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13th July 2021
12:34pm BST

The mother claimed she never gave her children the drug, which is generally used to treat addiction and for pain relief. She told police she always secured the bottles in a lockbox that only she had access to.
Police found that the clinic from which she obtained the drug has strict protocols whereby bottles containing the substance are to be kept in a lockbox and empty bottles are to be kept and returned in order to receive a new dose.
However, a total of 19 sealed bottles of methadone was located in Bowen's home. Police say they found a full dose bottle unsecured in a Hello Kitty-decorated drawer in the bedroom that she shared with her daughters.
Bowen also reportedly claimed the toddler couldn't open the bottles, insinuating that her eldest child must've opened it. But when police provided several bottles to the seven-year-old girl to open, she couldn't open any of the safety caps.
The girl also revealed to police that her mother would give herself and her sister "obedience" medicine at night.
Bowen told police she would give her kids melatonin to help them sleep and that her toddler was acting "fussy" the night before her death. She said she saw the infant messing with the bottle from the bin, but did not suspect methadone intoxication.
A toxicology report concluded that the children had a greater dose of methadone in their systems than was possible to obtain from a drop in an empty bottle, which police claim contradicts Bowen's story.
The mother now faces charges of second-degree murder and child abuse.