Local News

Texas Couple Indicted On Murder Charges In 4-Year-Old's Death

Posted Updated

DURHAM, N.C. — A grand jury Tuesday indicted the parents of a 4-year-old boy, who they say died from starvation and dehydration.

Richard and Amber Dowen are charged with murder in the death of their son, Randolph. Authorities said Randolph Dowen weighed just 19 pounds and had bruises and cutlike marks on his body.

Police found the Texas couple on Miami Boulevard in Durham last week. They had been traveling in their tractor-trailer and had stopped to flag down help for their son.

Investigators seized rolls of film from the truck and developed them. In one of the photos, Randolph was eating a slice of pizza. In another, he was on a float in a pool. In both pictures, investigators said the boy had bruised and marks on his face and appeared to be thin and pale.

Officers said from the pictures, it was clear that he had been abused for some time.

The couple also has a 15-month-old girl, who is in the custody of social services.

Randolph Dowen will be buried in Texas on Wednesday. There is a visitation service for Randolph Dowen from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Greenlawn Memorial Funeral Home in New Caney, Texas just outside of Houston. The funeral is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday. He will be buried at the Chapel of the Times Garden in the baby section.

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.