A Sacramento woman accused of caring for a disabled man who went missing is now facing homicide and fraud-related charges after his body was found inside his South Natomas apartment last week, police said.
The Sacramento Police Department confirmed Monday that 41-year-old Christina Cowens, who was arrested Thursday, remains in custody and made her first court appearance earlier in the day.
Detectives discovered the body of 59-year-old Richard McClintic on November 6 inside his apartment on San Juan Road. McClintic had been reported missing on October 25, after relatives were unable to reach him. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office will officially confirm the identity of the deceased.
Family members told CBS Sacramento they had been trying to contact McClintic to inform him of his sister’s death. When relatives were repeatedly denied access to his apartment by Cowens, they requested a welfare check, leading to the discovery of McClintic’s body.
“To know that someone is capable of doing this to a disabled person in my uncle’s condition is just outrageous,” McClintic’s nephew said outside the courthouse.
McClintic, who had cerebral palsy, had previously been featured in a 2015 CBS News Sacramento story alongside Cowens about his need for medical equipment to aid mobility and speech.
Cowens was initially booked on suspicion of unlawful disposal of human remains, grand theft, and concealment of a death. She is ineligible for bail and is scheduled to appear in court again Monday.
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