Robert George Bowen, a 50-year-old man from Orlando, Florida, was brutally murdered on March 21, 2024. Bowen, who was deaf and mute, was attacked, robbed, and shot in his driveway on Watch Hill Road. According to the Orlando Police Department, he was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The incident occurred early in the morning, around 3:49 a.m., when neighbors reported hearing three or four gunshots.
Witnesses, including a neighbor named Rita Noble, described Bowen as a quiet man who never bothered anyone.
Investigations by the Orlando Police Department linked two suspects to the crime through video footage, search warrants, and interviews. The suspects were identified as 19-year-old Kendrion Dow and 17-year-old Justin Copeland. Both teenagers were arrested earlier in the year and have been formally indicted by an Orange County grand jury on charges of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. Dow was also charged with unlawfully possessing a stolen credit or debit card, while Copeland faces additional charges of second-degree murder and robbery with a firearm.
Bowen's family remembered him as a kind and selfless individual who had a heart of gold. He was the eldest of six siblings and was known for his protective and caring nature, especially towards his mother and family. Despite his hearing and speech impairments, Bowen had a remarkable life, moving to the U.S. from Jamaica on a scholarship at the age of 16, graduating from high school and university, and working in Orlando assembling ambulances.
The family is preparing for a long legal road ahead in seeking justice for Bowen's death. His mother, Mary Ricketts, who lives in Jamaica, expressed the pain and difficulty of coping with the loss, especially given that Bowen used to mentor at-risk youth, a poignant irony in his tragic death.
Bowen's funeral was held in Orlando, attended by over 200 people, including family and friends from various locations. His family has chosen to remember him through his legacy, encouraging others to live a life of light and love.
