An appeal appearing last November on Hayley Bowden’s Facebook page, made by a man identifying himself as her uncle, provides insight into the life of the 16-year-old murder suspect.
“My niece is missing again,” the post said. “She 16 hayley bowden traveling with a 22-year-old man from Mexico …”
Walton County deputies were hunting for runaway Bowden last Thursday when they found her in the company of Chrispen Ramirez, 22.
A news release said Ramirez pulled a knife and threatened to harm the law enforcement officers, but the two were detained without anyone being injured.
The next day, another group of officers made a gruesome discovery that led to Bowden and Ramirez facing more serious charges — arson and an open count of murder.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office says the two killed 77-year-old caretaker Arthur G. Anderson when he caught them breaking into a home at 158 West Juniper Ave. in Mossy Head, the small north-county community where all three lived.
Investigators declined again Monday to say which of the pair they believe killed Anderson or whether they acted together. They also refused to say how Anderson died.
After the homicide, authorities said, Bowden and Ramirez attempted to burn the home where they’d killed Anderson and then took his car.
It was found the next day half-submerged in a lake on nearby Beaver Dam Road.
Assistant State Attorney Josh Mitchell declined to comment Monday regarding the extent of fire damage to the home where Anderson’s body was found.
“We are in the infancy stages of this investigation,” Mitchell said.
Property records indicate the home belonged to Thomas Wentz.
In statements made Monday, relatives and friends of Ramirez indicated their disbelief.
“He was a follower. That girl was basically one of his first girlfriends,” said Ramirez family friend Bobbi Mischel.
Mischel described him as “a very good kid.”
“He doesn’t have the mindset to do anything like that,” she said. “Every single person that knows Chris knows he would never be able to do that.”
Mitchell, the assistant state attorney, declined to comment on what they may or may not have learned about the Bowden/Ramirez relationship.
Neither would he comment on whether either Bowden or Ramirez knew the man they are accused of killing.
“We are in the process of determining relationships between all parties,” he said.
Anderson family members were also contacted Monday through social media. They declined comment.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Investigation continues into Mossy Head murder