Latest News

Town of Shoals Annual Clean-Up Days Set for May Purdue Extension Dubois County to Host Spring Fling in April INDOT Announces Alternating Lane Closure for U.S. 231 Near Haysville Gov. Holcomb Signs Executive Order For Total Solar Eclipse Jasper Police Asking For Public’s Help Identifying A Suspect

New details have been made available about the murder case that occurred last week in Spencer County.

According to the probable cause affidavit obtained through the Spencer Circuit Court, Detective Joshua T. Greer with the Indiana State Police reported that at approximately 12:56 PM CST on March 6th, Spencer County Dispatch received a 911 call from Linda Bowman advising of a domestic disturbance at her residence at 6280 N. Highland Road in Grandview.

Bowman told dispatchers that her boyfriend, who would later be identified as Alan Lee Bennett, was hitting her. A few moments later, Bowman began screaming that Bennett had a gun and the phone disconnected. Dispatchers attempted to call Bowman back but there was no answer.

At approximately 12:59 PM CST, Indiana State Police Dispatch dispatched Senior Trooper Phillip Hensley to assist Spencer County Deputies with the domestic. Detective Greer was en route at approximately 1:00 PM. While en route, ISP Dispatch advised of possible shots fired. Shortly before Greer arrived, Indiana State Police First Sergeant Robert Gardner had arrived and requested a crime scene investigator to the scene. Greer arrived at the scene at approximately 1:19 PM CST. As he was exiting his commission, Gardner advised Greer that Bennett was sitting just inside the front door and had attempted suicide by shooting himself, but was conscious and alert but Bowman was deceased in the kitchen and appeared to have been shot.

Sergeant Gardner and Detective Greer then went to the front porch and opened the door. Rockport Officer Kyle Maldonado was rendering aid to Bennett, who was handcuffed in the front while awaiting Spencer County EMS to arrive. A shotgun and muzzleloader were lying on the living room floor a few feet away from Bennett. After EMS arrived, Gardner and Greer made entry into the residence. Unsure if a protective sweep had been done, Gardner and Greer did a protective sweep of the residence and then stepped back outside. Gardner advised he would contact the prosecutor’s office and begin applying for search warrants. Hensley began a crime scene log and Greer remained at the scene and began locating next of kin information for Bennett and made arrangements for officers to stand guard over Bennett at the hospital. Indiana State Police Sergeant Juli Schnell and Spencer County Sheriff Kelli Reinke went next door to Bowman’s daughter, Justin Howerton’s residence, 6130 N. Highland Road, to obtain more information.

While waiting for the search warrant, Indiana State Police Crime Scene Investigators Sergeant Ted Clamme and Sergeant Mark Green arrived and Maldonado returned to the scene after riding in the ambulance to the landing zone for the medical helicopter being utilized to transport Bennett. Maldonado told Greer that Bennett made several statements on his own free will that he had shot Bowman and that he stated that “he had to kill her because she wouldn’t stop [complaining].”

After the search warrants were signed, Clamme and Green began processing the scene. After processing the scene, Gardner and Greer assisted in documenting the evidence collected on a property record and receipt (PRR). After all of the evidence was collected, the residence and vehicles were locked. Schnell and Greer then went to Howerton’s residence and spoke to her for a few minutes.

Investigators say Bennett and Bowman were living together during the time of the incident. Bennett will be taken to the Spencer County Jail once he’s released from the hospital. Indiana State Police Investigators along with the Spencer County Prosecutors Office have worked tirelessly on this investigation over the last few days.

They say the support and patience from the community have been greatly appreciated as they continue to piece together the facts and circumstances of the tragic event.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *