Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
A mother is alleged to have made a series of chilling internet searches in the days leading up to her infant son’s death, according to prosecutors.
Authorities have accused Savawna Bowen, 23, of waiting too long to seek medical attention for her four-month-old, who passed away on 11 January last year.
The mum-of-two, from Oklahoma, was arrested last Friday (3 January) on one count of felony child neglect, almost exactly 12 months after the little boy’s death.
The baby’s father, Daquan White, was also charged with the murder and child neglect shortly after the tot was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Police said he died after sustaining a broken jaw, broken ribs, a broken femur and a sever brain injury, according to Law and Crime.
Doctors said the four-month-old could have survived if medical help had been sought by Bowen earlier, according to police in the city of Tulsa, The Daily Mail reports.
According to an affidavit obtained by News on 6, the mum had left her two children – the four-month-old boy and a two-year-old – in the care of White in early January 2023.
Bowen is said to have gone to stay with her boyfriend before returning to the home and raising concerns with the 23-year-old dad about a red spot on their baby’s leg.
White is alleged to have then told her that he heard a ‘popping’ sound when he lifted the boy’s leg.
It is then claimed that Bowen left the two youngsters in the care of White for another eight hours, as she headed out to spend time with her friends.
After eventually returning to the property, she noticed that the four-month-old was crying in pain.
White then allegedly admitted that he had put his fingers inside the infant’s mouth and pushed down in a bid to stop the baby from crying, authorities say.
The young child later had a seizure.
White is alleged to have pleaded with Bowen to wait to take the baby to hospital and to lie about the injury on their leg, the affidavit states.
It explains that on 3 January, 2024, the mum allegedly made an online search for the term ‘popped leg’, and the following day, prosecutors claim that Bowen then searched ‘baby’s femur is sticking out’.
The mum is then accused of making other searches including ‘baby not able to move mouth’ and ‘mouth swollen’ on 7 January last year.
Bowen finally took the baby to hospital on 8 January, 2024, where doctors reported finding a slew of horrific injuries on the little boy.
White was arrested for an outstanding warrant the next day before confessing that he had ‘committed dangerous acts’ on the baby ‘in an effort to get him to be quiet’, police said.
Almost exactly a year later, Bowen was arrested with one count of felony child neglect.
She was taken into custody at the Tulsa County Jail before posting a $10,000 bond, according to reports.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.
