Witnesses Describe Aftermath of Deadly 2014 Stabbing During Trial

By Jay McDonald [former] , Alisha Budhwani [former] - March 28, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

Eyewitnesses in a murder trial described the aftermath of a 2014 altercation that left a woman dead from more than 40 stab wounds, with their statements facing the scrutiny of a defense attorney who compared them to what was said in prior years. Two experts also took the stand.

Mark Bowser, 42, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 39-year-old Tracy Womack to death on Sept. 20, 2014, in an apartment on the 4600 block of Benning Road, SE.

The second day of Womack’s trial began with defense attorney Dorsey Jones cross-examining one of the prosecution’s eyewitnesses. Jones sought to point out inconsistencies between her current testimony and what she said in 2014, as he went on to do with other eyewitnesses who took the stand during the March 24 proceedings.

During re-direct examination, a prosecutor asked this witness if she watched any videos or read any transcripts from the grand jury proceedings. The witness said she did not.

The second witness knew Womack and Bowser for approximately four years. After the stabbing, he arrived at the apartment to find Womack’s son in shock.

A childhood friend of Womack’s son testified that he was with his friend when someone informed him something had happened to his mother. After learning this, the two went back to the crime scene, which the witness described as very hectic, filled with yelling and screaming. The witness said he tried to convince his friend to stay in the car but was unsuccessful.

Video footage shows the witness who knew the victim and defendant for several years arriving at the crime scene as others ran out of the apartment. He tried to break a stool in an attempt to defend himself and keep Bowser at the scene after the defendant exited the apartment, allegedly holding a knife.

“I never saw him act violent nor did I see any blood on Piggy,” the witness said. “When I ran back to the apartment he did have a knife in his hand as he was coming down the stairs.”

During cross-examination, Jones pointed out how in 2014, the witness said he left Womack’s place to go to a party in the second court of the apartment complex, but during the trial, he said he went to his relative’s house, which is in a different court.

Jones also pointed out contradictions in current and previous statements made by the friend of Womack’s son. During the trial, this witness said that as he sat in the car, he saw someone with a knife in their hand running across the street towards Fletch Hill, SE. He could see the glair off the knife from the street lights. 

“In 2014, you said that you saw someone walking across the street not running, correct?” Jones asked. 

“No. It was someone running sir,” the witness responded. 

“Well, back in 2014, based on the grand jury transcripts, you testified that as you were sitting in your car you saw someone walking across the street,” Jones said. 

Two expert witnesses testified— a forensic DNA analyst who tested evidence in the case and a medical examiner who performed Womack’s autopsy.

The analyst worked for Bode Technology in 2014 and tested the defendant’s clothing for blood using serology testing. Multiple spots came back positive for blood. 

“Bleach, animal blood and food processing are some of the things that can cause a positive test, but it is very rare that these items would contaminate evidence,” she said. “That is why we do not further test once we get a positive screening.”

The medical examiner said Womack was stabbed 47 times. According to court documents, the victim sustained stab wounds to the face, back, chest, abdomen, arms and both hands. The medical examiner said some of these injuries were defensive wounds.

Jones asked her if someone stabbed that many times would be spewing a lot of blood, but the medical examiner said that much of Womack’s bleeding was internal.

Jurors were instructed to return to court on Aug. 28.