In the early morning hours of July 10, 2023, the life of 45-year-old Brenda Joyce Bowman came to a tragic end in her Temple, Georgia home. Responders arrived at the residence on Old Draketown Trail to find her in the bedroom with a fatal gunshot wound to her head. The emergency call was made by her 70-year-old partner, Barry Black, who informed the 911 operator that he had just shot his wife.
When law enforcement arrived, Black was waiting for them, and the firearm he said he used was still in his possession. However, as the investigation into Brenda's death began, authorities found that the evidence at the scene conflicted with the statements Black provided. This led to his arrest and initial charge of voluntary manslaughter.
Further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting led to an additional charge of involuntary manslaughter against Black. It was also revealed that Black had a history of violence. Court documents from a previous case showed that he had been charged with aggravated stalking and had been accused by a former spouse of physical abuse and threats with a knife and a gun. In that earlier instance, he was also accused of cutting his then-wife's face with a razor knife. The investigation into Brenda Bowman's death is ongoing.
