Bend man arraigned on murder charge in fatal stabbing of mother at their home; also accused of assaulting brother

(Update: Adding video, Bowser court appearance; 'heartsick' neighbor comments)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Bend man was arraigned on second-degree murder and fourth-degree assault charges Wednesday in the fatal stabbing of his 60-year-old mother during a domestic dispute Tuesday morning at the southeast Bend home they shared with his brother, whom he allegedly assaulted.

Police were dispatched around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday to the report of a domestic dispute and stabbing at a manufactured home in the 300 block of Southeast Lee Lane, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

Officers arrived within a minute to the home and encountered the suspect, Theodore John Bowser, 37, who they arrested at gunpoint and without incident at the entrance to the home, Miller told NewsChannel 21. She had no initial information about whether any weapon was recovered, or what led up to the slaying.

Officers then went inside to render aid to the victim, identified as the suspect’s mother, Rene Lynn Carlson (listed in court records as Felker), who lived at the home with Bowser and his brother Taylor, Miller said. But despite their efforts, Carlson died at the home. Bend Fire medics also were called to the scene, Miller said. The call to 911 was made by the brother, she added.

Bowser was taken to the Bend Police Department headquarters for further investigation, then to St. Charles for evaluation. He was later lodged in the Deschutes County Jail.

The district attorney's office filed formal charges Wednesday morning of second-degree murder and fourth-degree assault, both constituting domestic violence, the latter charge involving his brother.

Bowser appeared before Circuit Judge Alison Emerson by video Wednesday afternoon from the Deschutes County Jail, where he’s being held without bail. A prosecutor said they’d filed a motion seeking a continued no-bail hold and that Bowser be ordered to have no contact with Taylor, who the prosecutor said was his half-brother.

Bowser is due back in court in a week, on Jan. 3 for arraignment on an expected grand jury indictment.

Oregon court records show no previous criminal record for Bowser.

A friend's fundraising page to help Bowser's brother cover expenses said the mother and sons "had all just moved to Oregon to start a new chapter and got a new place together."

Lee Lane and Woodland Boulevard remained closed until about midnight between Third and Fourth streets as detectives, Miller said, as Bend Police and Oregon State Police Forensics Lab continued to process the scene. The Bend PD team remained at the house until Wednesday afternoon, she said.

Yellow, numbered police evidence markers surrounded the home's front steps and another on the front lawn Tuesday morning. Blinds visible through a window on one side of the home were broken and twisted.

Neighbors tell us the development is fairly new and they didn't know the people living at the home.

Martha Clutter, a neighbor, voiced shock and grief Wednesday.

“A son kills his mom! That's evil. I mean, it's bad enough to kill someone, but how in the world can you be raised by your mom and taken care of you all these years, and obviously they decided to move in there together, you know, from different places. How can that even happen?”

The Clutters have been residents in the area since 1999. Martha said she never thought something that she "sees on TV" would happen where she lives.

"I'm very heartsick to know that I was seeing her, saw her walking her dog and waved to her. And then the next day, she's gone.”

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 40% of Oregon's women and 35% of its men experience domestic violence.

In the most recent data, Bend in 2021 recorded 294 domestic violence offenses and 388 arrests.

"Domestic violence is unfortunately fairly common in our community, and all communities," Miller said. "And this incident unfortunately escalated in some capacity -- and unfortunately, someone was killed."

Anyone suffering from domestic violence is urged to call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or dial 9-1-1.