CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Rand man is facing a minimum of 30 years in prison after being convicted of killing an 8-month old girl in June of last year.
William Ellis Bowen IV, 34, was found guilty by a 12-member jury Tuesday afternoon inside the Kanawha County Circuit Court of murder of a child by refusal and failure to supply necessities, and death of a child by child abuse.
The conviction stems from the June 25 death of Lillyann Aubriana Hudson, who was the daughter of Bowen’s then-girlfriend Chellbie Hudson. Hudson had taken the stand on Monday and had already pleaded guilty to child neglect resulting in death in the incident in August.
Murder of a child by refusal and failure to supply necessities is a form of first-degree murder under state law, which could be a life sentence. The jury recommended that Chief Judge Joanna Tabit give Bowen mercy when she hands down his sentence, meaning he could have a hearing in front of a parole board after serving 15 years in prison.
The second conviction of death of a child by child abuse is between 15 years to life in prison.
The 8-month old was found barely breathing by Hudson on June 23 after being in a room with Bowen, according to Kanawha Prosecuting Attorney Chuck Miller and Assistant Prosecutor Adam Petry. They argued that Bowen injured the girl and then did not seek
medical attention for her, which ultimately cost the infant her life.
Joan Phillips, co-medical director of the CAMC Children’s Advocacy Center, was the final witness to take the stand Tuesday morning and said Hudson’s life could have been saved with proper medical attention right away.
Phillips described the injuries she noticed while examining Hudson at CAMC.
“She had bruising that was visible on her forehead, on the left upper eyelid, on the right lower part of her abdomen, and the left upper arm,” Phillips said.
There has not been a scheduled sentence date for Bowen.
Hudson and Bowen are incarcerated at South Central Regional Jail.