A registered sex offender already held in the Columbia County Detention Facility was charged on Monday as the suspect in the September homicide of Lake City teenager Coyoete Turner.
According to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) release, detectives officially charged John Leonard Bowen, 47, with the murder.
Bowen, a registered sex offender who was already in jail on unrelated charges associated with violating his sex offender registration, was named a person of interest in Turner’s murder on Sept. 18.
The 18-year-old female’s remains were discovered in a field near SW Haltiwanger Road in Lake City on Sept. 3 and she was identified by law enforcement on Sept. 5.
Turner’s body was partially burned which, according to CCSO, initially made it difficult to identify her. Law enforcement notified Turner’s immediate family on the condition of her body at the time of its discovery and, as of this time, no evidence links any of her family members with the case, according to the release.
“While we cannot bring the victim back, we can pursue justice on her behalf,” said Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter in the press release. “I am proud of the hard work and long hours our detectives have put into this case to date.”
Detectives will continue to investigate the homicide as they process additional evidence and information in this case.
Anyone with additional information pertaining to the case is asked to call (386) 758-1375.