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Chavers |
The Louisa County woman charged with hiding her boyfriend's body in a well pleaded guilty yesterday to four felony charges.
But how and when he died remains a mystery.
Ulisa Mary Chavers, 61, was convicted of concealing a dead body, credit card fraud, identity theft and possession of a sawed-off shotgun. She faces up to 25 years in prison when she is sentenced Jan. 25 in Louisa County Circuit Court.
"Today was a step towards justice," said Louisa Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Garrett. "I don't think you can ask for anything better than a guilty plea."
Chavers was arrested in March after authorities found the body of Reginal Cody Bowles in a 33-foot-deep well in Mineral. His body was wrapped in several sleeping bags, according to court records.
The discovery was the result of an investigation that started last October, when Bowles' son from Florida told police he hadn't heard from his father since Christmas 2006.
Chavers told authorities that Bowles had moved to Montana in early 2007 to join a motorcycle gang.
Garrett said that didn't add up because there was no out-of-state financial activity by Bowles, his $1,400 monthly Social Security checks were being cashed locally, and he hadn't filled any prescriptions for his heart condition.
Chavers told investigators her boyfriend had LASIK surgery on his heart so he didn't need the medicine anymore. She also provided fake photographs to police to try to prove he wasn't missing, Garrett said in court.
Chavers eventually admitted to dumping Bowles' body in the well, but said she didn't kill him.
Defense Attorney Mike Caudill said Chavers found Bowles dead on the floor and assumed he had suffered a heart attack. The state medical examiner's office has yet to determine how or when he died.
Court records state that Chavers had been using Bowles' credit card and cashing his Social Security checks for at least five months.
Caudill said he will suggest Chavers receive probation since she has no prior criminal history.
"She's a pleasant lady," he said.
But Garrett said he will pursue an active jail sentence. Investigations into other charges are ongoing in multiple jurisdictions, Garrett said.
In April, investigators exhumed the apparent remains of Chavers' second husband, Clent Chavers, from the backyard of the house the couple had shared in Amelia County. She told police that she buried his body in 1994 and later beheaded his corpse, but didn't report it. She also collected his Social Security checks, police said.
The Louisa Sheriff's Office says it is examining the death of Bowles' mother, Eleanor Bowles, who was being cared for by Chavers. Chavers reported the 69-year-old woman's death in 2004.
Police say several thousand dollars was removed from Bowles' bank account before and after her death and deposited into Chavers' account.
Reginal Bowles' two sons and ex-wife were present in court, but declined to comment afterward.
Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
Email: psmith@fredericksburg.com
