Suvechha Sarkar
The morning of July 13, 1993, began just like any other for the residents of Niles, Michigan. However, that changed when a 15-year-old Rebecca Lynn Stowe, lovingly known as Becky, suddenly disappeared. It wasn’t until two years later that her remains were discovered after officials received an unexpected tip. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Betrayed: Dying to Be Popular’ focuses on how the investigation uncovered a web of messy relationships and manipulation that led to her death. It also features interviews with her close friend and the officials who worked tirelessly to solve the case.
Becky Stowe’s Remains Were Found Two Years After Her Disappearance
Rebecca Lynn Stowe, affectionately known as Becky, was born on November 3, 1977, in Niles, Michigan. According to the show, Becky sadly never saw her father because he and her mother, Diana Louise Farris, had separated by the time she grew up. However, she maintained a close relationship with her mother. While growing up, Becky had a good relationship with her sister, Cynthia Slates. Becky’s friends often described her as someone energetic and adventurous. By April 1993, she was living in Niles, Michigan, with Diana and her boyfriend, Steve Nichols. As per official records, Becky was then attending Brandywine High School and began dating her fellow 16-year-old student, Robert Eugene Leamon III.
Police reports state that in July 1993, Becky fought with Steve, following which she went to stay at her friend, Jacqueline Kizer’s house. On the following day, on July 13, 1993, she left a note for Jacqueline, stating that she was going to meet Robert. However, when Robert called Jacqueline to ask about Becky’s whereabouts, Jacqueline grew concerned. She quickly informed Diana, who consequently reported Becky missing. Initially, officials considered the possibility that Becky might have run away from home. That reportedly changed when they discovered that she had left behind her personal belongings, including money and a wallet, at Jacqueline’s house.
Despite an intensive search, the authorities were unable to find Becky. On October 5, 1995, detectives received an unexpected tip, which led them to a farm in Cass County, Michigan. There, they uncovered skeletal remains from a shallow grave that had been made under a log pile. The dental records reportedly helped investigators identify the remains as Becky’s. Additionally, they found her pearl necklace and clothing from the scene. Due to the progression of decomposition of her remains, the forensic experts were unable to determine the cause of her death definitively. Although officials learned that she was allegedly pregnant at the time of her death, the experts were unable to discern her pregnancy status due to the decomposition.
Investigators Cracked the Case After a Confession Revealed the Burial Site
At the beginning of the investigation, detectives questioned Robert. According to police records, he admitted that he and Becky were supposed to meet on July 13, 1993, but she allegedly failed to arrive. In his statements, he claimed that he worked at two jobs on that day and had met with his mother in between. Reports state that law enforcement learned from Jacqueline that Becky had moved to her house because she was allegedly pregnant. She reportedly gave Becky’s journal to the investigators and told them that Becky had an intimate relationship with both Robert and another friend, Art Rose. She reportedly informed them that Robert was also seeing another girl, Angela Snyder. As per official reports, when Art was interrogated, he claimed that Becky had told him the child was Robert’s.
Since Art had an alibi, he was reportedly ruled out as a suspect. Robert was once again brought in for questioning, where he also passed a polygraph test. Since he had an alibi and passed the test, he was also eliminated as a suspect. Court records state that the officials then suspected Diana’s live-in boyfriend, Steve, because he and Becky had a history of animosity between them. During his questioning, he reportedly failed to give an alibi. According to reports, shortly after, he got a lawyer, refused to give a polygraph test, and left town. Although he was considered a suspect, he was never charged due to a lack of evidence. The case eventually went cold until October 1995, when Angela contacted the police and revealed that Robert had admitted to killing Becky and burying her on his uncle’s farm.
After Becky’s remains were discovered, officials again questioned Robert. Investigative reports indicate that he claimed that on July 13, 1993, he met Becky at the farm and asked her to get an abortion, but she allegedly refused to do so. In his statements, he claimed that they were wrestling when Robert suddenly heard something pop and insisted that Becky’s death was an accident. According to official reports, the detectives believed that the murder was premeditated after reportedly discovering that his cousin had allegedly helped him dig the grave a day earlier. As per the authorities, Robert allegedly choked Becky to unconsciousness before burying her while she was still alive. Ultimately, he was arrested and indicted on the charge of open murder.
Robert Leamon is Out on Parole and Appears to be Maintaining a Low Profile Today
Robert’s jury trial commenced in 1997, and he was tried as an adult. According to court records, the prosecution claimed that it was a premeditated first-degree murder. They alleged that Robert killed Becky because she refused to get an abortion when he wanted one. The prosecution pointed out that he initially lied to the investigators, misleading them. On the other hand, the defense claimed that Becky’s death was accidental. Court records state that they insisted on the diminished capacity of Robert, suggesting that his mental state — tied to immaturity or psychological issues — rendered him incapable of planning the murder beforehand.
The defense claimed that Robert had suffered multiple brain injuries and was a special education student. Ultimately, he was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in February 1997. Although Robert had appealed his judgment, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction on November 24, 1998. The court noted that the evidence, including a pre-dug grave, burial, and the circumstances surrounding the killing, supported the jury’s conclusion that he acted with intent. However, the court remanded for a juvenile sentencing hearing, following the laws that require special factors to be considered when sentencing juveniles.
In 2012, the US Supreme Court ruled in a case that mandatory life sentences without parole for juvenile offenders are unconstitutional. Consequently, a resentencing hearing was ordered after a rehearing in July 2019. On January 30, 2020, Robert was resentenced to a term of 25 years to 60 years in prison. Since he received credit for 24 years and three months that he had already served, he became eligible to apply for parole in a year. Robert was reportedly granted parole and released from prison in January 2021. According to reports, he was set to move in with his mother and stepfather after his release in Granger, Michigan. As of writing, he appears to be living a quiet life away from the spotlight.
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