On the 27th of April, 2013, California police received a phone call from a distraught boy. It was 12-year-old Isiah Fowler. He told the stunned officers that he had been at home with his 8-year-old sister, Leila Fowler, when an intruder with long grey hair was spotted in the house. According to Isiah, he had been in the bathroom when he heard an unknown voice say “Hey, I know you’re in there..” before he heard his little sister screaming. Isiah said he then came out of the bathroom and saw a tall man with grey hair fleeing from the home. It was then that Isiah claimed he discovered Leila, on the floor and bleeding. She had been stabbed to death. She had been inflicted with over 20 separate stab wounds; it was overkill.
The Fowler family rallied together, donning t-shirts with photographs of Leila’s smiling face plastered on the front. They spoke to the media and urged anybody with any information to come forward. Isiah was often at the forefront of these tearful gatherings. He was a loving brother to Leila… or was he? Within days, investigators noticed discrepancies with what he had claimed took place and what the evidence was showing. For one, it was evident that Leila had been stabbed to death whilst in her bunk bed but had somehow ended up across the floor - there were no bloody footprints meaning she did not walk there herself. Furthermore, a steak knife was discovered placed back in the kitchen drawer. This knife blade had been bent and contained traces of human blood. Another inconsistency was the length of time from the so-called attack to when Isiah called the police. When investigators arrived, Leila’s body was cold to the touch, indicating Isiah took several hours to call the police. When he called 911, he didn’t even mention that Leila had been stabbed until a minute and a half into the conversation.
Isiah, who staunchly denied he was guilty, was put on trial for the murder of his sister. He was found guilty and shall remain in custody at the O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facility until he is 23-years-old. A motive for the senseless murder was never offered.
