In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a 23-year-old mother is facing serious charges after prosecutors accused her of neglecting her severely injured baby, who later died. The woman, Savawna Bowen, was arrested on January 3, exactly one year after her 4-month-old son passed away from injuries allegedly caused by his father, Daquan White, also 23. White has been charged with murder and child abuse.
According to investigators, Bowen reportedly knew her baby was hurt but didn’t act quickly to get medical help. Instead, she allegedly spent days searching online about her baby’s symptoms before finally going to the hospital. Tragically, her delay, prosecutors say, played a role in her son’s death on January 11, 2024.
Court documents reveal a heartbreaking series of events. Bowen had left her two children—a 4-month-old and a 2-year-old—in White’s care while she stayed with her boyfriend. When she returned, she noticed a red spot on her baby’s leg and asked White about it. He told her he had lifted the baby’s leg and heard a popping sound. Despite this, Bowen reportedly left again to spend time with friends, leaving the children with White for another eight hours.
When she came back, her baby was crying in obvious pain. White then allegedly admitted to forcing his fingers into the baby’s mouth and pushing down to stop him from crying. The baby later suffered a seizure, but White reportedly told Bowen not to take the child to the hospital right away and even instructed her to lie about the baby’s leg injury.
The investigation showed Bowen spent days searching the internet for answers instead of seeking immediate medical care. On January 3, she looked up “popped leg.” The next day, she searched “baby’s femur is sticking out.” By January 7, her searches included phrases like “baby not able to move mouth” and “mouth swollen.” It wasn’t until January 8 that she finally took her baby to the hospital. Unfortunately, by then, it was too late. The baby passed away on January 11 from devastating injuries, including a broken jaw, broken ribs, a broken femur, and severe brain damage.
Prosecutors have charged Bowen with felony child neglect. She was booked into the Tulsa County Jail and later released on a $10,000 bond.
This tragic case has left many in the community heartbroken, highlighting the importance of seeking immediate help when a child is in distress. The investigation continues, and both Bowen and White are awaiting further legal proceedings.
