Tanner Eugene Dowler
August 10, 2002 - October 12, 2002
Tanner Dowler was born on August 10, 2002, he would
only live for a little over two months. On October 3, 2002, Tanner was
flown by helicopter to the Denver Health Medical Center were it was found
that he was suffering from 11 broken ribs, two broken arms, two broken
legs, burns to his feet and brain damage.
In late June of 2002, Lea Dowler sent a fax to the
Platte Valley Medical Center saying she was concerned for her unborn grandchild's
well being. She said that there were anger management issuers as well as
unemployment and instability issues going on. At that time, she didn't
mention any concern for the physical safety of the unborn
child. On August 10, 2002 Tanner Dowler was born
and the medical records show that everything was normal with the delivery
and that his mother had been receiving regular prenatal care during her
pregnancy.
On August 13, 2002 Lea Dowler sent another fax, this
time to the Weld Country Department Of Human Services. Once again she was
worried about the situation in the home of her son, Joseph Dowler, his
wife, Audra Dowler and their baby boy, Tanner Dowler. She was concerned
for several reasons, homelessness, financial problem, anger management
problems, unemployment and immaturity. Again, she did not express any concerns
for the physical well being of the baby.
The letter was faxed to the Boulder Counter Department
Of Social Services since the letter indicated that the family lived in
Boulder. An internal records check was done and they requested that local
law enforcement do a check as well. Due to the inability to find an address
for the family, the report was not assigned to anyone and was not looked
into any further.
Medical records show that Tanner received a well
baby check up at the Salud Clinic where his mother had received her prenatal
care. The records show that Tanner was growing properly and there were
no signs of abuse or neglect. A note in the records said that Tanner's
father was very involved with the visit while his mother seemed to be distracted
and didn't want to answer any questions.
On August 22, Joseph and Audra went to an appointment
to get on the WIC program and after presenting Tanner's medical records
it was determined that he was the right height and weight for his age.
On August 28, Tanner received his second well baby check up and there were
no signs of abuse or neglect noted.
On August 30, Joseph went to the Louisville office
of the Boulder County Department Of Social Services. Joseph was exhibiting
some volatile and angry behavior. The Child Protection Unit caseworker
watched Joseph with Tanner and decided that there was nothing that needed
to be reported to the intake casework staff for a follow up.
On October 3, 2002, Tanner was brought into the Community
Medical Center in Lafayette. While there, Tanner went into respiratory
arrest. Doctors were unable to resuscitate him. Tanner was transported
by helicopter to the Denver Health Medical Center where his injuries were
discovered by the doctors.
A few days before he would have been nine weeks old,
Tanner was baptized and the decision was made, by his grandparents, to
take him off of life support. Tanner died on October 12, 2002.
After his arrest, Joseph told the police that he
had an anger problem and he needed help. He said that he was afraid he
had hurt his son and was afraid his anger would some day cause him to hurt
his wife. Joseph stated that, in the past, he had gotten rid of his pets
because he had hurt them. Joseph Dowler was charged with first degree
murder in the death of his son. Joseph was convicted
of child abuse resulting in a death and was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Audra Dowler plead guilty in June of 2003, to charges
of abuse and negligence for her role in Tanner's death. Audra was sentenced
to ten years in prison. Audra would serve about three years of her sentence
before she is let out of prison. Upon her release, Audra was in an intensive
supervised program in which she is required to wear an ankle bracelet that
monitored her movements. She was required to check in with a case worker
and submit to random drug and alcohol testing. She was also required to
be home by curfew.
Tanner was buried on October 21, 2002. His casket
was white and on top was a bouquet of rose and a teddy bear. Around the
casket were other bouquets of flowers, a cast of his hands and pictures
of Tanner sleeping when he was just born.
About 50 family and friends attended the service
for Tanner at the Tabor Funeral Home. Pastor David DeBord spoke to them:
"All your hopes and dreams for him are gone.
The grandparents feel like they should have done
more, but knowing that they can't is what
we're left to deal with"
David Debord added that he thought maybe some good
might come out of the death of Tanner:
"It's too early to tell what good might come
from this. Maybe his death might expose a hole
in the safety net that needs repairing.
There are those people who believe Tanner's death
DID
expose a weakness in Colorado's child welfare system. Tanner's grandparents
said that they were afraid for him, that they had called authorities and
told them that Joseph and Audra needed parenting classes. The help didn't
get to them because of a mixup when Audra's maiden name was used by the
Colorado child welfare system. If they had used her married name of Dowler,
they would have seen that Joseph and Audra had applied for assistance and
their address was on the papers.
Boulder County Social Services was cleared of any
wrong doing in the case of Tanner's death.
.
.
Sealed in a plastic bag to protect it from the rain,
a card was placed at Tanners grave on what would have been his fifth birthday:
Angel,
You're 5. How big you'd be now.
Love,
Grandma and Grandpa
.
Dowler timeline
August 10, 2002: Tanner
Dowler is born
October 3, 2002: Joseph and Audra Dowler
take Tanner to a Lafayette clinic, saying he is unresponsive and lethargic.
Suffering brain damage, broken bones and second-degree burns, the baby
is airlifted to Denver Health Medical Center. Both parents are arrested.
October 12, 2002: Tanner is removed
from life support and dies.
June 3, 2003: Audra Dowler is sentenced
to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to child abuse and negligence.
November. 24, 2003: Joseph Dowler is
convicted of child abuse resulting in death. He is later sentenced to 60
years in prison.
July 14, 2004: Audra Dowler is granted
a divorce and goes back to using her maiden name, Riley.
2006: Audra Riley is released from
prison into an intensive, supervised program.
August 2032: Joseph Dowler is eligible
for his first parole hearing.
For information about preventing child abuse in the
state of Colorado, click the links below. If they can't help you, ask for
someone who can. NEVER give up looking for help for an abused child!
Call this number
to report child abuse ANY WHERE in the United States!
1-800-4-A-Child
1-800-422-4453
   
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My sincerest appreciation goes out to
Diane Trembly for allowing me to use one
of her beautiful Angels to make the graphics
for this set. Please visit her site,
by clicking the link below, to see all
of her amazing work.
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