Family photoA woman whose mother was murdered and her body hidden for 20 years has said she was told the killer would be released when she was about to go on her honeymoon.
There was Michael Bowen. Life imprisonment He was convicted of murdering his wife Sandy Bowen in 1998 and was on parole in January 2015, but has since been recalled to custody twice.
Ms Bowen’s daughter Anita Fox said he should never have been released from prison after it emerged he had actually been granted parole despite being considered a high risk.
The parole board said decisions to release prisoners were made “thoroughly and with the utmost care” and that public safety was its “number one priority”.
Ms Fox said she was at Heathrow Airport preparing to fly to Spain in November 2024 when she learned Bowen would be released again.
Ms Bowen, 53, disappeared from her home 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 Reservoir.Near Newport, in February 2017.
Bowen, 72, now known as Raymond Bowen, refused to tell police where Sandy’s body was and never confessed to her murder.
Court documents seen by BBC Wales now show Bowen was considered high risk when he was initially released in 2015.
Ms Fox said this meant Bowen should not have been released.
“It took away my mother, the chance to grow old with her and the chance for my grandchildren to meet her,” she said.
“I never had what I would say was real closure, because he never admitted to killing my mother.”
Family photoAny prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment will be subject to license conditions for the rest of their life after release.
Bowen was first recalled to prison in December 2015 after breaching his license and remained there until September 2016.
He was recalled in May 2020 after an incident where threats were made and remained in custody for another four and a half years.
In deciding whether to re-release him, a parole board panel said it considered risk factors surrounding his attitude toward relationships, including, “a desire to control a partner.” “, “jealousy” and “not being able to accept the relationship is over”.
The panel heard that Bowen had undertaken programs in prison to address his violent tendencies.
But Anita said she believed Bowen “didn’t change to become a better person”, particularly in his relationships with women.
“It makes me cross because as far as I’m concerned it should never have been left in the first place,” he said.
Chief Inspector Justin O’Keefe, a retired detective from Gwent Police, said it was “depressing and disappointing” to see that Bowen had completed the same courses in prison as he had completed during his first term in prison.
“You would think that someone who has spent a significant amount of time in a prison environment would be able to see the error of their ways,” he said.
“You’d think they might consider their behavior.”
Ms Fox, who lives in Foxstone, Kent, said her victim liaison officer told her about Bowen’s release from custody as she was about to start her honeymoon.
Family photoThe Parole Board said it was satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public.
Bowen’s release is subject to license conditions that include observing an “Exclusion Zone”, better supervision and monitoring, and disclosure of developing relationships.
Mr O’Keefe said the Sandy Bowen case was “unique” for the Gwent force, as one where a killer was brought to justice without a body.
He described Bowen as “a violent, controlling, coercive, jealous thug” whose trial heard evidence of assaults on former partners.
“I remember how he lied to everyone, including his family, and how he kept up the pretense,” she added.
Ms. Fox campaigned Helen’s Lawwhich ensures that murderers who withhold information about their victims, including the location of their remains, can be kept behind bars for longer.
He said that when his mother’s body was finally found, he kept her ashes at home because he “needed to keep her with me”.
They then joined their partner and son in scattering Ms Bowen’s ashes in a place they both loved.
“After that I was able to know that I could move on again.”