John Jefferson
Savawna Bowen (Tulsa County Jail).
An Oklahoma woman faces charges of child neglect after prosecutors accused her of waiting too long to seek medical attention for her severely injured baby, who eventually died.
Savawna Bowen, 23, was arrested on Jan. 3, almost exactly one year after her 4-month-old son died after succumbing to injuries he received allegedly at the hands of his own father. The baby’s father, Daquan White, also 23, was charged with murder and child abuse. An investigation into Bowen revealed that she allegedly knew that her son was hurt and needed medical treatment but failed to seek it. Instead, she allegedly searched various medical conditions online before finally taking her baby to the hospital. As a result, prosecutors say, the baby died on Jan. 11, 2024.
In the affidavit obtained by KOTV, a local CBS affiliate, Bowen left her two children — the 4-month old and a 2-year-old — in White’s care while she stayed with her boyfriend. When she returned, she reportedly asked White about a red spot on the infant’s leg. He allegedly told Bowen that when he lifted the baby’s leg, he heard a popping sound. According to the document, Bowen then allegedly left for another eight hours to spend time with friends.
When she returned again, she saw that her baby was crying in pain. White then allegedly admitted that he put his fingers inside the baby’s mouth and pushed down in order to stop the baby from crying. The baby later had a seizure, but the affidavit stated that White allegedly told Bowen to wait to take the baby to the hospital and to lie about the injury to the baby’s leg.
A KOTV report laid out a timeline of events as outlined in the affidavit: On Jan. 3, 2024, Bowen searched “popped leg.” On Jan. 4, she searched “baby’s femur is sticking out.” Days later, on Jan. 7, she searched for “baby not able to move mouth” and “mouth swollen.” She finally took the baby to the hospital on Jan. 8. The baby died on Jan. 11 due to a broken jaw, broken ribs, a broken femur and severe brain injury, according to police.
Bowen was charged with one count of felony child neglect and was booked into the Tulsa County Jail. She posted $10,000 bond.
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