ST. PAUL, MN — Authorities have launched a national manhunt for Mychel Allan Stowers, a 36-year-old St. Paul resident recently paroled for a prior murder, following the fatal shooting of his pregnant ex-wife. Prosecutors have charged Stowers with two counts of second-degree murder, which include the killing of his ex-wife and her unborn child, with each count potentially leading to a maximum sentence of 40 years.
On the evening of Oct. 19, St. Paul police responded to an emergency call at an apartment on 139 Sycamore Street East after reports of gunfire. They arrived to find tenants gathered outside, some of whom reported hearing gunshots from apartment 3. Inside, police discovered the body of 35-year-old Damara Alexis Stowers. She had suffered a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Nearby, officers found ultrasound images, starkly underlining the tragedy of the incident.
According to building management, Damara was in the process of eviction partly due to unauthorized occupancy; Mychel Stowers was described as living with her, despite not being listed on the lease.
Minutes following this distressing scene, a violent carjacking occurred not far from the initial location, at 99 Acker Street. The victim, driving an Audi A4, was shot and sustained a broken femur. Authorities identified Mychel Stowers from surveillance footage as the assailant who escaped in the stolen vehicle.
Later that night, a Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office employee received a phone call from Stowers, wherein he confessed to the shooting at Acker Street and expressed intentions to surrender. However, he has since evaded arrest and remains at large.
Stowers was released on parole in March 2024 from a sentence for a 2008 murder, where he was convicted of second-degree intentional murder for the killing of a man in St. Paul. At the time of the recent incident, he was on a supervised release and living in a halfway house. He had received a pass to visit the Sycamore Street apartment on the day of the shooting, according to police reports.
The renewed violence from a once-convicted murderer has stirred concerns about parole system effectiveness and public safety. The dual charges of murder, including that of an unborn child, has particularly alarmed community members and advocacy groups, spotlighting ongoing debates surrounding domestic violence and criminal justice reforms.
Law enforcement agencies are urging anyone with information on Stowers’ whereabouts to come forward, as the community reels from this latest act of violence. The case continues to develop as police piece together the timeline and motives behind the tragic events of October 19. As of now, Stowers’ capture remains a top priority, with officials determined to ensure justice for the victims and their families.