It Could Happen To Any Adoptee.
AAOM’s statement in response to the Netflix release of "Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter" on September 12, 2024.
This image shows 23 cases in the last 3 years of adoptees abused by adoptive parents. ‘Into The Fire’ is a heartbreaking documentary account of one of these cases, but sadly it is only one of the stories that takes place here in Michigan and other states around the U.S.
September 22, 2024
Ranking in the top ten on Netflix this week is a chilling crime documentary featuring an adoptee. The film centers on Aundria Bowman, a 14-year-old girl who was adopted in Norfolk, Virginia, and raised in Hamilton, Michigan. Hamilton, a small town located south of Holland and about 30 minutes from Grand Rapids, provides the backdrop for Aundria's story. She was placed for adoption at ten months old by her biological mother, Cathy Terkanian.
**Trigger Warning** This documentary contains themes of domestic violence, sexual assault, murder, and systemic violence. If any of these issues are triggering for you, I recommend not watching the documentary or reading further. I will also discuss the outcome of Aundria’s case, which is both devastating and physically close to home for many. Please prioritize your well-being and do what you need to take care of yourself.
The documentary unfolds through Cathy’s perspective. She receives a letter from the adoption agency requesting DNA to determine if the body of a Jane Doe is her daughter. In that moment, Cathy's world is turned upside down as she realizes that the life she had envisioned for Aundria was far from reality. Aundria had been missing since she was 14 in 1989.
Similar to many vulnerable parents, Cathy was coerced to give her daughter up for adoption. Cathy was 16 at the time and her mother was not supportive. Her mom reinforced that adoption was the only way to give the baby a beautiful life. So Aundria was relinquished and placed via a closed adoption.
After providing her DNA, Cathy learns that the Jane Doe is not Aundria. This revelation launches her on an investigative journey to find her daughter, transforming her quest into a poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and the complexities of adoption. The narrative delves deep into the emotional landscape of an adoptee’s experience, capturing the struggles that any adoptee could face. When an adoptee is relinquished, they have no control over where they go or who adopts them; it is left to chance and a screening process that has failed many, including Aundria, to determine the kind of environment a child grows up in.
As the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that Aundria’s adoptive father, Dennis Bowman, is responsible for her death. He has a criminal history, having served time for harassing and attempting to sexually assault an 18-year-old when Aundria was just six. Despite Aundria's reports of sexual abuse during high school, her claims were dismissed by the church, school, and police, even in light of Dennis’s record.
In 2019, Dennis was arrested for the September 1980 murder of Kathleen Doyle in Norfolk. He was extradited to Virginia in February 2020 to face charges in Doyle's murder, and in May 2020, was charged with Aundria’s murder. He will remain in prison for the rest of his life.
For ten years before Dennis was arrested, Cathy tirelessly investigated the Bowmans, gathering evidence from Aundria’s friends and extended family while pressuring the police to focus on Dennis Bowman. She became a formidable advocate, demonstrating the kind of care and love that many adoptees long for from their birth parents. Watching Cathy grapple with the reality of having entrusted her child to someone under the false pretense of providing a “better life” is heart-wrenching. Yet, she remained a fierce protector for Aundria, standing up against those who harmed her.
Moreover, the narrative highlights the societal perceptions of adoption. It sheds light on the misconceptions and stigmas that can surround adopted individuals, emphasizing the importance of understanding and compassion. The journey into the fire becomes a metaphorical reckoning with societal narratives, challenging stereotypes and advocating for a more nuanced understanding of the adoptee experience.
Written by Anna Thompson, AAOM’s Diversity and Culture Coordinator.