Human remains discovered in Virginia have been identified as those of Logan Nathaniel Bowman, a 5-year-old boy who went missing over 20 years ago, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Logan disappeared in January 2003, and his mother, Cynthia Davis, along with her then-boyfriend, Dennis Schermerhorn, faced charges in connection with the child’s disappearance. Authorities announced that additional charges are anticipated.
The grim discovery of Logan’s remains was made in September 2022 in Galax, Virginia, a city with a population of approximately 6,700 residents. The sheriff’s office stated that the remains were found in a wooded area and had been there for an extended period. Investigators collaborated with Othram Inc., a Texas-based forensic genealogy company, using DNA analysis to compare it with Logan’s relatives and confirm the identity of the remains.
The discovery site revealed that the remains were found in a trash can, accompanied by items such as a sleeping bag, a Winnie the Pooh blanket, and a cloth fragment, as reported by DNASolves.com, a site owned by Othram. Logan’s disappearance in 2003 was considered under “suspicious circumstances,” and the case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), indicating that he had a healing fracture in his left arm, tooth decay, and burn scars on his feet. Unfortunately, the details of Logan’s case in the NamUs system are no longer available online.
Logan’s father, Wayne Bowman, expressed relief at finally being able to give his son a proper burial after the identification of the remains. He described Logan as a “good kid” and expressed hope that the identification could lead to justice. Wayne Bowman acknowledged the pain of the situation but also conveyed a sense of closure, stating, “I can go on; I know where he’s at now. I don’t have to worry where he’s at. I know it hurts, but it’s going to be OK.”
The disappearance of Logan Nathaniel Bowman in 2003 raised questions and suspicions, leading to legal consequences for his mother and her then-boyfriend. Now, two decades later, the discovery of his remains brings both a somber resolution to the mystery of his disappearance and the potential for legal repercussions for those involved.
Logan’s tragic story unfolds as a reminder of the enduring impact of unsolved cases on families and communities. The identification of his remains not only allows for a proper farewell but may also reignite legal proceedings, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and offering the possibility of justice for a young life cut short.