A manhunt is underway for a Minnesota man who was recently released on parole for murder after being accused of killing his pregnant wife and being linked to another shooting.
Mychel Stowers, 36, faces two counts of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 35-year-old Damara Alexis Kirkland, who was two months pregnant at the time.
Police discovered Kirkland’s body in her apartment after responding to reports of gunfire. Evidence, including ultrasound photos and a letter addressed to Stowers, pointed to his involvement in the crime.
Stowers had been paroled in March for a prior murder conviction and was living in a halfway house on work release. He had been granted permission to visit a woman described as his ex-wife on the day of the shooting.
Despite filing for divorce in June, court records indicate that the divorce had not been finalized at the time of the incident.
The apartment’s owner revealed that Kirkland’s estranged husband, who was not on the lease, had been living with her. As a result, she was facing eviction.
Related Stories
Shortly after Kirkland’s murder, authorities responded to a carjacking in the area and found a man with gunshot wounds. The victim reported that he was shot by a man matching Stowers’ description, who then stole his car.
The suspect later contacted a sheriff’s office employee, admitting to the shooting and expressing a desire to surrender. However, he remains at large, and the stolen vehicle was recovered in a parking lot.
