20-year-old, 6 others charged in connection with death of missing 17-year-old

COLUMBUS, Ohio (TCD) -- A 20-year-old man and six others, including two juveniles, face charges in connection with the death of a 17-year-old who went missing in September.

According to the Columbus Division of Police, Imperial Stewart was last seen Sept. 20 near Cleveland Avenue and Huy Road, and his family subsequently reported him missing. Police identified Michael Bowles, 20, and his brother, Mi’Quel Bowles, as persons of interest in his disappearance.

On Oct. 3, police said Homicide Unit detectives believed Stewart was likely deceased, which led to the arrests of six people. Mi’Quel Bowles, Tywisha Peterson, and Russell Hardgrove-Madison are charged with third-degree obstruction of justice, and Genee Dumas and Samiya Proctor face charges of obstruction of official business, tampering with evidence, and resisting arrest. Investigators were still searching for Michael Bowles at the time.

WCMH-TV reports a seventh suspect, Raymor Dumas, was taken into custody for tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice. Peterson is Michael and Mi’Quel Bowles' mother.

On Oct. 4, police announced they are charging Michael Bowles with murder and 16-year-old Hardgrove-Madison with murder, robbery, and obstructing justice. In a statement Friday, Oct. 13, the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office said Michael Bowles was officially indicted on two counts of murder, and one count each of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse, and having a weapon under disability.

According to WCMH, Stewart reportedly bought a gun from Michael Bowles. After the purchase, Hardgrove-Madison allegedly tried to rob him inside a bar, which led to Bowles shooting Stewart. Mi’Quel Bowles also reportedly sustained a gunshot wound, but it was not life-threatening. Investigators reportedly located the burned-out car in another county.

MORE:

• Persons of Interest in Disappearance of Missing 17-Year-Old, 9/27/2023 - Columbus Division of Police
• Charges Filed Out of Missing Teen Investigation, 10/3/2023 - Columbus Division of Police
• Pair Charged in Missing Teen's Murder, 10/4/2023 - Columbus Division of Police
• Michael Bowles indicted for the murder of Imperial Stewart - Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney
• 20-year-old indicted on murder charges in death of Imperial Stewart - WCMH