States Attorney
WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FIRST DEGREE MURDER
Accomplice to Stand Trial November 14
WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett announced today that Nicole Bowden, 24 (d.o.b. 1/31/1982) formerly of Bolingbrook has entered a plea of guilty for her role in the 2001 shooting death of 25-year-old Ezra Harvey of Woodridge. Also charged in the murder is Terrance Miller, 30 (d.o.b. 7/03/1976) formerly of Glen Ellyn. Miller, who is charged with eleven counts of First Degree Murder, is scheduled to go to trial on November 11, 2006.
In the early morning hours of April 3, 2001, it is alleged that Bowden arranged to meet Harvey at his apartment. Later that day, Bowden, accompanied by Miller, allegedly arrived at Harvey’s apartment together. Once in the apartment, the pair allegedly stole, in addition to money, Harvey’s cell phone and pager. At some point in time during the incident, Miller allegedly shot Harvey in the head with a handgun. Harvey’s body was discovered later that afternoon by a maintenance worker at the apartment complex who immediately notified police. The case went cold until November 2004, when a Woodridge detective received information regarding the murder. In January, 2005, State’s Attorney Birkett approved murder charges against Bowden and Miller.
“Today’s plea is the first step in bringing justice to a case that has been languishing for far too long,” commented Birkett. “I would like to thank the Woodridge Police department for their diligence and commitment in solving this case. They never gave up on the hope that those responsible for the murder of Ezra Harvey would be held accountable. The Woodridge community should be very proud of these dedicated detectives.”
Bowden is scheduled for status before Judge George Bakalis on December 5, 2006. She faces a penalty of four to fifteen years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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