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Background: Courtroom footage of Tylor Birch”s appearance on April 2 (WBAY). Inset: Jakob Bowerman (Bowerman Funeral Home).
During a session held on Thursday, both the defense and prosecution recognized a psychologist’s assessment affirming Birch’s competency to stand trial. Alongside 16-year-old Peyton Carnot, Birch faces accusations of reckless homicide following the death of 13-year-old Jakob Bowerman.
The incident, as previously covered by Law & Crime, involved Birch and Carnot allegedly seizing Bowerman by his hands and feet and throwing him off a pier into a lake. Sadly, Bowerman, who was unable to swim, drowned as a result of this action.
According to reports from local ABC affiliate WBAY, Birch had been declared competent in an earlier hearing. However, this finding was initially challenged by his defense. Appearing remotely for the latest court proceeding, both parties agreed to uphold the competency assessment. Birch is scheduled to make his next court appearance on April 30.
According to courtroom reporting by local ABC affiliate WBAY, Birch was found competent at a previous hearing, but the defense contested that finding. Birch appeared remotely for his court appearance, where both sides agreed that the competency report could stand. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 30.
Carnot, who is being tried as an adult, is scheduled to appear in court on June 4 for a status conference.
In a criminal complaint obtained by local Fox affiliate WLUK, Carnot told police that he and Birch had “thrown the victim into the water after the victim has expressed he didn’t want to go in.” After Bowerman landed in the water, he allegedly told Birch and Carnot that he could not swim. The two defendants then reportedly tried to pull Bowerman out of the water, but were unable.
Bowerman was pulled from the water and taken to a hospital, where he spent several days on life support before he died on Aug. 23, 2025. His cause of death was listed as drowning. His mother said her son, who had autism and had a history of being bullied, did not know Birch or Carnot before that fateful day on Government Pier.