Woman charged in burglaries in Scio, Webster townships

Washtenaw County Sheriff's spokesman Derrick Jackson said investigators are seeking an alleged male accomplice, but he would not release details. A judge repeatedly mentioned the man's name in court today as allegedly being involved in each of the break-ins. Bowman's parents identified the man as Bowman's former boyfriend and father of her 2-year-old son.

Tera Bowman

On May 12, deputies say Bowman broke into a business on Hidden Brook Lane in Scio Township and a home on Quail Ridge Drive in Webster Township. Five days later, investigators say Bowman broke into a home on West Huron River Drive and a home on Hidden Brook Lane, both in Scio Township. Jewelry, electronics and other items were stolen, Jackson said.

Hundreds of stolen items have been recovered during the investigation, Jackson said. Detectives continue to probe whether Bowman was involved in other burglaries in Superior Township, Webster Township, Ann Arbor and Livingston and Wayne counties, Jackson said.

Bowman, who lives with her parents, has been spending a lot of time with her ex-boyfriend during the past five weeks, said her mother, Cathy Bowman. She's been leaving the house at 7 a.m. and not returning until 10:30 p.m., not saying where she's been, she said.

"I'd ask her and she'd just tell me it was none of my business," she said.

She said her daughter has shown up at home recently with nice Nikon cameras. Detectives stopped by the Bowman home Friday morning, telling Cathy Bowman that her daughter has recently sold $7,000 in items to at least one pawn shop, she said. Investigators obtained a search warrant Friday afternoon, seizing purses, cameras, cologne, jewelry and other items from the home, she said.

Tera Bowman attempted to turn herself in at a local police station Friday night, but was unsuccessful, her parents said. She was arrested near her home about 6 p.m. Friday, as she was about to pull her car into the driveway, she said in court.

She has never been arrested before, she told the judge. She is currently unemployed, but is enrolled at Ross Medical Education Center, studying to become a medical assistant, her mother said. Her mother said Bowman has mental health issues. Her ex-boyfriend has been a bad influence on her for several years, she said.

"She loved him," she said. "That's all there was to it. She trusted him."

But she has no idea why Bowman would allegedly commit the burglaries.

"She's not stupid. She knows the difference between wrong and right."

Lee Higgins is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.