Mary Bowles

Summary

Snapped: Women Who Murder

Episode: Mary Bowles
Release Date: July 27, 2025
Host/Author: Oxygen

Introduction

In this gripping episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, Oxygen delves into the mysterious and tragic case of Mary Bowles and the disappearance of her daughter, Kathy Jo McCoy. Spanning over a decade, this true crime narrative uncovers layers of family secrets, fraud, and suspected murder, painting a complex picture of a family torn apart by deceit and desperation.

Background: The McCoy Family

Kathy Jo McCoy was born on December 26, 1970, in Beckley, West Virginia, to Mary and Bill Lukosh. Mary, born in 1944, was an independent woman with a no-nonsense attitude, while Kathy Jo was equally strong-willed, striving to escape the confines of her parents' household. At 16, Kathy Jo married Carl Willard McCoy, but the marriage ended in divorce three years later after the birth of their son, Carl. Kathy Jo went on to have two more children, Jasmine and another child, amidst a series of short-lived relationships.

Notable Quote:

• Investigator (07:25): "My mom was kind of a free spirit. She was wild but very nurturing every part of her being. She loved us."

Tragedy Strikes

In 1995, the McCoy family suffered a devastating loss when Kathy Jo's older brother, Mark, died in a severe car accident. Three years later, in September 1998, Kathy Jo herself was involved in a horrific car crash, leaving her severely injured and unable to work. Her recovery was long and arduous, forcing her to rely heavily on her mother, Mary, and her boyfriend, Jake, for support.

Notable Quote:

• Investigator (11:17): "She had to fight because she had to get back to her babies."

The Disappearance

On June 5, 2000, Mary Bowles offered to drive Kathy Jo to Tennessee in hopes of obtaining a driver's license there, as her disabilities in West Virginia prevented her from doing so. Kathy Jo never returned. Mary later claimed she dropped Kathy off with friends in Hinton, but Kathy Jo was never seen again.

Notable Quote:

• Investigator (13:30): "She seemed normal. I love you. See you Monday."

Initial Investigation and Fraud Discovery

For years, no missing person report was filed for Kathy Jo. It wasn't until 2003 that suspicions arose when the bank notified the Social Security Administration of fraudulent activity on Kathy Jo's account. Investigators discovered that Mary Bowles had been cashing Kathy Jo's Social Security checks without authorization, amassing approximately $19,000.

Notable Quote:

• Investigator (18:14): "I believe that her mother, Mary Bowles, was forging Kathy's name on the checks."

Mary Bowles: A Pattern of Deceit

A background check revealed Mary’s history of fraud and forgery in the 1980s and 1990s. In October 2003, Mary was arrested and pleaded guilty to forgery, receiving an 18-month prison sentence. Despite her guilty plea, investigators remained suspicious of her involvement in Kathy Jo's disappearance.

Notable Quote:

• Investigator (19:15): "Mary indicated that she was utilizing that money from Kathy's checks in order to take care of Kathy's children."

Renewed Investigation and Suspicion

In 2011, the remains of Kathy Jo were discovered with a bullet lodged in her skull, reigniting the investigation. The bullet was a .22 caliber round, matching the one Mary had shown to Kathy Jo's grandmother, Vicki, years earlier. This connection heightened suspicions against Mary.

Notable Quote:

• Investigator (32:15): "Mary says, 'I want to show you something,' and she pulls out a .22 caliber gun."

Family Testimonies and Allegations

Interviewing Kathy Jo's children revealed a troubling household under Mary’s care, marked by neglect and verbal abuse. Additionally, testimonies from family members highlighted Mary’s cold demeanor and lack of remorse, particularly in the death of Mark, Kathy Jo’s brother.

Notable Quote:

• Jasmine McCoy (22:25): "Mary wouldn't let us go outside. We weren't allowed to go to school."

Mary Bowles’ Arrest and Legal Proceedings

After locating Mary in 2011, investigators confronted her with the evidence. She failed a polygraph test and was subsequently arrested for the first-degree murder of Kathy Jo. However, before the trial could proceed, Mary was diagnosed with terminal cancer, leading to the dismissal of the case. She passed away on July 5, 2017, leaving the McCoy family without the closure they sought.

Notable Quote:

• Investigator (40:23): "Mary Bowles was the last person who saw Kathy. And Mary Bowles benefited from Kathy's disappearance and ultimate death."

Impact and Legacy

The unresolved case left deep scars on the McCoy family. While suspects like Mary Bowles remained under scrutiny, the lack of concrete evidence and Mary's untimely death meant that justice was never fully served. Kathy Jo McCoy was laid to rest on March 11, 2007, but the mystery surrounding her disappearance and presumed murder continues to haunt her loved ones.

Notable Quote:

• Carl McCoy (33:29): "My mom will never get justice like she deserves. Justice wasn't served, was not served at all."

Conclusion

The episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder intricately weaves the tale of Mary Bowles and her family's tragic downfall. It explores themes of greed, deception, and the devastating impact of unresolved crimes on a family. Despite the passage of time and the death of the prime suspect, the quest for truth and justice for Kathy Jo McCoy remains a poignant reminder of the complexities within familial relationships and the shadows that secrets can cast.

Key Takeaways

• Fraud and Deceit: Mary Bowles' history of financial fraud played a significant role in suspicions surrounding Kathy Jo's disappearance.
• Family Trauma: The McCoy family's experiences with loss and neglect highlight the long-term impacts of unresolved tragedies.
• Unsolved Mysteries: Despite evidence and suspicions, the case remains officially unsolved, illustrating the challenges in prosecuting complex familial crimes.

Notable Quotes Summary

• Investigators and family members provided firsthand accounts, including insights into Mary Bowles' character and her suspicious actions surrounding Kathy Jo's disappearance.
• Carl McCoy expressed deep frustration and sorrow over the lack of justice for his mother, emphasizing the lasting emotional toll.

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This detailed summary captures the essence of the Snapped episode on Mary Bowles, offering a comprehensive overview of the key events, insights, and emotional undertones that define this true crime story.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Investigator]

They were clearing the roadside and some debris and discovered some bones. There was a bullet lodged in her skull.

[Narrator]

A decade old mystery comes back to life.

[Investigator]

My mom was kind of a free spirit. She was wild. She was working as a dancer in New York City. We would look out the window constantly and just pray that she would come back.

[Narrator]

But the deeper investigators dig, the more family secrets they find.

[Investigator]

She started signing the checks. There was approximately $19,000 cash. She was money hungry. She was getting checks monthly. Witnesses implicated in the death of her own son. She looked innocent. But underneath she was the devil.

[Narrator]

March 30, 2011 it's just after 1:30pm In Summers County, West Virginia, employees with the Department of Highways are working along a steep hillside near Walker Mountain Road.

[Investigator]

The Department of Highways worker was in a remote area down near Hinton, West Virginia, located in the southern part of West Virginia. Very mountainous, a lot of rural areas. It was up the side of the hill, literally right below the road. They were clearing the roadside and some debris and discovered some bones.

[Narrator]

The workers immediately contact West Virginia State Police. Investigators arrive on the scene along with a team from the state medical examiner's office.

[Investigator]

The remains, they were located. It was 13 bones. And the skull, based on the clothing that was found on the body. You know, you have a female. The idea that someone would leave you out to rot in the woods is just a horrifying concept.

[Narrator]

There's nothing to immediately identify the victim at the scene. But one thing is clear. Jane Doe's death was no accident.

[Investigator]

There was a bullet lodged in her skull. Just because there is a bullet hole in a person doesn't mean this is a homicide. You need to make sure you establish very clearly what the evidence is and where it is.

[Narrator]

Over the next couple of days, as forensic experts continue to comb the scene and examine the remains, they discover something unique about their Jane Doe.

[Investigator]

Two of the vertebrae were, in fact, fused, which was a great lead. If a person's been involved in some sort of an accident, the doctor will actually use these metal plates to fuse together the injured vertebrae. And hospitals have records of those plates. The investigators shipped those bones to a forensic anthropologist.

[Narrator]

Within a few weeks, they finally have some answers.

[Investigator]

They were able to trace that serial number on the plate and determine the victim was Kathy Jo McCoy, a local woman living in the area who had been reported missing in 2003. There were so many years that lapsed from the time Kathy went missing to the time we found her bones. When you find the remains of someone, there was only one question. How they get there and who put them there. And in any kind of criminal case, time is your enemy. The weather and the animals and the time deteriorate that kind of evidence.

[Narrator]

Kathy Jo Lukash McCoy was born in Beckley, West Virginia, on December 26, 1970, to parents Mary and Bill Lukosh.

[Investigator]

Mary had four children, Matthew, Mark, Johnny, and Kathy Jo. My siblings and I had a great time growing up. We done all kinds of stuff. Climb trees, go swimming. My favorite memory was always going out camping, going down to Sandstone toward New River. They were always getting into some type of shenanigan or trouble. My mom loved her brothers.

[Narrator]

But Kathy Jo's relationship with her mother Mary was far more complicated.

[Investigator]

There was always an argument of some kind over something petty, but they would fight like cats and dogs.

[Narrator]

Born in 1944, Kathy Jo's mother, Mary Louise Barley was an independent woman with a no nonsense approach to life.

[Investigator]

She grew up behind a Dr. Pepper plant in Beckley. She did not have any siblings. My mom never talked about her past. If we tried to talk about stuff like that, she changed the subject. Mary was stubborn.

[Narrator]

Her family says Kathy Jo was just as strong willed as her mother. More than anything, she wanted out from under her parents roof. In 1985 the opportunity came.

[Investigator]

My mom, Kathy Jo married my dad, Carl Willard McCoy at the age of, I want to say 16. She was pretty young, I have no idea how they met, how they fell in love, all that.

[Narrator]

The marriage was short lived and in 1988 when Kathy Jo was 17, the couple divorced after the birth of their son Carl. Two years later, love found Kathy Jo once more.

[Investigator]

My mother met my father and then I came along. July 9, 1990. I first met Kathy Jo when she was in her late teens. She became friends with my daughter first and then became involved with my son who is Jasmine's father.

[Narrator]

After giving birth to jasmine at age 19, Kathy Jo continued from one relationship to the next. None lasted but by the age of 26 she had two more children.

[Investigator]

My mom was kind of a free spirit. She was wild but very nurturing every part of her ping. She loved us.

[Narrator]

In her mid-20s, Kathy Jo attended cosmetology school and started her own business.

[Investigator]

She had her own little shop going on inside of her house.

[Narrator]

In the end, the beauty shop wasn't everything she'd hoped it would be.

[Investigator]

She wasn't really getting by on that. She went from being a hair stylist to a stripper. Her dancing was to provide. She didn't really like the line of work but she wanted to get her kids everything they wanted. Them kids got treated like gold. I mean those were the best Christmases we probably had. I mean she had three kids at that time. You know, she tried to provide for us as much as she could.

[Narrator]

In 1995, tragedy struck the McCoy family when Kathy Joe's older brother Mark was in a serious car accident.

[Investigator]

My little brother, after he got in that car accident in Tennessee, he died. My mother, she saw Mark as her baby. So when he passed, you know, it broke her.

[Narrator]

Three years later, in September 1998, Kathy Joe's world was turned upside down yet again by another horrific car crash. This time leaving 27 year old Kathy Jo clinging To life.

[Investigator]

She had flipped a geo tracker. I think it was like eight times. She broke her arm and hurt both of her legs, which kind of messed her up for a while. So she wasn't able to walk or really take care of herself for a while. One of her arms had almost been severed. They had done surgery to stabilize her neck and to try to reattach her arm. And she said, I'm gonna fight because I have to get back to my babies. One surgery was to perform a fusion on her vertebrae to fuse those two together with a metal plate.

[Narrator]

After three months in the Kathy Jo was released, but her dancing career was over.

[Investigator]

Her arm was always upright, in a stuck position against her chest. She couldn't straighten it out completely.

[Narrator]

She was forced to rely on those around her for help.

[Investigator]

She had gotten back with a prior boyfriend, Jake. He knew the family pretty well. He would help provide. He really loved mom.

[Narrator]

Kathy Jo's mother, Mary, and her new husband Jack also offered to help out.

[Investigator]

Every now and then, Mary would watch them kids. Mary helped her to get signed up to get some type of compensation from the accident. The injuries that Kathy Jo sustained in this car wreck were so severe, it left her pretty much unable to work. And she just very much depended on these Social Security checks that were coming in.

[Narrator]

After two years of recovery, Kathy Jo hoped to drive again. But her injuries prevented her from getting a license in West Virginia.

[Investigator]

Her disability prevented her from driving because, again, she could only operate one hand, one arm, so she couldn't drive, but she had to be able to drive.

[Narrator]

While things remained tense between Kathy Jo And Mary, on June 5, 2000, Mary offered to drive her daughter to Tennessee with the hope of getting a license there.

[Investigator]

So I guess in her mind, if I go out of state and attempt to get an out of state license, maybe she could get one to be able to drive. Mary was supposed to help her with this. They instructed me to keep an eye on my sister Jasmine. My mom even took a suitcase with her. She was expecting me back, I guess the end of that weekend. She seemed normal. I love you. See you Monday.

[Narrator]

Mary surprised everyone when she returned home alone nine hours later, saying there had been a change of plans.

[Investigator]

Mary said, your mother saw some friends on the corner in Hinton, so I dropped her off with them and she'll be home later on this evening.

[Narrator]

But the evening passed and Kathy Jo never returned.

[Investigator]

Mary said she ran off. It was really weird to us. Even as children, we would look out the window constantly and just pray that she would come back.

[Narrator]

Now in 2011. Eleven years later, West Virginia State police have identified Kathy Jo's remains along a rural West Virginia roadside.

[Investigator]

Examination by a medical examiner determined a.22 caliber round was lodged in Kathy's skull. Once the state police was able to determine that they were Kathy's bones and that she had been missing for some time, then the investigation started.

[Narrator]

As police dig into Kathy Jo's missing persons file, something strikes them as suspicious.

[Investigator]

Kathy Jo McCoy was last seen on June 5th of 2000, but no one filed a police report until 2003. It's hard to imagine the idea that someone would be missing for three years and nobody has gone to the police.

[Narrator]

Coming up, a fraud investigation leads detectives to their first suspect.

[Investigator]

She had a criminal history spanning in the 80s and 90s. I was just a kid myself, but I knew something was very wrong. Very, very wrong.

[Narrator]

Summers County, W.V. 2011. After discovering the remains of Kathy Jo McCoy, a mother who went missing in June of 2000, investigators are questioning why her disappearance was not reported until 2003.

[Investigator]

Certainly after so many years. I think it's very odd that family would not file a missing persons report. So I think that's the first red flag.

[Narrator]

Investigators discover that Kathy Jo was ultimately reported missing under strange circumstances.

[Investigator]

So in 2003, the bank where Kathy Jo McCoy had her account notified the Social Security Administration, and they believed there had been fraudulent activity on that account. We determined that Kathy McCoy's mother, Mary Bowles, had been cashing checks that were sent to Kathy McCoy from the Social Security Administration. I interviewed several of the bank employees. No one had seen Kathy McCoy in about three years. All the bank employees confirmed that Mary would cash Kathy McCoy's checks and explain to them that the reason she was doing that is because Kathy was too ill to come in and do it for herself. So Mary would bring in Kathy's driver's license and would also be a second endorser on the check to get the check cashed. There was approximately $19,000 cashed. I ordered photocopies of all of the checks that were cashed and deposited over the entitlement period for Kathy McCoy from the Treasury Department.

[Narrator]

As Agent Morton examines the checks, a disturbing detail catches his eye.

[Investigator]

I was able to determine very quickly that sometime in mid 2000, Kathy's signature changed on the checks. This lady had been missing for three years. At this point, I believe that her mother, Mary Bowles, was forging Kathy's name on the checks.

[Narrator]

With his suspicions growing, Agent Morton runs a background check on Mary Bowles.

[Investigator]

In any investigation, we're Pulling records for everyone involved. It appeared that she had a criminal history spanning the 80s and 90s with charges of various types of fraud, forgery.

[Narrator]

After looking into Mary's past, fraud agents Confront her in October 2003. To their surprise, she doesn't put up much of a fight.

[Investigator]

She was very quick to admit everything. She admitted she knew that it was wrong to do that.

[Narrator]

But she says she had a good reason.

[Investigator]

Mary indicated that she was in fact utilizing that money from Kathy's checks in order to take care of Kathy's children, who are currently residing with her.

[Narrator]

Mary claims someone needed to step in and support her grandchildren. After her daughter took off in 2000.

[Investigator]

Mary Bowles did not paint a very favorable picture of her daughter Kathy. She basically told investigators that she would be prone to run off with random men. She told me the story of how she hadn't seen Kathy in three years. She had taken Kathy out and they ran into some acquaintances. So Mary left her and that was the last she'd ever seen her. And I just found that very hard to believe. I said, that's your daughter. Why would you not file a missing persons report? She said, well, she's an adult. She can do what she wants.

[Narrator]

In October 2003, Social Security investigators arrest Mary on forgery charges.

[Investigator]

We were in foster care maybe six months to a year, I can't remember, but I was aware that she was arrested. Then finally, my brother went to live with Carl McCoy's side of the family. And then I went to live with my nana, Vicki call, and my granddaddy. And then Jessica went with her dad.

[Narrator]

Still, Tim Morton can't help but wonder, if Mary was involved in defrauding Kathy Jo, could she be capable of worse?

[Investigator]

There was that lingering feeling that I couldn't let go, that, you know, that's the least of her worries is this check fraud. It was a couple months into my investigation that I contacted the West Virginia state police and voiced my concerns and told them what I had found. So at that point, West Virginia state police made this an official missing persons case.

[Narrator]

With Mary Bowles in jail, West Virginia state police launch their own investigation into Kathy jo's disappearance in November 2003.

[Investigator]

There were so many years that from the time Kathy went missing, time is your enemy, because people's memories fade. People die, they move away. And so it makes it very difficult.

[Narrator]

Police start by interviewing Kathy Jo's eldest kids, 16 year old Carl and 13 year old Jasmine.

[Investigator]

I mean, I was just a kid myself, but I knew something was very wrong, very, very wrong. My mom would not just up and leave like that.

[Narrator]

Three days after Kathy Jo left, the children say they were taken to their grandmother Mary's by Kathy Jo's boyfriend Jake.

[Investigator]

I believe it was on a Monday or something after the weekend, but Jake dropped us off with Mary. Couple days go by. Well, I guess, you know, your mom, she just abandoned y'. All. I did try to contact Kathy Jo, but my mama had said that she had moved and she didn't want nothing to do with the family. That's what I heard. So I just went with it. At that point in time, living with Mary, we weren't allowed to go outside. We weren't allowed to go to school. We basically had to stay inside all the time. Mary wouldn't let us eat a lot. I remember we'd ask for food and she'd tell us no. This has been probably two and a half years of, you know, mom being gone. The living conditions with Mary were terrible. Padlocking refrigerators, you know, the verbal abuse.

[Narrator]

Investigators immediately track down Kathy, Joe's former boyfriend, for questioning.

[Investigator]

Jake provided an alibi for himself, indicating he was at work, works in a mine. He was in that mine from 5am until late into the evening on the day that Kathy was last seen.

[Narrator]

Not only does Jake's alibi check out, he passes a polygraph with flying colors. The missing persons investigation is just getting underway in December 2000 when Mary Bowles pleads guilty to forgery.

[Investigator]

Mary bowles received an 18 month prison sentence. I think Mary thought, you know, she admits to the Social Security fraud and that, you know, she'll plead guilty, do her time, pay back the money, and I'll go away. But from the beginning, I was convinced that there was something much more disturbing going on.

[Narrator]

Coming up, more details of Mary's questionable past come to light.

[Investigator]

She told me that she did feel like Mary did something with Kathy.

[Narrator]

Could Kathy Jo still be alive?

[Investigator]

Mary Bowles, she indicated that she had made contact with her daughter, Kathy. I can't tell you how often I hear, oh, I'm a little ocd. I like things neat. That's not ocd. I'm Howie Mandel and I know this because I have ocd. Actual OCD causes relentless unwanted thoughts. What if I did something terrible and forgot? What if I'm a bad person? Why am I thinking this terrible thing? It makes you question absolutely everything and you'll do anything to feel better. OCD is debilitating, but it's also highly treatable with the right kind of therapy. Regular talk therapy doesn't Cut it. OCD needs specialized therapy. That's why I want to tell you about NO cd. NOCD is the world's largest virtual therapy provider for ocd. Their licensed therapists provide specialized therapy virtually and it's covered by insurance for over 155 million Americans. If you think you might be struggling with OCD, visit nocd.com to schedule a free 15 minute call and learn more. That's n o c d.com.

[Narrator]

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[Investigator]

Mary Bowles indicated that she had made contact with her daughter Kathy while she was in custody on federal charges and that Kathy appeared to be fine and she was working as a dancer in New York City.

[Narrator]

But investigators aren't buying it.

[Investigator]

She required a cane to walk from her car accident. It was impossible to believe that Kathy Jo would be working as a dancer anywhere.

[Narrator]

Shortly after Mary's guilty plea, her friend and former roommate, Geraldine Tincher contacts Agent Morton.

[Investigator]

Mary lived with a lady named Geraldine Tincher, and I'm not sure of their relationship, but they lived together on and off for years. Initially, her story was that basically she didn't have any reason not to believe Mary about the story of Kathy.

[Narrator]

Geraldine says after Mary went to prison, she went through Mary's safe.

[Investigator]

Geraldine finds a letter from the Social Security Administration addressed to herself, and she realizes that she had been awarded benefits. Geraldine had applied for widow's benefits, but she thought that she was just denied that. What happened was Mary intercepted the award letter. So that's when Geraldine called me. I did an investigation on that and found out it was a little over $10,000 that Mary had stolen from Geraldine. So we went back to the grand jury and we got those charges. While Mary Bowles is on the radar of the police, there really wasn't anything to concretely say she was responsible for Kathy Jo's death. In 05, Mary Bowles is released from federal custody. She returns to her residence and reassumes her life.

[Narrator]

In fact, six years pass with no movement on the missing persons case until the discovery of Kathy Jo's remains in 2011.

[Investigator]

The normal procedure is to notify next to Ken of the death in this case. Next in Kim was determined to be her mother, Mary Bowles.

[Narrator]

And yet when officers attempt to locate Mary, they come up empty handed.

[Investigator]

Investigators were not able to track down Mary. They're contacting her family members. Every attempt that they made at that point to locate Mary Bowles, the troopers came up empty each and every time. Once investigators exhaust all attempts to contact Mary Bowles, they decided to go ahead and go to Kathy Jo McCoy's children and advise them their mother has been found.

[Narrator]

On April 26, 2011, investigators locate Kathy Jo's 20 year old daughter Jasmine, who was raised by her father and paternal grandmother, Vicki.

[Investigator]

They first came by and asked Jasmine for a DNA sample. I was praying that it wasn't going to be a match because I could see how heartbroken my baby. But then when they came back, they told us I was mostly in shock because in my mind I just thought and hoped that she was somewhere out there.

[Narrator]

Investigators learned from Jasmine that her grandmother Mary didn't seem all that concerned When Kathy Jo disappeared.

[Investigator]

Mary hurried up to go and get Medicaid and food stamps in her name and to switch custody of us to her.

[Narrator]

Jasmine's grandmother, Vicki tells investigators that a month after Kathy Jo disappeared in July 2000, she received an invitation from Mary.

[Investigator]

The day of Jasmine's birthday, Mary invited us to her trailer in Pipeston, West Virginia to celebrate with Jasmine and the kids. She told us that Kathy Jo had left with three guys.

[Narrator]

Vicki tells investigators that what happened next was absolutely chilling.

[Investigator]

Mary says, I want to show you something. And I'm thinking, well, maybe she's going to show me a gift that she bought for the little girl or whatever. And she goes in and she pulls out this.22 and shows it to me. And I said, aren't you afraid to have that in the house when you've got kids? And she said, oh, they don't pay any attention to anything I do. And she put it away. But I wondered that day why she would do that.

[Narrator]

The story rings a bell for investigators. The caliber gun Mary showed Vicki all those years ago is the same caliber as the bullet recovered from Kathy Jo's skull.

[Investigator]

The victim died as a result of a.22 caliber gunshot wound. At this point, investigators have bumped up the pursuit for Mary Bowles. It's gone into multiple states.

[Narrator]

On April 27, 2011, three weeks into the search for Mary, homicide investigators talked to Kathy Jo's son, Carl McCoy, who was only 12 when his mother went missing.

[Investigator]

When mom's remains were found, I completely went downhill from there, you know, what happened, you suspected, but there's still that little glimmer of hope that she may come back. Maybe there's some merit to what Mary is trying to tell us. Because she's your grandmother, right? She wouldn't lie to you about something like that. This is her daughter.

[Narrator]

Carl points out that Kathy Jo isn't the first family member to die under suspicious circumstances.

[Investigator]

Carl related a story to investigators about his uncle Mark, who at age 17 was in a very serious car accident in Pigeon Forest, Tennessee. Mary Bowles, she decides to yank him out of the hospital. She proceeds to take Mark to a hotel not too far from that location. His mom signed him out against medical advice. Mark screamed in pain most of the night, and Mary wouldn't let anybody in to help him. Only one that was in that room was him and Mark's girlfriend. She just told us Mary took and laid the mattress, you know, against the door where they couldn't get out. He died right there in the motel room. Died from a lower punctured intestine. Drowned it in his own flu. No remorse. It's like it didn't phase her.

[Narrator]

According to the family, once back home, Mary started looking for an attorney.

[Investigator]

Then she turns around, sues the hospital. Mary Bowles filed action against the hospital. She successfully sued them for the amount of $24,000. Based on all of her past behavior, she, yes, has shown a propensity to take advantage of even her loved ones if it meant some money going into her pocket. She's had a lot of people leave out with her and not come back.

[Narrator]

Coming up, the hunt is on.

[Investigator]

They discover her white full size pickup truck parked in the yard.

[Narrator]

And a former friend is no longer afraid to share what she knows.

[Investigator]

Mary had been traipsing around in the woods all day, and she was sopping wet from her hair all the way down to her feet.

[Narrator]

After years spent under a cloud of suspicion, Mary Bowles is Now suspect number one in the murder of her daughter Kathy Jill.

[Investigator]

McCoy family, as well as other witnesses have implicated her in the death of her own son and her daughter. Investigators have bumped up the pursuit. It's gone into multiple states. She appears to be eluding law enforcement. But that hasn't stopped investigators.

[Narrator]

They continue to reach out to potential witnesses who might help bolster their case, including Mary's former friend and roommate, Geraldine Tincher.

[Investigator]

Shortly after Mary Bowles went to prison for fraud in 2003, her roommate Geraldine Tincher, discovered that she in fact, was a victim of fraud. Geraldine's not a fan of Mary Bowles anymore because she stole from her.

[Narrator]

When state investigators circle back to Geraldine, she doesn't hold back.

[Investigator]

Geraldine Tincher was able to say about the night of June 5th that when Mary came into the house, it appeared as if Mary had been traipsing around in the woods all day, just by the way her clothes were and that she was sopping wet from her hair all the way down to her feet. Geraldine asked Mary what was going on. She said, oh, I just dropped Kathy off with some friends and she's gonna get her own ride home. Geraldine thought it was odd that Kathy's purse was still in the front seat of the van. She sees Mary getting in Kathy's purse and getting her driver's license out of her purse. And she said, I'm getting her driver's license cause I'm going to the state police and file missing persons reports. One was never filed with the West Virginia State Police.

[Narrator]

But investigators know that's not the real reason she wanted Kathy Jo's id.

[Investigator]

She was getting that driver's license to cash Kathy's checks at the bank. Geraldine said the children, she said she wanted custody of those children. There had been a feud between the two of them over the children since the accident. Mary wanted custody and Kathy would not give up custody of those children.

[Narrator]

On April 28, 2011, detectives speak with Kathy Jo's brother Matthew Lukosh, and get an unexpected break. After weeks of searching for Mary Bowles.

[Investigator]

Matthew told investigators he recently received a phone call from his mother and the caller ID showed that she was actually in the local area in West Virginia.

[Narrator]

West Virginia State Police immediately go looking for Mary.

[Investigator]

When investigators get to the address, based on tracking of the phone number, they discover Mary's white full size pickup truck parked in the yard. When investigators attempted to notify that Kathy in fact was deceased and her remains were recovered, Mary indicated she already was aware of the fact.

[Narrator]

Mary tells investigators she saw the story on the local news.

[Investigator]

Investigators ask her to go back to the station for a statement.

[Narrator]

State troopers immediately bring Mary in for questioning. She insists she knows nothing about her daughter's murder.

[Investigator]

Mary Bowles was the last person who saw Kathy. And Mary Bowles benefited from Kathy's disappearance and ultimate death. When you put all those little pieces together, coming home wet and muddy, all of that behavior added up to someone that you have to believe is very culpable of this crime.

[Narrator]

But Mary stands her ground.

[Investigator]

Mary Bowles does agree to take a polygraph examination. She ends up failing the polygraph.

[Narrator]

With deception noted, authorities arrest Mary Bowles for the shooting death of her daughter Kathy Jones.

[Investigator]

The fact that she failed the polygraph, her track record on committing fraud and a life full of lies coupled with possession of a firearm, it's painting a picture to the investigators. We charged her with first degree murder.

[Narrator]

Coming up, will Mary finally face justice?

[Investigator]

An 11 year old. Your crime is just a very difficult.

[Narrator]

Crime to pursue or will she escape yet again?

[Investigator]

The trial was just not going to happen.

[Narrator]

Following Mary Bowles arrest, prosecutors present their case to a grand jury 11 years after her daughter Kathy Jo disappeared. With the help of Geraldine Tincher's testimony, prosecutors secure what they need.

[Investigator]

Geraldine testified at the preliminary. She was a wonderful witness. Mary Bowles was indicted for first degree murder. It was an uphill battle. After the preliminary hearing, an 11 year old. Your crime is just a very difficult crime to pursue. Number one, you don't have a murder weapon. And number two, a lack of forensic evidence because of the amount of time, there's not ability to get anything DNA wise on clothing or the crime scene with drag marks. There's none of that evidence that exists. And the age of the case is going against you. The memories of witnesses, they are at a disadvantage in a number of areas.

[Narrator]

Prosecutors face the lingering questions including exactly what went down between Mary and Kathy Jo when they left home on June 5, 2000.

[Investigator]

We believe there was some premeditation that Mary planned for some period of time.

[Narrator]

Though they can't prove exactly how Mary killed Kathy Jo, prosecutors are confident about why.

[Investigator]

The one theme that seems to be constant in this case is greed. Mary Bowles is a prolific liar, someone that's committed fraud her entire life. Mary looked innocent, but underneath she was the death. Mary was money hungry. My mother was getting Social Security checks monthly. She was getting food stamps for us kids because she didn't have a job or she was disabled. So Mary thought that if she had us children then she would get those benefits and my mother stood in the way of that.

[Narrator]

While the family eagerly awaits Mary's day in court, they are dealt a setback.

[Investigator]

Mary was indicted on murder charges and the trial was set to go. And then she had received a terminal cancer diagnosis. You could see the decline in her health. We would have hearing and it got to the point where the ambulance had to actually get her and bring her up to the courtroom in either a wheelchair or at I think the last hearing, a stretcher. What happened during our case is Ms. Bowles health deteriorated to the point that I knew that having a trial was just not going to happen.

[Narrator]

In 2016, Mary Bowles is released from jail and placed in hospice care. The prosecution dismisses their case against her.

[Investigator]

I left the prosecuting attorney's office in December 2016. I dismissed it before I left because I didn't want to leave a case like that. That to my next in line.

[Narrator]

Mary Bowles dies on July 5, 2017.

[Investigator]

When I got the notice that Mary Bowles was dead, I took a deep breath. Mary Bowles was not going to hurt anyone again.

[Narrator]

But for Kathy Jo's family, the news brings mixed emotions.

[Investigator]

I was mad when I found out my mom will never get justice like she deserves. My mother was kind, beautiful. She would do anything for her kids. I just want people to know that my mother just didn't deserve it and she was a good person. Justice wasn't served, was not served at all. That woman never had remorse about anything. What I want them to remember about Kathy Jo, my mother is that she was one of the most loving, free spirited, outgoing, beautiful people. And she, she was human. She had a voice. And though she ain't here to say it right now, we are. Her voice will be heard.

[Narrator]

Kathy Jo McCoy was laid to rest by her family on March 11, 2007 in Hinton, West Virginia. Mary Bowles was never tried or convicted of Kathy Jo's murder or the death of her son, Mark.

[Investigator]

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[Narrator]

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[Investigator]

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