Bowen, previously named a person of interest, already in custody for violation of sex offender registration.
ELLISVILLE — A person of interest in a teen’s murder in September is now officially a murder suspect.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that John Leonard Bowen, a 47-year-old from Lake City, was charged with in the murder of Coyoete Turner. He has been charged with first-degree murder and obstructing justice.
Bowen was described as a person of interest by the CCSO on Sept. 18, two weeks after the 18-year-old Turner’s death in southern Columbia County. Bowen has been in custody since Sept. 7 on unrelated charges from violation of his sex offender registration.
“While we cannot bring the victim back, we can pursue justice on her behalf,” Sheriff Mark Hunter said in a release. “I am proud of the hard work and long hours our detectives have put into this case to date.”
Turner’s body was found in a field near SW Haltiwanger Road in the Ellisville area on Sept. 3.
Her body had been partially burned, making identification initially difficult.
At the time, the CCSO said foul play was suspected in Turner’s death but wouldn’t divulge other information to “protect the integrity of the investigation.”
When Bowen was announced as a person of interest, the CCSO was seeking information from anyone who had contact with him on Sept. 2-3. It was believed he may have been driving a red Dodge Journey SUV.
He was identified as a person of interest based on witness statements, evidence from the crime scene and other investigative efforts, the CCSO said previously.
The investigation into Turner’s death is ongoing as detectives continue to sort through additional evidence and information. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Detective Truesdale at 386-758-1375.