February 21, 2025 • 29 mins
Monica Bowie was a bright and ambitious 34 year old woman who was abducted in plain sight on July 5th, 2007, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Pittsburgh native was known for being a successful businesswoman, extremely intelligent and the true definition of a go-getter. A kidnapping, a burned getaway car and years of unanswered questions have left investigators perplexed. Almost 2 decades later we still wonder -- where is Monica Bowie?
If you have any information regarding Monica's abduction, please contact the Dekalb County Police Department at (770) 724-7715.
Follow @forgottenechoespodcast on Instagram, TikTok and subscribe on Youtube
To suggest a case email me at forgottenechoespodcast@gmail.com
Sources:
https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/MP761
https://charleyproject.org/case/monica-renee-bowie
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/usedtobedoe/bowie-monica-renee-t12182.html
https://creativeloafing.com/content-170444-monica-bowie-kidnapping-falls-through
Disclaimer:
The content of this podcast is intended for mature audiences only. It contains discussions of violent crimes, including murder, assault, and other sensitive topics that may be disturbing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.
The views, opinions, and statements expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any associated organizations or sponsors. All information presented is based on publicly available sources and is intended for educational and informational purposes only.
While we strive for accuracy, some details may be subject to interpretation or may have changed since the time of recording. The podcast is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional advice, legal or otherwise.
By listening to this podcast, you agree to hold the hosts, guests, and producers harmless from any and all claims, damages, or liabilities that may arise from your use of the information provided.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hi everyone, this is your host Raven Siyad and welcome back to Forgotten Echoes, a podcast
(00:05):
where we dive into the mysterious and unexplained cases of black women that often get lost in
time.
Today we're delving into a case that remains a chilling mystery, one that has left family
and friends searching for answers for nearly two decades.
Monica Bowie, a bright and ambitious woman vanished without a trace on the night of July
(00:26):
5, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia.
A kidnapping, a burned getaway car, and years of unanswered questions have left investigators
perplexed.
Join us as we uncover the details of that fateful night.
This is Forgotten Echoes, episode 5, the abduction of Monica Bowie.
(01:13):
Sources for today's episode include CreativeLofing.com, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The Charlie Project,
archives.fbi.gov, Channel 11 News, Tapatalk.com, and name us.
Now let's get into the case.
When we hear the word abduction, most people imagine a child being lured into a creepy
(01:37):
old van, never to be seen again.
The thought of an adult, especially those over 30, falling victim to abductions rarely
crosses our minds.
Even rarer are cases where we know precisely when and where the person was taken.
Yet that's exactly what happened on a warm summer night in a quiet suburban neighborhood
(02:00):
in Northeast Atlanta.
Monica Renee Bowie was described as an outgoing, free-spirited, and an energetic girl growing
up with her mother Linda Howard, her stepfather James, and her brother and two sisters.
Her mother knew from a young age that Monica would be alright, as she was incredibly independent
(02:22):
from the very beginning.
Growing up in a middle-class neighborhood on the north side of Pittsburgh, Monica was
the epitome of sophistication and ambition, and was a natural-born leader.
Her cousin, Letitia Ellis, said, quote, if you sat with Monica, she would just wow you,
(02:42):
quote.
And that's an understatement.
After graduating high school at Perry Traditional Academy, she attended Cheney University of
Pennsylvania, where she earned this prestigious title of class valedictorian after graduating
with her accounting degree in 1996.
(03:03):
To embark on a new chapter and in the spirit of starting fresh, Monica relocated to Delaware
after accepting an accounting job with Mitsubishi, and after that she settled in Atlanta and
moved in with her best friend in 2003.
Even with relocating, she remained deeply connected with her stepfather, her mother,
(03:26):
and her siblings.
Upon arriving in Atlanta, Monica put her entrepreneurial spirit to good use and started
two businesses, a clothing company called LeCocca Clothing and an event planning and
hip hop promotions company named Go To Girls Production Incorporated.
(03:46):
But starting those businesses wasn't cheap, and Monica needed money to fund them and fast.
And that's when she got the idea to briefly work as an exotic dancer at the Blue Flame
in Atlanta.
And when I say briefly, I mean less than two months or so.
Even with her being an exotic dancer for such a short period of time, in true Monica fashion,
(04:09):
she networked with as many people as she could, and while rubbing shoulders with some of Atlanta's
top rappers, celebs, and business leaders, she met Mark.
Mark had a business of his own and wanted to use Monica's accounting services and hire
her to work for him.
And as the businesswoman she was, Monica accepted and left the Blue Flame for good.
(04:33):
Fast forward in what started off as a professional relationship quickly turned romantic and Mark
proposed to Monica.
But just months later, she would call off the wedding.
From the reports I've read, they've remained friends or at least were civil with each other,
and the reason for the breakup was due to Monica wanting to focus on growing her businesses,
(04:55):
and so she did.
By 2007, Monica had moved alone to Buckhead, Georgia, and it seemed her dreams were finally
coming into fruition.
Not only did she have her accounting degree, she was building a strong clientele.
Her two businesses were thriving, all was well.
I'm just going to add my personal commentary in here and just recap the last five minutes
(05:20):
or so of me talking.
Monica just totally gives early 2000s girl boss vibes.
From an early age, it's really awesome to see the way her family speaks about her and
how she was super independent.
And from the very beginning, she set this tone and this standard in her life that is
(05:43):
just nothing but grit, drive, and hustle.
Like valedictorian in college graduates with an accounting degree, and then she just still
has this drive.
She leaves, she moves to Delaware for a job, whatever the reason is, she then comes to
Atlanta.
She leaves her hometown pretty fairly quickly after college and just embarks on a new journey.
(06:08):
And I mean, that's tough.
That takes a lot of guts.
And it just takes a lot of hustle to be able to do in your mid-20s or whatever the case
is.
So the fact that she's in Atlanta, she's thriving, she's then hustling, she knows she
needs money for these jobs.
And I mean, it's just all really, really cool to see.
And it speaks a lot to the way her family and friends describe her.
(06:31):
I didn't want to speak on her being a dancer for a short period of time because I saw in
a lot of reports people really got this one wrong.
I saw people say in reports that she had been a dancer for up to six months, three months,
five months.
And really when it boils down to it, her lawyer and family have confirmed that it was at that
(06:55):
six-week mark or so.
Like I mean, it was less than two months that she was an exotic dancer.
And I think that's important because we'll hear a little bit about this later on in the
case, but I think that people kind of dubbed her as an exotic dancer.
Like as soon as they heard that, that was like the name or the title that people were
sticking to when they thought of Monica Bowie.
(07:17):
And she was so much more than that.
And she did it for such a short period of time.
There's nothing wrong with exotic dancing, but she was doing other things.
And there was a very specific reason she jumped into it to begin with.
She was doing it to essentially create some type of revenue for her businesses.
And once that was accomplished and she was able to network with the right people, she
(07:40):
got out pretty quickly.
I also saw in reports the Blue Flame owner essentially labeled her as like a really sweet
girl, a good girl.
And she was super ambitious, which I thought spoke a lot because she only knew her for
what, a little over a month, and she just essentially labeled her as like a good girl,
(08:01):
really sweet girl, really ambitious.
She knew why she was there.
So just wanted to kind of clear that up because I saw that in a lot of reports and I was like,
she was more than that.
And there was a very specific reason she was doing exotic dancing.
Also with her meeting Mark and calling off that engagement, it looks like that they remain
friends.
They're not getting wrong or nothing bad or dramatic happened.
(08:26):
Relationships just end.
So there's that.
At this point, Monica had established herself in ways she couldn't have dreamed of.
She was a successful accountant with several clients while also running two businesses.
And the good times kept rolling in because soon after moving a buck head, Monica met
salesman, Shernata Rico, Walter, and while Monica and Rico were head over heels for each
(08:52):
other, they quickly were engaged.
Soon after getting engaged, Monica found herself in an unpredictable circumstance.
On June 20th of 2007, Rico asked to borrow her car to run a quick errand.
And Monica said that was fine.
She had no idea that her day would be completely ruined because soon after borrowing her car,
(09:15):
police noticed Rico smelled like marijuana and demanded he showed them his car in the
nearby parking lot.
When they asked Rico to essentially consent to a search of the vehicle, he expressed the
car was pleasant his and called Monica.
The police did end up searching the car and they found a firearm, marijuana and money.
(09:38):
And both him and Monica were arrested.
Now due to having a clean record and denying knowing anything about the contraband in the
car, Monica was released and all charges against her were eventually dropped.
But the same can't be said about Rico.
He was held in the Fulton County jail as the possession of a firearm violated his parole
(09:59):
from a drug offense just two years prior.
Now I'd expect most people to run for the hills if they were Monica, but as the saying
goes, love makes you do crazy things and she was sticking beside Rico even while not exactly
knowing when he'd get out of jail.
Once again, let's recap the last five minutes or so because a lot has happened.
(10:23):
So Shernata, AKA Rico, and so when I say Rico, I mean Shernata, he went by Rico.
I think that Monica had a thing for, she had a very specific type because it seems like
maybe he was a little bit of a bad boy, but they were head over heels for each other.
And you'll hear in the case later on, Shernata loved Monica and Monica loved her some Rico.
(10:48):
So loved that for her.
She had no problem pulling the men and making them pull off that ring.
So I'm not mad at her.
I see two things here.
I originally, when I read this report and I was going over this case, I was like dumb
found it that police essentially just like walk by Rico and he smells like marijuana
(11:09):
and they're immediately like, show me where your car is.
And then they, without a warrant or like, we're searching this car and he does it and
then they're arrested.
Like what the heck?
And I mean, I still do feel like that.
Like what the heck?
Just cause someone smells like marijuana, does it mean you follow them, ask them to take
(11:30):
them to his car and then search the car?
There's a lot of points there.
He should have said no, no, and no, but I also understand the reality of early 2000s Atlanta,
being black, et cetera.
Now on the opposite side of this and further reports, Rico was found walking on Kempelton
(11:53):
Road.
Now, and this is just this isn't necessarily factual or proven factual because this was
down my Reddit sleuth and just different web sleuths post, but that road is essentially
a little sketchy and shady Atlanta folks.
Get back to me in the comments.
Do we know anything about Kempelton Road?
Because apparently it's still around and it's not known as a very nice street.
(12:19):
Apparently this road is frequented by people that are looking for drugs, people that are
selling drugs, et cetera.
So knowing that background knowledge, it might make a little bit more sense why police were
in the area and then kind of saw Rico, I don't know if they scouted him out or just walk
by him.
Maybe I don't know, but essentially they do find, you know, the firearm, the money and
(12:41):
the marijuana in the car and he had no business holding a firearm or being in a possession
of a firearm because that violated his parole.
They really didn't talk about the weed after that.
The weed wasn't a big piece of the report because I don't think it was a substantial
amount.
It was just really him having the firearm.
So wanted to clear that up.
Kempelton Road is talked about a lot in these posts and a lot of the theories as to what
(13:08):
ends up happening to Monica kind of ties back to this road.
So if you know anything about this Atlanta folk, people that used to live in Atlanta,
get back to me in the comments.
I love to hear more about it.
After getting out of jail, Monica called her mother and filled her in on the situation
and she doubled down that she would still be marrying Rico and was excitingly speaking
(13:30):
about wedding plans.
Not realizing that would be the last time anyone would hear from her.
On July 5th, 2007, it was an ordinary summer night in Atlanta until it wasn't.
That morning, Monica went to visit her attorney, Gerald Griggs, to go over her arrest and just
doubling down that she was in good standing with the law and everything was okay.
(13:55):
Her attorney made a note that she was acting normal and was even in good spirits when she
left his office that Thursday around 4 p.m. or so.
Later that evening, Monica went out with her friends and was dropped back off at home to
the Berkshires at Lenox Park Apartments, a gated complex near Lenox Road in an upscale
(14:16):
part of the city.
At approximately 11 p.m., neighbors heard something alarming.
Screens for help, over and over.
Witnesses later recalled seeing Monica being forced into what looked like a maroon 2002
Pontiac Grand Prix outside of her apartments.
(14:37):
Despite the horrifying nature of the event, no one was able to stop the abduction in time.
By the time authorities were alerted, Monica was gone.
As the screams became unbearable to write off, several 911 calls were placed during
and after the abduction.
The DeKalb County police came by to check out the scene and what they found was grim
(14:59):
to say the least.
It was pretty obvious.
Monica fought for her life.
Monica's purse, a broken perfume bottle, a green jacket, a box of to-go chicken wings,
fake nails, jewelry, and folders with paperwork in it was found scattered across the floor.
When investigators spoke with bystanders, five witnesses came forward and said they
(15:24):
heard the commotion and looked outside, only to see a woman being forcibly taken.
One of her neighbors made this comment when describing the incident.
Quote,
All my windows were shut, my door was shut, and I live on the second floor.
But you could still hear the shrills like she was in my house.
(15:44):
I mean, that's how loud she was screaming.
Quote.
Witnesses later told police that Monica was abducted by two black men, both believed to
be in their late 20s or 30s.
One of the suspects was described as heavier with a beard and the other one was smaller.
The vehicle they used was officially identified as a Maroon 2002 Mercury Sable.
(16:08):
Fortunately, one quick thinking witness managed to jot down the license plate number while
alerting authorities.
And if you're feeling like me at this point, you're mortified.
When I read this case, I was just shocked.
Like I'm at loss for words because when you think of abduction, you think of a child.
(16:31):
You might even think of a teenager, but you're not thinking of a 34-year-old woman.
In an apartment complex with multiple witnesses, I mean, they were even able to essentially
give a physical description of the presumed kidnappers and provide a license plate of
the getaway car.
(16:52):
And you just don't see that happen.
And the fact that this is unsolved is the most chilling piece of this entire case because
the witness testimonies are just so detail-oriented.
And I mean, the fact that the one neighbor says it sounded like shrills were coming from
(17:13):
within his home.
That's how loud she was screaming.
The fact that her fake nails were found scattered on the floor.
Like she was fighting for her life.
And that didn't stop them from taking her.
And I mean, shout out to the witnesses and just the bystanders that gave their testimony
(17:34):
to the Dicab County Police Department because we don't see that all the time.
And they did a great job at identifying who the presumed assailants were, getting the
license plate number, providing a physical description.
I mean, they did a great job.
And even though they weren't able to actually stop the abduction because it was 11 o'clock
(17:55):
at night, I'm sure not a lot of people were outside, they were able to be of value and
provide detailed accounts of what they heard at that time.
So I think that was really awesome to see.
And we don't see that all the time.
Now unlike other cases we see, police were able to hit the ground running with Monica's
case fairly quickly because they found her person paperwork on the floor, which clearly
(18:18):
said her name.
Her mother, Linda Howard, was contacted two days after her daughter's abduction by police
and was told a story no parent could imagine hearing.
This sent Linda into immediate shock.
And she along with her sister hopped in the car and made the long journey from Pittsburgh
to Atlanta.
(18:39):
Speaking to Channel 11 News, Linda stated, quote, I can't afford the plane tickets to
get to Atlanta, but I am determined to get there and get some answers.
Howard said, I'm pleading for help in any kind of way.
I have a way to get there today.
I'm relying on my faith that my daughter will be okay.
(19:02):
Quote, as soon as her mother arrived in Atlanta, she along with friends of Monica began speaking
with local news outlets and putting up flyers.
She eventually spoke to the media to keep the word alive.
Monica's family and friends also held visuals to try and keep her name in the local press
and hope this would spark her case to be covered on a national level.
(19:26):
But it never happened.
While her mother pleaded for her daughter's safe return, Monica's attorney, Gerald Griggs,
described Bowie as, quote, an upstanding member of the community who owned several businesses.
He also continued to say, it was a shock to me.
The last time I saw Monica, you would have never thought something like this was going
(19:48):
to happen to her.
Griggs said, adding later, she was smiling and laughing.
Nothing seemed to be out of an ordinary.
Nothing seemed to be troubling her, quote.
Now, if you didn't already think Monica being abducted in the middle of the night was not
a coincidence, hold onto your seat because it gets even weirder.
(20:10):
The following day, police found the suspected getaway vehicle burned and abandoned in an
apartment complex in East Point, Georgia.
It was a chilling discovery.
It turns out the car had actually been stolen.
And when police tracked down the owner, they mentioned a friend had borrowed it and just
never returned it.
(20:32):
That friend was none other than 24 year old Jasper Kiehl's.
Just immediately Jasper was arrested and charged with theft for taking the car as well as drug
charges because police found marijuana in the back seat.
But police didn't know if he had anything to do with Monica's abduction.
(20:52):
Kiehl's, who had a criminal record, was later arrested in September in connection to her
disappearance.
But with nobody and no definitive proof of what happened, it was hard to move forward
with getting him sentenced.
And eventually he was released.
So I'm going to push the pause button right here because there is so much to dissect.
(21:16):
One, why was the car set on fire and found in East Point, Atlanta?
Was it to destroy evidence?
Do the kidnappers have any ties to Jasper?
And I think that's my biggest question because there's almost this point in between when
investigators find the car and they link it to Jasper.
(21:38):
But then they're also saying Jasper had nothing to do with the disappearance or that they
couldn't find any evidence of that and he's released.
It's just really mind boggling.
Like I don't understand it.
And I'm assuming it means one of two things.
One that maybe Jasper really didn't have anything to do with it and he is ruled out and police
(22:00):
are looking in other avenues, at least I hope they are.
Or two, maybe he was released because I mean, we obviously know he's released because they
don't have any definitive proof.
But maybe police are still building a case around kills and they can't quite nail him
yet and a lot of information is being held close to the chest because when I look and
(22:24):
report you really don't find anything.
We know that that's the car because witness testimonies jot it down the license plate
number and gave it to police and that's how they were able to track the car in general.
We know Monica that was the car she was kidnapped in but we also don't know if there was any
evidence found about what could have happened to Monica after the car was burned.
(22:47):
We don't know really anything.
We just know that's the car and we know Jasper was last driving the car but he's not linked
to Monica at the time being etc.
So it's just a lot of questions that are not answered unfortunately.
Now I also have the question, does Riga Walter have anything to do with this case because
(23:11):
I just find it just too much of a coincidence that Monica is this good girl, she has a lot
going for her and then a couple weeks after they get arrested essentially she's abducted
in the middle of the night.
And I can't help but look back at Rigo's drug charges in the past.
(23:34):
I mean I only know of one and I don't know how deep he went into that.
Was he a serious player?
Was he just a corner boy?
I mean the fact that he got two years speaks a lot but once again I don't know but as of
today it looks like the Cat Police Department have cleared him as a suspect and Monica's
(23:54):
family also stand behind his innocence.
His lawyer actually even came out with the statement that he found out about Monica
being abducted from Rigo and he was extremely distraught when telling his lawyer.
I mean crying on the phone screaming that they kidnapped her but doesn't know who it
(24:17):
was and once again saying if he knew who it was he would absolutely speak up because
he loved her that was his fiance nonetheless and they were still planning to get married.
So he's ruled out as a suspect but I almost just feel like that even leaves more questions
because if not him, if not involving him or you know his background maybe in the drug
(24:39):
world if not involving Jasper then who?
And the last point I like to talk about is how this case never reached national news.
Now what you just heard the last 10-15 minutes is a good portion of the case.
This is pretty much where it ends and this didn't make national news for about five years
(25:03):
and I mean that's crazy.
It wasn't until it was featured in 2012 on the TV show Find Our Missing that it hit national
news before then it was just local media, small time interviews, local Atlanta channels
but nothing further and I kind of looked at the time what was going on nationally and
(25:24):
I ran into this case, The Runaway Bride that involves a middle-aged white woman in Georgia
that the media really focused on.
I mean it looked like her case happened a couple years before but it was still you know
in national headlines and this happened not too far away from her and essentially I mean
(25:44):
she faked her own abduction and you know it's just it's mind-boggling how that immediately
hit national news and Monica's didn't and Monica was actually abducted in the middle
of the night in her apartment complex with multiple witnesses.
There's her car or the car that she was abducted in is found burned like I mean if we're looking
(26:10):
at it from a mainstream media perspective that's sensational news and we don't know anything
and it takes five years for it to hit major news stations or TV shows and at that point
who knows where Monica could be so the disparity amongst those cases and that's just a case
I quickly looked on Google it's just alarming and it's you know disheartening to say the
(26:35):
least because Monica deserved so much better from mainstream media and I don't know I mean
I even heard and this is not what I heard this is fact because Linda Howard Monica's
mom also speaks about how she went to CNN if you don't know CNN their headquarters are
in Atlanta so when she comes down to look for Monica and advocate for her she goes to
(27:01):
CNN with the story because she's thinking this is an Atlanta woman that's being abducted
this is a good case for them can you guys put it out them and essentially CNN like leaves
her off the elevator and says they'll get back to her and she never hears back so I'm
just so frustrated I was so frustrated to hear this case because in my opinion it was
(27:23):
100% solvable and due to media outlets not moving fast enough it wasn't and that's where
this case ends Monica Renee Bowie was 34 years old when she was abducted she was 5'4 and
weighed approximately 135 pounds she has dark brown hair and brown eyes and she also has
(27:47):
braces and both ears pierced at the time of her abduction she's been missing for going
on 18 years and would be 52 years old today and the world will say that because Monica
had a small stint as an exotic dancer and had been arrested outside of her own knowledge
she isn't worthy of media coverage but that couldn't be further from the truth and that
(28:11):
didn't accurately define her as I've explained in today's episode she was more than just
a name on a missing person's flyer she was a daughter a sister a friend a fiance a college
graduate and a successful business woman now here's the call to action anyone with any
(28:31):
information regarding Monica's case is urged to contact the de cab county police department
at area code 7707247715 Monica had a magnetic personality and a drive that truly set her
apart but even the brightest lights can be caught in the shadows of danger Monica has
(28:52):
never been seen or heard from since July 5th 2007 and it's not clear police are still
working on her case or if it's completely cold please share this story to help reignite
her investigation thank you for tuning into episode 5 of forgotten echoes please do me
a favor and show your support by following the podcast and liking subscribing and sharing
(29:16):
this episode and if you feel so inclined to do so give this episode a five star review
I'd really appreciate it I'm Raven Siyad and I'll see you next week with another case
that needs to be remembered stay vigilant stay aware and keep the echoes of the forgotten
alive I'll see you soon
Hi everyone, this is your host Raven Siyad and welcome back to Forgotten Echoes, a podcast
(00:05):
where we dive into the mysterious and unexplained cases of black women that often get lost in
time.
Today we're delving into a case that remains a chilling mystery, one that has left family
and friends searching for answers for nearly two decades.
Monica Bowie, a bright and ambitious woman vanished without a trace on the night of July
(00:26):
5, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia.
A kidnapping, a burned getaway car, and years of unanswered questions have left investigators
perplexed.
Join us as we uncover the details of that fateful night.
This is Forgotten Echoes, episode 5, the abduction of Monica Bowie.
(01:13):
Sources for today's episode include CreativeLofing.com, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The Charlie Project,
archives.fbi.gov, Channel 11 News, Tapatalk.com, and name us.
Now let's get into the case.
When we hear the word abduction, most people imagine a child being lured into a creepy
(01:37):
old van, never to be seen again.
The thought of an adult, especially those over 30, falling victim to abductions rarely
crosses our minds.
Even rarer are cases where we know precisely when and where the person was taken.
Yet that's exactly what happened on a warm summer night in a quiet suburban neighborhood
(02:00):
in Northeast Atlanta.
Monica Renee Bowie was described as an outgoing, free-spirited, and an energetic girl growing
up with her mother Linda Howard, her stepfather James, and her brother and two sisters.
Her mother knew from a young age that Monica would be alright, as she was incredibly independent
(02:22):
from the very beginning.
Growing up in a middle-class neighborhood on the north side of Pittsburgh, Monica was
the epitome of sophistication and ambition, and was a natural-born leader.
Her cousin, Letitia Ellis, said, quote, if you sat with Monica, she would just wow you,
(02:42):
quote.
And that's an understatement.
After graduating high school at Perry Traditional Academy, she attended Cheney University of
Pennsylvania, where she earned this prestigious title of class valedictorian after graduating
with her accounting degree in 1996.
(03:03):
To embark on a new chapter and in the spirit of starting fresh, Monica relocated to Delaware
after accepting an accounting job with Mitsubishi, and after that she settled in Atlanta and
moved in with her best friend in 2003.
Even with relocating, she remained deeply connected with her stepfather, her mother,
(03:26):
and her siblings.
Upon arriving in Atlanta, Monica put her entrepreneurial spirit to good use and started
two businesses, a clothing company called LeCocca Clothing and an event planning and
hip hop promotions company named Go To Girls Production Incorporated.
(03:46):
But starting those businesses wasn't cheap, and Monica needed money to fund them and fast.
And that's when she got the idea to briefly work as an exotic dancer at the Blue Flame
in Atlanta.
And when I say briefly, I mean less than two months or so.
Even with her being an exotic dancer for such a short period of time, in true Monica fashion,
(04:09):
she networked with as many people as she could, and while rubbing shoulders with some of Atlanta's
top rappers, celebs, and business leaders, she met Mark.
Mark had a business of his own and wanted to use Monica's accounting services and hire
her to work for him.
And as the businesswoman she was, Monica accepted and left the Blue Flame for good.
(04:33):
Fast forward in what started off as a professional relationship quickly turned romantic and Mark
proposed to Monica.
But just months later, she would call off the wedding.
From the reports I've read, they've remained friends or at least were civil with each other,
and the reason for the breakup was due to Monica wanting to focus on growing her businesses,
(04:55):
and so she did.
By 2007, Monica had moved alone to Buckhead, Georgia, and it seemed her dreams were finally
coming into fruition.
Not only did she have her accounting degree, she was building a strong clientele.
Her two businesses were thriving, all was well.
I'm just going to add my personal commentary in here and just recap the last five minutes
(05:20):
or so of me talking.
Monica just totally gives early 2000s girl boss vibes.
From an early age, it's really awesome to see the way her family speaks about her and
how she was super independent.
And from the very beginning, she set this tone and this standard in her life that is
(05:43):
just nothing but grit, drive, and hustle.
Like valedictorian in college graduates with an accounting degree, and then she just still
has this drive.
She leaves, she moves to Delaware for a job, whatever the reason is, she then comes to
Atlanta.
She leaves her hometown pretty fairly quickly after college and just embarks on a new journey.
(06:08):
And I mean, that's tough.
That takes a lot of guts.
And it just takes a lot of hustle to be able to do in your mid-20s or whatever the case
is.
So the fact that she's in Atlanta, she's thriving, she's then hustling, she knows she
needs money for these jobs.
And I mean, it's just all really, really cool to see.
And it speaks a lot to the way her family and friends describe her.
(06:31):
I didn't want to speak on her being a dancer for a short period of time because I saw in
a lot of reports people really got this one wrong.
I saw people say in reports that she had been a dancer for up to six months, three months,
five months.
And really when it boils down to it, her lawyer and family have confirmed that it was at that
(06:55):
six-week mark or so.
Like I mean, it was less than two months that she was an exotic dancer.
And I think that's important because we'll hear a little bit about this later on in the
case, but I think that people kind of dubbed her as an exotic dancer.
Like as soon as they heard that, that was like the name or the title that people were
sticking to when they thought of Monica Bowie.
(07:17):
And she was so much more than that.
And she did it for such a short period of time.
There's nothing wrong with exotic dancing, but she was doing other things.
And there was a very specific reason she jumped into it to begin with.
She was doing it to essentially create some type of revenue for her businesses.
And once that was accomplished and she was able to network with the right people, she
(07:40):
got out pretty quickly.
I also saw in reports the Blue Flame owner essentially labeled her as like a really sweet
girl, a good girl.
And she was super ambitious, which I thought spoke a lot because she only knew her for
what, a little over a month, and she just essentially labeled her as like a good girl,
(08:01):
really sweet girl, really ambitious.
She knew why she was there.
So just wanted to kind of clear that up because I saw that in a lot of reports and I was like,
she was more than that.
And there was a very specific reason she was doing exotic dancing.
Also with her meeting Mark and calling off that engagement, it looks like that they remain
friends.
They're not getting wrong or nothing bad or dramatic happened.
(08:26):
Relationships just end.
So there's that.
At this point, Monica had established herself in ways she couldn't have dreamed of.
She was a successful accountant with several clients while also running two businesses.
And the good times kept rolling in because soon after moving a buck head, Monica met
salesman, Shernata Rico, Walter, and while Monica and Rico were head over heels for each
(08:52):
other, they quickly were engaged.
Soon after getting engaged, Monica found herself in an unpredictable circumstance.
On June 20th of 2007, Rico asked to borrow her car to run a quick errand.
And Monica said that was fine.
She had no idea that her day would be completely ruined because soon after borrowing her car,
(09:15):
police noticed Rico smelled like marijuana and demanded he showed them his car in the
nearby parking lot.
When they asked Rico to essentially consent to a search of the vehicle, he expressed the
car was pleasant his and called Monica.
The police did end up searching the car and they found a firearm, marijuana and money.
(09:38):
And both him and Monica were arrested.
Now due to having a clean record and denying knowing anything about the contraband in the
car, Monica was released and all charges against her were eventually dropped.
But the same can't be said about Rico.
He was held in the Fulton County jail as the possession of a firearm violated his parole
(09:59):
from a drug offense just two years prior.
Now I'd expect most people to run for the hills if they were Monica, but as the saying
goes, love makes you do crazy things and she was sticking beside Rico even while not exactly
knowing when he'd get out of jail.
Once again, let's recap the last five minutes or so because a lot has happened.
(10:23):
So Shernata, AKA Rico, and so when I say Rico, I mean Shernata, he went by Rico.
I think that Monica had a thing for, she had a very specific type because it seems like
maybe he was a little bit of a bad boy, but they were head over heels for each other.
And you'll hear in the case later on, Shernata loved Monica and Monica loved her some Rico.
(10:48):
So loved that for her.
She had no problem pulling the men and making them pull off that ring.
So I'm not mad at her.
I see two things here.
I originally, when I read this report and I was going over this case, I was like dumb
found it that police essentially just like walk by Rico and he smells like marijuana
(11:09):
and they're immediately like, show me where your car is.
And then they, without a warrant or like, we're searching this car and he does it and
then they're arrested.
Like what the heck?
And I mean, I still do feel like that.
Like what the heck?
Just cause someone smells like marijuana, does it mean you follow them, ask them to take
(11:30):
them to his car and then search the car?
There's a lot of points there.
He should have said no, no, and no, but I also understand the reality of early 2000s Atlanta,
being black, et cetera.
Now on the opposite side of this and further reports, Rico was found walking on Kempelton
(11:53):
Road.
Now, and this is just this isn't necessarily factual or proven factual because this was
down my Reddit sleuth and just different web sleuths post, but that road is essentially
a little sketchy and shady Atlanta folks.
Get back to me in the comments.
Do we know anything about Kempelton Road?
Because apparently it's still around and it's not known as a very nice street.
(12:19):
Apparently this road is frequented by people that are looking for drugs, people that are
selling drugs, et cetera.
So knowing that background knowledge, it might make a little bit more sense why police were
in the area and then kind of saw Rico, I don't know if they scouted him out or just walk
by him.
Maybe I don't know, but essentially they do find, you know, the firearm, the money and
(12:41):
the marijuana in the car and he had no business holding a firearm or being in a possession
of a firearm because that violated his parole.
They really didn't talk about the weed after that.
The weed wasn't a big piece of the report because I don't think it was a substantial
amount.
It was just really him having the firearm.
So wanted to clear that up.
Kempelton Road is talked about a lot in these posts and a lot of the theories as to what
(13:08):
ends up happening to Monica kind of ties back to this road.
So if you know anything about this Atlanta folk, people that used to live in Atlanta,
get back to me in the comments.
I love to hear more about it.
After getting out of jail, Monica called her mother and filled her in on the situation
and she doubled down that she would still be marrying Rico and was excitingly speaking
(13:30):
about wedding plans.
Not realizing that would be the last time anyone would hear from her.
On July 5th, 2007, it was an ordinary summer night in Atlanta until it wasn't.
That morning, Monica went to visit her attorney, Gerald Griggs, to go over her arrest and just
doubling down that she was in good standing with the law and everything was okay.
(13:55):
Her attorney made a note that she was acting normal and was even in good spirits when she
left his office that Thursday around 4 p.m. or so.
Later that evening, Monica went out with her friends and was dropped back off at home to
the Berkshires at Lenox Park Apartments, a gated complex near Lenox Road in an upscale
(14:16):
part of the city.
At approximately 11 p.m., neighbors heard something alarming.
Screens for help, over and over.
Witnesses later recalled seeing Monica being forced into what looked like a maroon 2002
Pontiac Grand Prix outside of her apartments.
(14:37):
Despite the horrifying nature of the event, no one was able to stop the abduction in time.
By the time authorities were alerted, Monica was gone.
As the screams became unbearable to write off, several 911 calls were placed during
and after the abduction.
The DeKalb County police came by to check out the scene and what they found was grim
(14:59):
to say the least.
It was pretty obvious.
Monica fought for her life.
Monica's purse, a broken perfume bottle, a green jacket, a box of to-go chicken wings,
fake nails, jewelry, and folders with paperwork in it was found scattered across the floor.
When investigators spoke with bystanders, five witnesses came forward and said they
(15:24):
heard the commotion and looked outside, only to see a woman being forcibly taken.
One of her neighbors made this comment when describing the incident.
Quote,
All my windows were shut, my door was shut, and I live on the second floor.
But you could still hear the shrills like she was in my house.
(15:44):
I mean, that's how loud she was screaming.
Quote.
Witnesses later told police that Monica was abducted by two black men, both believed to
be in their late 20s or 30s.
One of the suspects was described as heavier with a beard and the other one was smaller.
The vehicle they used was officially identified as a Maroon 2002 Mercury Sable.
(16:08):
Fortunately, one quick thinking witness managed to jot down the license plate number while
alerting authorities.
And if you're feeling like me at this point, you're mortified.
When I read this case, I was just shocked.
Like I'm at loss for words because when you think of abduction, you think of a child.
(16:31):
You might even think of a teenager, but you're not thinking of a 34-year-old woman.
In an apartment complex with multiple witnesses, I mean, they were even able to essentially
give a physical description of the presumed kidnappers and provide a license plate of
the getaway car.
(16:52):
And you just don't see that happen.
And the fact that this is unsolved is the most chilling piece of this entire case because
the witness testimonies are just so detail-oriented.
And I mean, the fact that the one neighbor says it sounded like shrills were coming from
(17:13):
within his home.
That's how loud she was screaming.
The fact that her fake nails were found scattered on the floor.
Like she was fighting for her life.
And that didn't stop them from taking her.
And I mean, shout out to the witnesses and just the bystanders that gave their testimony
(17:34):
to the Dicab County Police Department because we don't see that all the time.
And they did a great job at identifying who the presumed assailants were, getting the
license plate number, providing a physical description.
I mean, they did a great job.
And even though they weren't able to actually stop the abduction because it was 11 o'clock
(17:55):
at night, I'm sure not a lot of people were outside, they were able to be of value and
provide detailed accounts of what they heard at that time.
So I think that was really awesome to see.
And we don't see that all the time.
Now unlike other cases we see, police were able to hit the ground running with Monica's
case fairly quickly because they found her person paperwork on the floor, which clearly
(18:18):
said her name.
Her mother, Linda Howard, was contacted two days after her daughter's abduction by police
and was told a story no parent could imagine hearing.
This sent Linda into immediate shock.
And she along with her sister hopped in the car and made the long journey from Pittsburgh
to Atlanta.
(18:39):
Speaking to Channel 11 News, Linda stated, quote, I can't afford the plane tickets to
get to Atlanta, but I am determined to get there and get some answers.
Howard said, I'm pleading for help in any kind of way.
I have a way to get there today.
I'm relying on my faith that my daughter will be okay.
(19:02):
Quote, as soon as her mother arrived in Atlanta, she along with friends of Monica began speaking
with local news outlets and putting up flyers.
She eventually spoke to the media to keep the word alive.
Monica's family and friends also held visuals to try and keep her name in the local press
and hope this would spark her case to be covered on a national level.
(19:26):
But it never happened.
While her mother pleaded for her daughter's safe return, Monica's attorney, Gerald Griggs,
described Bowie as, quote, an upstanding member of the community who owned several businesses.
He also continued to say, it was a shock to me.
The last time I saw Monica, you would have never thought something like this was going
(19:48):
to happen to her.
Griggs said, adding later, she was smiling and laughing.
Nothing seemed to be out of an ordinary.
Nothing seemed to be troubling her, quote.
Now, if you didn't already think Monica being abducted in the middle of the night was not
a coincidence, hold onto your seat because it gets even weirder.
(20:10):
The following day, police found the suspected getaway vehicle burned and abandoned in an
apartment complex in East Point, Georgia.
It was a chilling discovery.
It turns out the car had actually been stolen.
And when police tracked down the owner, they mentioned a friend had borrowed it and just
never returned it.
(20:32):
That friend was none other than 24 year old Jasper Kiehl's.
Just immediately Jasper was arrested and charged with theft for taking the car as well as drug
charges because police found marijuana in the back seat.
But police didn't know if he had anything to do with Monica's abduction.
(20:52):
Kiehl's, who had a criminal record, was later arrested in September in connection to her
disappearance.
But with nobody and no definitive proof of what happened, it was hard to move forward
with getting him sentenced.
And eventually he was released.
So I'm going to push the pause button right here because there is so much to dissect.
(21:16):
One, why was the car set on fire and found in East Point, Atlanta?
Was it to destroy evidence?
Do the kidnappers have any ties to Jasper?
And I think that's my biggest question because there's almost this point in between when
investigators find the car and they link it to Jasper.
(21:38):
But then they're also saying Jasper had nothing to do with the disappearance or that they
couldn't find any evidence of that and he's released.
It's just really mind boggling.
Like I don't understand it.
And I'm assuming it means one of two things.
One that maybe Jasper really didn't have anything to do with it and he is ruled out and police
(22:00):
are looking in other avenues, at least I hope they are.
Or two, maybe he was released because I mean, we obviously know he's released because they
don't have any definitive proof.
But maybe police are still building a case around kills and they can't quite nail him
yet and a lot of information is being held close to the chest because when I look and
(22:24):
report you really don't find anything.
We know that that's the car because witness testimonies jot it down the license plate
number and gave it to police and that's how they were able to track the car in general.
We know Monica that was the car she was kidnapped in but we also don't know if there was any
evidence found about what could have happened to Monica after the car was burned.
(22:47):
We don't know really anything.
We just know that's the car and we know Jasper was last driving the car but he's not linked
to Monica at the time being etc.
So it's just a lot of questions that are not answered unfortunately.
Now I also have the question, does Riga Walter have anything to do with this case because
(23:11):
I just find it just too much of a coincidence that Monica is this good girl, she has a lot
going for her and then a couple weeks after they get arrested essentially she's abducted
in the middle of the night.
And I can't help but look back at Rigo's drug charges in the past.
(23:34):
I mean I only know of one and I don't know how deep he went into that.
Was he a serious player?
Was he just a corner boy?
I mean the fact that he got two years speaks a lot but once again I don't know but as of
today it looks like the Cat Police Department have cleared him as a suspect and Monica's
(23:54):
family also stand behind his innocence.
His lawyer actually even came out with the statement that he found out about Monica
being abducted from Rigo and he was extremely distraught when telling his lawyer.
I mean crying on the phone screaming that they kidnapped her but doesn't know who it
(24:17):
was and once again saying if he knew who it was he would absolutely speak up because
he loved her that was his fiance nonetheless and they were still planning to get married.
So he's ruled out as a suspect but I almost just feel like that even leaves more questions
because if not him, if not involving him or you know his background maybe in the drug
(24:39):
world if not involving Jasper then who?
And the last point I like to talk about is how this case never reached national news.
Now what you just heard the last 10-15 minutes is a good portion of the case.
This is pretty much where it ends and this didn't make national news for about five years
(25:03):
and I mean that's crazy.
It wasn't until it was featured in 2012 on the TV show Find Our Missing that it hit national
news before then it was just local media, small time interviews, local Atlanta channels
but nothing further and I kind of looked at the time what was going on nationally and
(25:24):
I ran into this case, The Runaway Bride that involves a middle-aged white woman in Georgia
that the media really focused on.
I mean it looked like her case happened a couple years before but it was still you know
in national headlines and this happened not too far away from her and essentially I mean
(25:44):
she faked her own abduction and you know it's just it's mind-boggling how that immediately
hit national news and Monica's didn't and Monica was actually abducted in the middle
of the night in her apartment complex with multiple witnesses.
There's her car or the car that she was abducted in is found burned like I mean if we're looking
(26:10):
at it from a mainstream media perspective that's sensational news and we don't know anything
and it takes five years for it to hit major news stations or TV shows and at that point
who knows where Monica could be so the disparity amongst those cases and that's just a case
I quickly looked on Google it's just alarming and it's you know disheartening to say the
(26:35):
least because Monica deserved so much better from mainstream media and I don't know I mean
I even heard and this is not what I heard this is fact because Linda Howard Monica's
mom also speaks about how she went to CNN if you don't know CNN their headquarters are
in Atlanta so when she comes down to look for Monica and advocate for her she goes to
(27:01):
CNN with the story because she's thinking this is an Atlanta woman that's being abducted
this is a good case for them can you guys put it out them and essentially CNN like leaves
her off the elevator and says they'll get back to her and she never hears back so I'm
just so frustrated I was so frustrated to hear this case because in my opinion it was
(27:23):
100% solvable and due to media outlets not moving fast enough it wasn't and that's where
this case ends Monica Renee Bowie was 34 years old when she was abducted she was 5'4 and
weighed approximately 135 pounds she has dark brown hair and brown eyes and she also has
(27:47):
braces and both ears pierced at the time of her abduction she's been missing for going
on 18 years and would be 52 years old today and the world will say that because Monica
had a small stint as an exotic dancer and had been arrested outside of her own knowledge
she isn't worthy of media coverage but that couldn't be further from the truth and that
(28:11):
didn't accurately define her as I've explained in today's episode she was more than just
a name on a missing person's flyer she was a daughter a sister a friend a fiance a college
graduate and a successful business woman now here's the call to action anyone with any
(28:31):
information regarding Monica's case is urged to contact the de cab county police department
at area code 7707247715 Monica had a magnetic personality and a drive that truly set her
apart but even the brightest lights can be caught in the shadows of danger Monica has
(28:52):
never been seen or heard from since July 5th 2007 and it's not clear police are still
working on her case or if it's completely cold please share this story to help reignite
her investigation thank you for tuning into episode 5 of forgotten echoes please do me
a favor and show your support by following the podcast and liking subscribing and sharing
(29:16):
this episode and if you feel so inclined to do so give this episode a five star review
I'd really appreciate it I'm Raven Siyad and I'll see you next week with another case
that needs to be remembered stay vigilant stay aware and keep the echoes of the forgotten
alive I'll see you soon
Popular Podcasts
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.