A Mississippi community is reeling after a pastor’s son and two mothers — including the victim’s own — allegedly participated in a disturbing cover-up of a 14-year-old rape victim’s pregnancy that involved fabricating DNA evidence and even allegedly hosting a baby shower.
Dawson Brown, 27, is charged with one count of statutory rape and two counts of sexual battery and one count of human trafficking after reportedly assaulting and impregnating the teenager, who was 13-years-old at the time, according to WLOX.
Online rumors circulated in Poplarville that College Heights Baptist Church threw the alleged victim — who lived with the Brown family — a baby shower, according to the Daily Mail, though the church itself is not accused of wrongdoing.
Authorities are working to confirm whether the baby shower took place.
Court documents obtained by WLOX show that law enforcement recovered multiple images and videos of Brown raping the victim.
His mother, Sabrina Brown, 54, was charged with conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, attempting tampering with physical evidence and child neglect after “attempted to coerce, direct and instruct” the girl to give false information regarding Dawson’s DNA, according to WLOX.
The teen’s mother, Kendrell Bowden, 32, was also charged in connection with the reported abuse, according to the Daily Mail.
She initially admitted to investigators that she was aware of the teen’s pregnancy after she asked to move back home and refused to reveal the father’s identity.
Dawson later admitted to her that he is the father. Court documents state he provided her with money, use of his vehicle, tickets to sporting events and other favors.
Police reviewed text messages between the Browns and Bowden, allegedly discussing the teen and her pregnancy.
One such message sent from Dawson to Bowden discussed whether he should flee the country.
In a second interview with investigators, she admitted that she had “personal knowledge” of a sexual relationship between Dawson and her daughter, but did not alert authorities because “she was scared,” according to court documents.
Bowden was arrested on Tuesday and charged with human trafficking and contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child.
“We are asking the public to respect the victim’s privacy and not share or release the juvenile’s identity,” the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office said Friday in a Facebook post.
Sabrina Brown has been released after posting a $10,000 bond, while Kendrell Bowden remains in custody on a combined $160,000 bond for human trafficking and child neglect ($150,000 for human trafficking and $10,000 for child neglect).
Dawson Brown was denied bond at a recent court hearing as he is a flight risk.
