Thomas Eldon "Tommy" Bowman was a child that went missing in 1957. His photo is shown age-progressed to 60 years.
Case[]
Tommy disappeared while walking with relatives on a trail in Arroyo Cinco Canyon in Altadena, California on March 23, 1957. He told his family that he was going to run ahead to their vehicle, but was not there when the rest of the group arrived.
A week after his disappearance, someone mailed a letter to his home stating that Tommy was alive and being cared for by an unidentified man. Another letter was sent to a newspaper and claimed that Tommy was living in Oklahoma. It is unknown if these claims are true.
Serial killer Mack Ray Edwards is a suspect in Tommy's case. Edwards pleaded guilty to killing three children and additionally confessed to the murders of Roger Madison, Don Baker, and Brenda Howell, although he could not be charged in their cases since their bodies were never found. He is further a suspect in the cases of Bruce Kremen, Karen Tompkins, Ramona Price, and Dorthy Gale Brown. It is believed that he buried some of his victims under highways that he helped construct.
Edwards died by suicide while on death row in 1971. After his death, a letter Edwards allegedly wrote to his wife was discovered in which he confessed to Tommy's murder. Edwards' employer, Kirst Construction, had an equipment yard less than half a mile away from where Tommy was last seen, which adds credibility to his confession.
Characteristics[]
- Blond hair.
- Brown eyes.
- Missing two teeth.
- Gold bands on the back of his teeth.
- Several silver fillings.
- Receding chin.
- Protruding ears.
Clothing and accessories[]
- Blue plaid shirt.
- Blue jeans.
- Brown shoes.
- Davy Crockett belt buckle.
Sources[]
- Tommy Bowman at NamUs
- Tommy Bowman at NCMEC
- Tommy Bowman at the Charley Project
- Tommy Bowman at the Doe Network
- Tommy Bowman at the California Department of Justice
- Mack Ray Edwards on Wikipedia