KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. – Jurors watched harrowing body-worn camera footage and heard graphic allegations Monday as the trial of Myron Faith Bowie began in Kenosha County Circuit Court. Prosecutors say Bowie doused the mother of his children in rubbing alcohol and set her on fire while their four kids slept nearby—then tried to mislead deputies about where the attack occurred.

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Bowie, 38, is charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide (domestic abuse), mayhem (domestic abuse), and five counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety. The alleged attack occurred in the early morning hours of July 30, 2023, in the Village of Salem Lakes. He has pleaded not guilty.

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District Attorney Xavier Solis is personally prosecuting the case with Assistant District Attorney Sarah Norkus and law student intern Morgan Millar, who delivered the state’s opening remarks.

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“As the defendant emptied a bottle of rubbing alcohol… she couldn’t believe the father of her children would hurt her,” Millar told jurors. “However, that all changed when Myron slung open the bedroom door, clicked the lighter, and she was engulfed in flames.”

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Millar said the woman was burned so severely that her skin sloughed off in sheets and her breathing became faint as her body went into shock. Photos shown to jurors depicted her unconscious in the burn unit at Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, where she was flown via Flight for Life. She suffered second- and third-degree burns to her face, chest, and arms—approximately 13% of her body.

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The defense, led by Assistant Public Defender Supervisor Kristyne Watson and Assistant Public Defender Michelle Gardner, focused heavily on the fact that the fire did not spread beyond the woman’s body. “There was no fire or smoke damage to the walls, the bed, or the floors,” Gardner emphasized. “The children were unharmed. It does not make sense.”

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Gardner argued that Bowie extinguished the flames quickly and helped move her to the shower, contradicting claims that he intended to kill. She urged jurors to keep an open mind and reminded them that Bowie is presumed innocent unless the state proves every element beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Throughout the afternoon, the defense repeatedly questioned witnesses about whether the home itself was ever burning—seemingly laying groundwork to argue for a lesser-included offense, rather than attempted homicide.

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Three Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies testified Monday. One of them, Deputy Wipper, told jurors that Bowie was present at the scene but falsely claimed the incident happened “down the block.” Wipper said something felt off, prompting him to enter the home and investigate.

Inside, deputies found the woman badly burned and struggling to breathe. Deputy Dorval testified that one of the children, a young girl with a bone disorder requiring a wheelchair, had to be carried from the house in a cradle hold. “I asked her how I could get her out safely,” he said. “I carried her down the stairs myself.”

Deputy Thornton, an evidence technician, described collecting burnt hair, a wet t-shirt, and a hidden empty alcohol bottle—evidence consistent with a liquid accelerant. An arson investigator is expected to testify later in the trial that the injuries and scene were consistent with a fire fueled by isopropyl alcohol.

According to the criminal complaint, the woman told deputies, “He threw something on me and set me on fire.” Two of the couple’s children reportedly told investigators they saw Bowie exiting the bedroom afterward, apologizing and saying they might never see him again.

The woman later obtained a rare 10-year restraining order against Bowie.

The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday afternoon, with testimony expected from neighbors, medical staff, and additional law enforcement officers.

If convicted on all counts, Bowie faces a potential prison sentence of over 100 years.

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