Husband who refused to say where he dumped his wife's body despite being found guilty of murder escapes fresh charges after her headless corpse was finally found in a reservoir 20 years on 

  • Michael Bowen, now 70, murdered wife Sandie, 53, in 1997 and hid her remains 
  • Body was found in Wentwood reservoir, near Newport, South Wales last month
  • Bowen was released from jail on licence after serving 15 years of a life sentence 

Sandie Bowen, 53, was last seen alive in 1997

The husband of Sandie Bowen, 53, who refused to tell police where he hid the body, has escaped fresh charges after her corpse was found

A killer who refused to say where he hid his wife’s body has escaped any fresh charges after her corpse was found in a reservoir 20 years later.

Michael Bowen was released from jail on licence after serving 15 years of a life sentence.   

Bowen, now 70, murdered wife Sandie, 53, in 1997 but kept the secret of where he had hidden her body before her remains were discovered in a reservoir last month.

Mrs Bowen’s body had been tied to a block and thrown into Wentwood reservoir near Newport, South Wales.

But Bowen kept his chilling secret by always refusing to reveal what he did with his wife.

But a passer-by spotted the gruesome remains of a headless body in the drained reservoir - and police confirmed it was that of missing mother Sandie.

Bowen killed attractive wife Sandie in a jealous rage after discovering her secret sex romps with her boss.

Auburn-haired Sandie’s affair with hotel boss George Morgan was the talk of the tiny village of Llandogo, in the Wye Valley.

Forestry worker Bowen only discovered she was sleeping with her boss when he overheard people talking about it in his local pub.

The burly forestry worker returned home after downing six pints of Guinness - and confronted Sandie in their bedroom.

Sandie's body was found tied to a wooden block in Wentwood reservoir near Newport, South Wales

Sandie's body was found tied to a wooden block in Wentwood reservoir near Newport, South Wales

When Sandie's corpse was found, daughter Anita (left) said: 'We finally have got closure and I can lay her to rest'
Michael Bowen (right) was released from jail on licence after serving 15 years of a life sentence

Michael Bowen (right) was released from jail on licence after serving 15 years of a life sentence. When Sandie's corpse was found, daughter Anita (left) said: 'We finally have got closure and I can lay her to rest'

When Bowen found out Sandie was having an affair with hotel boss George Morgan he confronted her in their bedroom and killed her in a blazing row

When Bowen found out Sandie was having an affair with hotel boss George Morgan he confronted her in their bedroom and killed her in a blazing row

He killed her in a blazing row before driving to Wentwood forest in the dead of night to dispose of her body.

Gwent Police said that after consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service no further action would be taken against her killer. 

The murder of Sandie Bowen 

1994: Sandie and Michael Bowen wed

1997: Bowen discovered Sandie was having an affair with hotel boss George Morgan and killed her in a fit of rage.

He disposed of the body in Wentwood reservoir. 

1998: He was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to a minimum 18-year life sentence 

2002: Bowen admitted killing Sandie

2015: He was released from prison after serving less than 18 years 

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After the death, Bowen initially told detectives his wife vanished after going to visit her family 200 miles away.

He claimed he had driven his wife in their LandRover to Newport railway station to visit her daughter in Folkestone, Kent.

But she never arrived and was not seen since.

Traces of her blood were found on one of his shirts and her partly-burned purse was found in a fire.

Police also found her dentures, passport, driving licence and reading glasses at the house.

At the time the body was found, Mrs Bowen's daughter Anita Giles said: 'They've contacted me because there is a possibility it may be my mother, but they won't know until the autopsy has been done - which could take up to two months.'

Later she said she finally had 'closure' after the confirmation it was her mother's body.

Ms Giles, of Folkestone, Kent, said: 'I'm pleased to have confirmation that it is my mum, 20 years is a long time to grieve.

'We finally have got closure and I can lay her to rest.' 

After the death, Bowen initially told detectives his wife vanished after going to visit her family 200 miles away
He was sentenced to an 18-year minimum life sentence

After the death, Bowen initially told detectives his wife vanished after going to visit her family 200 miles away. He was sentenced to an 18-year minimum life sentence