An Oklahoma mother is facing child neglect charges following allegations that she delayed seeking medical help for her critically injured infant, who later succumbed to his injuries. Savawna Bowen, 23, was apprehended on January 3, almost a year after her 4-month-old son’s death, which was allegedly caused by his father. The child’s father, Daquan White, also 23, has been charged with murder and child abuse.
Investigations into the case suggest that Bowen was aware of her son’s injuries and the urgent need for medical intervention. However, she allegedly failed to take immediate action, opting instead to conduct online searches about various medical conditions before eventually taking her son to the hospital. Prosecutors argue that this delay contributed to the infant’s death on January 11, 2024.
According to an affidavit obtained by a local CBS affiliate, KOTV, Bowen had left her two children, the 4-month-old and a 2-year-old, in White’s care while she was with her boyfriend. Upon her return, she noticed a red spot on the baby’s leg and questioned White about it. He reportedly told her that he heard a popping sound when he lifted the baby’s leg. Bowen then allegedly left her children with White for another eight hours while she spent time with friends.
Upon her return, Bowen found her baby crying in pain. White allegedly confessed to inserting his fingers into the baby’s mouth and pushing down to stop the crying. The baby later suffered a seizure. The affidavit alleges that White advised Bowen to delay taking the baby to the hospital and to lie about the leg injury.
A timeline of events provided by KOTV reveals that Bowen conducted an online search for “popped leg” on January 3, 2024. The following day, she searched for “baby’s femur is sticking out.” On January 7, she searched for “baby not able to move mouth” and “mouth swollen.” It wasn’t until January 8 that she took the baby to the hospital. The infant died on January 11 from a broken jaw, broken ribs, a broken femur, and severe brain injury, as per police reports.
Bowen has been charged with one count of felony child neglect and is currently in Tulsa County Jail. She was able to post a $10,000 bond.