A mother’s profound grief has transformed into a powerful advocacy campaign for judicial reform following the brutal killing of her teenage son. Vondé Bowers, a 17-year-old cricket talent, met a tragic end on July 29, 2025, just days after returning to Antigua from an international sports tour in England. According to his mother’s account, the young athlete sustained multiple stab wounds and attempted to reach home before collapsing in a gutter.
The subsequent arrest of a 16-year-old suspect (who has since turned 17) has ignited a crucial debate about juvenile justice protocols. The accused was initially held at the facility formerly known as 1735 before being transferred to the Dennis Bowers Rehabilitation Center—a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the victim’s family.
In emotionally charged public statements, Bowers’ mother has challenged the prevailing approach to handling minors accused of violent crimes. She contends that the current system fails to adequately address the severity of such offenses, noting: ‘Throughout my life, I have never witnessed juvenile murderers housed at either Boys Training School or Girls Home. They were always incarcerated in jail.’
The bereaved parent has simultaneously expressed deep frustration with investigative authorities, revealing that more than six months after the tragedy, her family continues to await substantive updates on case progress. ‘Why must families beg for information? If an individual admits to committing a crime, must we still wait years for justice?’ she questioned.
Her advocacy now extends beyond the immediate case to demand legislative review of the Child Act, which she believes requires strengthening to properly address serious offenses committed by minors. Remembering her son as ‘an asset to me, to his family, and to this country,’ she has vowed to persist in her quest for justice: ‘As long as I have life and God grants me strength, I will fight to the end for my child.’
While the case remains active within the judicial system, authorities have not provided timelines for court proceedings, leaving the family in a state of prolonged uncertainty and grief.