Mother charged in 2-year-old's death

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A Pemiscot County woman has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child following the death of her 2-year-old daughter. It is expected that County Prosecutor, Mike Hazel, will also be filing a charge of murder in the second degree against the woman's boyfriend.

According to the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department, Joanie Fowler, 21, turned herself in to authorities on Saturday and will appear before Judge Byron Luber at 10 a.m., Wednesday. Fowler is currently being held on no bond in connection with the child's death.

On Wednesday, area authorities were called to a residence North of Pascola, Mo., where a child was reported as not breathing.

Joanie Fowler

As medical personnel and law enforcement arrived on the scene, they learned that the child was still not breathing, Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell noted.

According to Greenwell, the mother of the child, Fowler, had initially told authorities that she and the child were involved in an ATV accident around 6 a.m. the same morning. After receiving conflicting stories, law enforcement officials secured the residence and began a criminal investigation.

During the course of the investigation, officials learned that the mother's boyfriend, Matthew Dylon Taylor had allegedly struck the child in the face twice, causing serious physical injury. The child, Lillian Fowler, was airlifted to Lebonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., where she was listed in critical condition, before later being pronounced dead on Thursday afternoon.

Following Lillian's death, an autopsy was performed which revealed that Lillian died of head trauma, according to police.

Officials say that Taylor is currently in custody being held on the charge of assault in the first degree.

Details regarding the expected additional charges against Taylor, and information regarding Fowler's appearance in court will be posted once the information is available.

Pertinent address:

610 Ward Ave, Caruthersville, Mo.