Woman charged in burglaries in Scio, Webster townships
A Webster Township woman is accused of committing four recent burglaries in Scio and Webster townships.
Tera Bowman, 26, of North Meadows Trail, was arraigned this morning at Washtenaw County jail on four counts each of second-degree home invasion and conspiracy.
She is being held on $60,000 bail.
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.
Comments
townie54
Wed, May 26, 2010 : 7:49 p.m.
NEVER mind.my bad.Rereading the article I dont know where I got that
theitriedsticker
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 10:07 p.m.
The article very clearly states she's 26. I'm not sure where you got 17 from.
townie54
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 6:58 p.m.
her mom said she knows the difference from right and wrong.Hmm.But she is 17 and lives at home Her mom asks where she's been and gets told its none of her business.Nice parenting.She lives in your house mom and I'm sure she doesnt pay rent or buy groceries or household supplies.So it certainly is your business and thats one of the reasons she's in trouble.Plus she had cameras and stuff all over the house but mom didnt say anything.Geez
Davidian
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 11:58 a.m.
I'm sick of crime like this. A couple months in jail and some probation will be the order of the day. Too bad an armed homeowner didn't discover them and shoot them dead.
The Picker
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 7:04 a.m.
No one said the Police didn't do their job, they just didn't figure it out. Of coarse citizen involvement is necessary, but they were responding, investigation didn't catch her.
jarjarbinx
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 4:47 p.m.
people need to look into this guy. he's obviously the 'brains' behind all this.probably a drug addict. if people are afraid to let the facts be known asap, he'll be back out there, and someone will get shot or worse.lok into his family, thats probably where some evidence or loot in stored. I most likely has a gun,too.
Chris Goosman
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 4:36 p.m.
And now I find the link to the story.....about 30 seconds too late....
Chris Goosman
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 4:34 p.m.
I'm curious why the earlier comment asking about the weekend incident that ended at the Emerson School was removed, and why no mention was made of the deletion like with other removed comments. Also, why no story on this incident? A police chase, several suspects in custody, and possibly a discarded gun on a school's property? Surely this warrants an article.
Sealed
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 4:29 p.m.
My father in law's garage was burglarized Friday morning in Ypsilanti Township. His Red Polaris 4Wheeler Was Stolen and some other items. He heard a noise but didn't get up due to thinking it was thunder. They threw some things over the fence but ended up leaving one of them. The 4Wheeler seems to have been their target as they did not bother multiple other things that were near except those that were right next to the 4wheeler. If anyone has any information about this crime please contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff's department on Hogback Road in Ann Arbor. I am not sure if my father in law's burglary is related but surely peaks some concern on my end. Thanks for the article. I am glad she has been caught and arrested. Hopefully the boyfriend is right there with her as well if he is in any way involved also.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 8:25 a.m.
"Tera Bowman attempted to turn herself in at a local police station Friday night, but was unsuccessful, her parents said." How can one be "unsuccessful" at something like that? "A judge repeatedly mentioned the man's name in court today as allegedly being involved in each of the break-ins." If a judge mentioned the name repeatedly in court, wouldn't the name be fair game here?
CountyKate
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 8:23 a.m.
@The Picker. She could know the difference between right and wrong and still choose to do wrong. And no one said police "cracked the case," only that the woman had been arrested. But, part of solving a case is working leads and following up on tips, so yes, the police were doing their jobs. John, there was a separate article that I saw earlier about the Pittsfield Township break-ins. I would imagine Pittsfield police are looking into whether or not this woman and her boyfriend are involved. We'll probably hear more soon.
Wonderwoman
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 7:54 a.m.
It looks like this was a collaboration between law enforcement and business owners that did the right thing. It takes everyone to be aware of what is going on and look out for others, not just the police. It is rare that victims of burglaries ever locate their stuff, so this turned out better than expected. Kudos to everyone involved in solving it!
John
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 7:26 a.m.
Might she have been also involved in the daytime burglaries in Pittsfield Twp on Fosdick Rd where one of the homes has been entered twice? In all these articles about the rash of burglaries, Pittsfield has not been mentioned, when in fact there have been several. Hope someone is doing something about this.
The Picker
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 7:16 a.m.
From this article, how can you say the police cracked this case? My guess is the pawn shop owner dropped the dime on her, as he is suppose to do. Her mother says she has mental health issues, and is not "stupid, "but does know the differerce between right and wrong". I don't think so!
Joe Hood
Sun, May 23, 2010 : 8:20 p.m.
@scooter dog: If there's a chance she can turn herself around and save us $30K a year to incarcerate her...seems her parents are still trying to help her. The article really put a human side to this crime.
scooter dog
Sun, May 23, 2010 : 7:41 p.m.
Great job,but in this county with the judges we have and with her being a first time offender she'll get a nothing sentence and be back doing it all over again.
aareader
Sun, May 23, 2010 : 6:21 p.m.
I agree. Thanks for the detective work and arrest(s)
Indicat
Sun, May 23, 2010 : 5:54 p.m.
Nice police work! Thank you Washtenaw County Sheriff Department!