Jessica Rose Fowler, a 34-year-old woman from Hickory, North Carolina, was found dead on August 12, 2019, in what authorities have described as a double murder-suicide. Fowler, who was estranged from her husband, David Christopher Covington, 37, was discovered inside her home with a fatal gunshot wound. Covington was also found dead at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Another victim, Roxanne Auton Mitchem, 32, was found dead in the yard of the residence, also from a gunshot wound. A fourth individual, Dorrian Doral Pearson, 32, managed to escape the scene despite sustaining multiple gunshot wounds and was later found on a nearby street. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:09 p.m. when Hickory Police responded to reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Mitchem's body outside the home and subsequently discovered Fowler and Covington inside. Two small children were present in the home at the time of the incident but were unharmed. The case remains under investigation, with no charges pending as of the latest reports.
Court documents reveal a tumultuous relationship between Fowler and Covington, marked by domestic violence allegations dating back to 2010. Covington had previously accused Fowler of harassment, while Fowler had accused Covington of physical assault, including an incident where he allegedly grabbed her so hard that he left bruises on her arm. Despite these allegations, a judge denied Fowler's request for a domestic violence protection order, and Covington was found not guilty of assault. The couple's rocky relationship and history of domestic violence are believed to have contributed to the tragic events of August 12, 2019.
Authorities have not disclosed the exact motive behind the murder-suicide, but a chilling Facebook message from Covington hinted at the possibility of such an outcome. In the message, Covington expressed his disdain for Fowler and suggested that one of them would end up leaving in a body bag. This message, along with the couple's history of domestic violence, paints a grim picture of the circumstances leading up to the fatal incident. The investigation into the case is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Hickory Police Department.
