In a tragic incident that occurred in Marinette, Wisconsin, a 13-year-old autistic boy, Jakob Bowerman, drowned after allegedly being thrown off a pier. The incident took place on August 23, and the Marinette County prosecutors have now announced that another teenager will be charged as an adult in relation to the case.
Bowerman was reportedly thrown into the water from the Government Pier by a 16-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man, who grabbed him by his hands and feet and swung him into the water. Tylor Birch, 21, was arrested and charged with reckless homicide shortly after Bowerman’s death. Prosecutors have now stated that the 16-year-old, Peyton Carnot, will also face charges as an adult.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by local media, both Birch and Carnot initially told the police that they had jumped into the water with Bowerman. They claimed that they tried to help Bowerman, who could not swim, back to land. Carnot even stated that he had exited the water to call 911.
However, as the investigation progressed, inconsistencies in Birch and Carnot’s account emerged. Carnot eventually admitted to the police that they had thrown Bowerman into the water against his will. The complaint further stated that after throwing Bowerman into the water and hearing him say that he could not swim, Birch and Carnot jumped in to help him but were unsuccessful. Prosecutors noted that the weather on the day of the incident was not conducive to swimming, with choppy waters reported.
Bowerman was eventually pulled from the water and rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a few days later. An autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was drowning. In an interview, Bowerman’s mother, Taylor Singer, revealed that her son had only recently met Carnot and did not know Birch at all.
Both Birch and Carnot were arrested shortly after the incident. Birch, who was charged with second-degree reckless homicide, remains in custody at the Marinette County Jail and is due for a competency hearing on December 18. Carnot, also charged with second-degree reckless homicide, is being held at the Washington County Juvenile Detention. His bond was set at $100,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court on December 17 for his arraignment.