Mother indicted for reckless homicide of 6-year-old adoptive son

HENRY COUNTY, Tenn. — A Henry County grand jury indicted Karen Rowlett, 45, on Monday for the death of her adoptive son, 6-year-old Ethan Newman.

Karen Rowlett

In August of 2015, Rowlett called emergency crews to her home because her son was not breathing.

“The Henry County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Highway 79 North to an unresponsive 6-year-old child,” Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew said.

Rowlett told investigators she had kept Ethan home from Lakewood Elementary because he wasn’t feeling well. Although this happened in August of 2015, the sheriff says it was a lengthy wait for the 6-year-old’s toxicology results.

“We believe he received a lethal dose of two different combinations of two different medications — one over-the-counter and one prescribed medication,” Sheriff Belew said.

Rowlett was charged with reckless homicide in February after the autopsy and toxicology test revealed the amount of drugs in Ethan’s 47-pound body could have also killed an adult.

“Unfortunately, we are his only voice now, and the district attorney’s office,” Sheriff Belew said. “So that’s why we are pursuing this so aggressively.”

Although Rowlett is free on $50,000 bond, Sheriff Belew says this indictment is the first step toward justice.

“For the young men and women that went to school with him, the teachers that knew him and the community that knew him — it’s so unfortunate and deserves this prosecution,” Belew said.

Rowlett has a court appearance set for 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14, in Henry County.