One dead, one charged after apparent domestic dispute

November 2, 2006

HELENWOOD — A Letner Road woman has been charged with murder after she allegedly shot her partner multiple times during an apparent domestic dispute at their home early Saturday morning.

Laura J. Bowling, age 38, of 721 Letner Road, was arraigned Monday morning in General Sessions Court in Huntsville on a charge of first degree murder in the shooting death of 21-year-old Chasity Rose Carson shortly after midnight Saturday morning.

According to an arrest warrant obtained from the Scott County Circuit Court Clerk’s office, Carson and Bowling, who both resided at the 721 Letner Road residence, were involved in an argument just before 1 a.m. Saturday morning. The warrant alleges that Bowling retrieved a Smith & Wesson .357 caliber handgun from another room and shot Carson multiple times. The warrant, filed by Scott County Sheriff’s Department Chief Detective Don Laxton, stated that “at least five bullets entered the victim’s body.”

Carson was transported by Scott County EMS to Scott County Hospital ER, where she was pronounced dead by Scott County Medical Examiner Max Huff.

According to the arrest warrant, the victim and the defendant were the only two present at the home at the time the shooting occurred. Neighbors told reporters that Bowling’s son, Jesse, also resided at the residence. The defendant’s son was a former boyfriend of the victim and had fathered her son.

In addition to Detective Laxton, also responding to the residence from the Sheriff’s Department were Sheriff Anthony Lay, Chief Deputy Bobby Ellis, Detective Donnie Anderson, Sgt. Joel Martin, Deputy Bill Miller and Deputy David Woodward.

Bowling was arrested at the scene and transported to the Scott County Jail. She was later transferred to another facility in a neighboring county.

During a 10-minute arraignment in Sessions Court on Monday morning, Judge James L. (Jamie) Cotton, Jr. entered a plea of not guilty on Bowling’s behalf and appointed the Public Defender’s office to represent her. Bail was set at $500,000 secure.

Bowling appeared physically unable to answer many of Judge Cotton’s questions during the arraignment. She later requested prescription medication she said that she takes but had not been receiving since she had been in custody.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for yesterday (Wednesday) in Sessions Court. However, it was believed that the hearing would be postponed. An attorney from the Public Defender’s office was not available in court on Monday to assume Bowling’s legal representation. Wednesday is typically the day set aside each week for preliminary hearings in Sessions Court. Delaying the hearing until the following Wednesday — November 8, Cotton said, would cause the court to miss the 10-day window from the time of incarceration in which defendants are guaranteed a preliminary hearing under state law. However, the defendant’s legal counsel can request continuance to prepare a defense.

Funeral services for Chasty Rose Carson were to have been held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Four Oaks Funeral Home Chapel in Oneida with Bro. Rick Duncan and Bro. Carl Brock officiating. Graveside services were to have been held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Sexton Memorial Cemetery.

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