SheWhoMustNotBeNamed
Former Member
Missing Since: February 4, 2001 from Chesterfield, New Hampshire
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: October 15, 1985
Age: 15 years old
Height and Weight: 5'2, 120 pounds (some agencies may list her height and weight as 5'7 and 135 pounds).
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Bethany has a U-shaped scar on her forehead. She wears eyeglasses. Her nickname is Beth.
Clothing/Jewelry Description: Possibly a crucifix pendant necklace.
Details of Disappearance
Bethany and her mother, Tina Sinclair, resided with Tina's boyfriend, Eugene Van Bowman Jr., on Mountain Road in Chesterfield, New Hampshire in 2001. Bowman, who goes by his middle name Van, told authorities that he and Tina had an argument on February 4. He claimed that he left the house and returned later in the day. Bowman said that Tina and Bethany were not at home when he returned. Bowman stated that all of their clothes were missing, but the remainder of their personal belongings, including Tina's fifteen-year-old cat and her vehicle, were still at the residence.
Bethany and Tina have never been heard from again. They were not reported missing until February 10, six days after their disappearance. The last person known to have heard from either of them, besides Bowman, was Bethany's boyfriend. Bethany and her boyfriend had a telephone conversation from 11:30 p.m. to midnight on February 3, and made plans for Valentine's Day. The boyfriend had already purchased a ring as a gift for Bethany.
An unidentified woman called Keene High School on February 5, the day after the Sinclairs disappeared, to report Bethany was ill and would not be attending classes. Authorities are uncertain of the caller's identity. Tina's sister, Sharon Garry, said that she was concerned for Bethany's safety because Bowman had been charged with molesting his eight-year-old daughter. (He pleaded guilty and served two years in prison after the Sinclairs went missing.) Garry wanted Bethany to come and live with her in Connecticut. She and Tina had an argument in October 2000 regarding the situation and had not spoken since that time. According to Garry, Tina said that she would get herself out of the relationship with Bowman.
Garry said that she believed Tina was preparing to leave Bowman. They reportedly had a troubled relationship and Tina's relatives allege that Bowman was abusive. Garry does not, however, believe Tina left of her own accord with Bethany in February 2001. At the time, Tina was had just graduated from cosmetology school and dreamed of opening her own beauty salon. The Sinclairs have not contacted any of their loved ones, although Tina had been close to her family members. Her ex-husband, who is Bethany's father, stated that when he and Tina argued, Tina would go to stay with her mother and would always contact him within twelve hours. He said did not believe she would have left without telling anyone.
There has not been any activity on Tina's bank account, cellular phone, or credit cards since her disappearance, and she never cashed her last paycheck. There has also been no activity on Tina's and Bethany's Social Security numbers. Bowman's home bordered the Connecticut River, and he was seen on the river in his yellow Scat hovercraft at 4:30 a.m. on February 4, but an extensive search of the area produced no clues as to Tina and Bethany's whereabouts. Authorities suspect that foul play was involved in their cases.
There have been no arrests related to the Sinclairs' disappearances. Bowman has reportedly refused to cooperate with investigators. He has not been named as a suspect, but is being called a person of interest. He has since sold the home he shared with the Sinclairs. Tina and Bethany's cases remain unsolved.
Above: Bowman, circa 2006
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
New Hampshire State Police
603-271-3636
OR
603-358-3333
Charley Project
NCMEC