On February 1, 2015, in the quiet community of Lowndes, Missouri, fifty-seven-year-old John C. Fowler was found dead in a remote area near the Heaven’s Hope Campground. A resident of St. Peters, Missouri, Fowler had been staying at the campground when he was targeted in a violent plot. His body was discovered face down on a gravel road in the Hiram area, situated near his overturned all-terrain vehicle. Investigators determined that he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds from a shotgun, marking the incident as a clear homicide rather than an accident.
The investigation by local authorities eventually unraveled a coordinated scheme involving three men. Police identified Michael D. Burkman, a resident of Cape Girardeau, as the gunman who pulled the trigger. The motive was traced back to an ongoing personal conflict between Burkman and Fowler. The plot was facilitated by Steven E. Jennewein, who contacted Fowler under the false pretense of arranging a narcotics transaction to lure him to the specific location where the ambush would take place. Meanwhile, Brandon Norman provided critical logistical support, driving Burkman to the scene of the crime and acting as the getaway driver after the shooting occurred.
All three suspects were apprehended and faced charges for their roles in the killing. The legal proceedings concluded with significant prison time for the men involved. Michael D. Burkman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a life sentence for his role as the primary aggressor. Brandon Norman, who cooperated with the investigation, was sentenced to twenty years in prison. Steven E. Jennewein, whose involvement was limited to setting up the meeting, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
