Alabama Grandma Indicted for Attempted Murder

(Mobile, Alabama) A 53-year-old former second-grade teacher, Shirley Bowman, was accused last month of strangling her then-4-year-old granddaughter until the child was unconscious.

Bowman has been indicted on a charge of attempted murder.

Although it typically takes one year to 18 months to indict a defendant, 53-year-old Shirley Bowman was indicted just three days after her case was sent to the grand jury.

Defense attorney Michael McDuffie said word came down after he sat with District Judge Bob Sherling, who was concerned for her mental state after hearing of her history of paranoid behavior.

In a petition to have Bowman involuntarily committed to a mental health facility as she awaits trial, her family chronicled various incidents of paranoid and confused behavior.

The granddaughter recovered after a few days in the hospital.