A resident from New York State, residing at Liberty Lodge in Loyalsock Township, has been incarcerated over charges connected to a killing. The suspect, Robert B. Bohart, 46, originally from Erin, around 12 miles north-eastern to Elmira, is now facing police prosecution for supposedly causing the death of another guest, 53-year-old Shannon Bowes. Bowes was staying in the room adjacent to Bohart, say the officials.
Shannon Bowes, a resident at the same motel, was discovered lifeless in his room approximately at 10:15 am on Sunday. Emergency services were initially dispatched to the location with concerns related to Bohart’s wellbeing, as he was reported making distressing comments about his next-door neighbor.
On their way to Liberty Lodge, the state troopers were informed through their Mansfield colleagues about the possibility of Bohart having committed a violent act against his neighbour. Upon their arrival, they confronted Bohart who seemed under the influence of alcohol. He confessed to having consumed several drinks.
Following the interaction with Bohart, a state trooper attempted to make contact with Bowes, the occupant of the adjacent room. However, Bohart suggested that they wouldn’t hear a response. When asked to clarify his statement, Bohart bluntly declared, ‘He’s dead.’
The law enforcement officials disclosed that Bowes had made statements to Bohart touching on the sensitive topic of child abuse, which apparently provoked Bohart. According to Bohart’s own confession to the state troopers, ‘It’s clear he was a pedophile. He continued his narrative, as a result, he’s no more.’, alluding to Bowes.
Following these events, Bohart was subsequently detained and informed of his legal rights. During the process of placing Bohart into the police cruiser, the authorities noted blood stains on his right shoe. On arriving at the Montoursville barracks, Bohart voluntarily handed over his shoe to the trooper, suggesting, ‘You may find this useful.’
Bohart admitted that the blood smeared on his shoe was indeed Bowes’. Such a revelation was prominently included in the court records. Adding another layer to the crime was information shared by an acquaintance who had received a call from a distressed Bohart, claiming he may have taken a life at Liberty Lodge.
Upon gaining entry into Bowes’ room using a master key, the police discovered Bowes’ body on the floor at the foot of his bed, surrounded by blood. A knife suspected to be the murder weapon was recovered from the crime scene. The document also mentioned finding additional blood droplets scattered across the room.
The county coroner pronounced Bowes dead at the scene. As a part of their ongoing investigation, the police later interviewed a woman from New York State who is known to have connections with Bohart.
In a phone conversation she had with Bohart on Saturday evening, she said he seemed extremely upset and eventually confessed to his crime. He told her he assaulted and stabbed a man living in the adjacent hotel room, which abruptly ended the call due to signal losses. They resumed their conversation about half an hour later.
In their following conversation, Bohart darkly hinted that he might have left the knife in the victim’s skull. He also confessed to stabbing his victim multiple times, approximately 32 to 34 times, to be exact. The woman also revealed text messages from Bohart pointing towards his awareness of his likelihood of facing severe punishment.
He texted ‘I may never taste freedom again. I’m aware I’ll face a murder charge and I acknowledge and accept my actions and responsibilities.’ The woman mentioned that she received another message from Bohart early on Sunday, wherein he declared he was planning to surrender to the police.
He checked with her at 9:42 am if she informed the police about the incident, she confirmed at 10:44 am that she had indeed done so. The precise timing of Bowes’ murder on Saturday remains undetermined.
As stated by police spokeswoman, ‘We’re still in the process of establishing the exact time of the offense.’ Bohart faced his arraignment before a District Judge being charged for criminal homicide, possession of a crime instrument, and corpse abuse.
In the criminal complaint, Bohart is accused of leaving Bowes’ corpse to lie ‘for a lengthy interval.’ As a result of his criminal charges and potentials risk, Bohart was denied bail and has been compulsorily placed within the boundaries of the Lycoming County.