A 32-year-old Strawberry man faces a series of felony charges related to the alleged theft of a vehicle from a Pangburn residence earlier this year.
Darian Wayne Bowers has been charged in White County Circuit Court with residential burglary, a Class B felony; theft of property valued between $5,000 and $25,000, a Class C felony; and breaking or entering, a Class D felony. The charges stem from the April 12, 2026, theft of a 2010 Chevrolet Suburban, according to court affidavits filed by Pangburn Police.
Officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at a home on Hartland Drive in Pangburn on the morning of April 12. The victim told police that her white Chevrolet Suburban was taken from her property. Video footage reportedly captured the theft at 5:54 a.m.
Investigators identified Bowers and another individual, Megan Eagan, as suspects after parole officers in Cleburne County received tips about Bowers being in possession of a stolen vehicle. Batesville police later reported seeing the Suburban in their city, traveling along North Central Street at around 7:09 a.m. the same morning.
Later that evening, authorities in Sharp County located Bowers and Eagan in a wooded area north of Poughkeepsie. During questioning, Eagan directed deputies to the stolen Suburban, which was found abandoned near the Strawberry River. Both suspects were taken into custody and transported to the White County Detention Center.
In a subsequent statement to investigators, Bowers claimed he was coerced into taking the vehicle by an unidentified man who was armed and carrying a photograph of his daughter. He alleged the man ordered him to enter the Pangburn residence, take the vehicle’s keys, and drive away. Investigators, however, stated in the affidavit that they found no evidence to substantiate Bowers’ account of another party's involvement.
Bowers failed to appear for a scheduled pretrial hearing on October 7, 2026, prompting the court to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. He was located and booked into the Sharp County Detention Center on October 17 on several unrelated charges, which included driving with a suspended license, possession of methamphetamine or cocaine under 2 grams, possessing instruments of crime, and failure to pay fines.
On October 27, Bowers was arrested again by the Independence County Sheriff’s Department and charged with additional offenses, including leaving the scene of an accident, driving on a suspended license, failure to report an accident, operating without proper tags, and lacking liability insurance. He was also held on warrants from other jurisdictions.
Bowers remains in custody in White County, where he awaits a court hearing currently scheduled for February 3, 2027.