAUTIONS
HE HAD TAKEN,

WASN'T ENOUGH TO KEEP HIM

FROM BEING CAPTURED AND GOING
TO PRISON WHERE HE BELONGED.

Narrator: JERRY LEE BOWEN
STILL MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE.

HE BELIEVES HIS LIFE WAS
IN DANGER BACK IN SHELBY COUNTY.

Bowen: I KNEW I WAS INNOCENT,

AND I KNEW THEY HAD NO EVIDENCE,
NO WITNESSES, NO FACTS

SHOWING THAT I DID,

BUT THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
ACTUALLY CLEARED ME.

Narrator:
AUTHORITIES ARE CONFIDENT
THAT JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED.

Agent:
THE JERRY BOWEN FUGITIVE CASE

WAS THE MOST SATISFYING
FUGITIVE CASE I'VE WORKED ON,

TO SEE
THAT THE SYSTEM ACTUALLY WORKS.

Curry: I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK
AT MURDERERS, IN GENERAL,

THEY COME IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT
SIZES, SHAPES, MAKEUPS,

AND I THINK JERRY'S A CASE

WHERE YOU CAN'T TELL A BOOK
BY ITS COVER.

AND I THINK, WITHIN JERRY,
THERE WERE SERIOUS ISSUES.