Governor's Reward Reissued, Increased For Leads In 1996 Cottondale Cold Case

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Investigators are renewing efforts to solve the nearly 30-year-old killing of a Cottondale woman.

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The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit announced Wednesday that a $10,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the 1996 killing of Carrie Loraine Bowles.

Bowles, 35, was shot and killed inside her home in the Old Mill Trace neighborhood in Cottondale on Nov. 13, 1996.

No arrests have ever been made in the case.

Captain Jack Kennedy, commander of the multiagency unit, said investigators routinely review unsolved cases and during a recent look into Bowles' case, investigators found that a previously issued Governor's Reward had expired.

The Violent Crimes Unit and the Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's Office then worked with Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's office to have the reward reissued.

The reward amount was also increased to $10,000 in hopes of generating new leads in the decades-old investigation.

Kennedy pointed out information that may have seemed insignificant in the past could prove valuable as the case remains under active review.

Those with information about Bowles' murder is asked to contact the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit at (205) 464-8690.

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