State mulls execution for Vincent

NASHVILLE – The state will announce in February whether it will pursue the death penalty against Rose Delores Vincent, who stands accused with her alleged lover Mark Bowling of the murder of his wife, Julie.

Vincent appeared for the first time in N.C. Superior Court in Nash County on Wednesday for a hearing to schedule her next appointment in court, scheduled for Feb. 26. Bowling's next hearing is scheduled for the same day.

During those hearings, the state will formally announce whether it will pursue the death penalty. But the state is not obligated at that time to reveal the aggravating factors in the case that would warrant such a punishment. Such factors can include whether the crime was committed for financial gain and the cruelty of the act.

"They can elaborate to the court what they believe they are, but they are not bound by that as the investigation is ongoing, and things could change," said attorney Rick Hamlett, who serves as Vincent's legal counsel.

Bowling's first appearance in Superior Court was on Monday, during which Judge Quentin Sumner directed Indigent Defense Services to appoint an attorney for Bowling after he was declared indigent, which means he cannot afford to hire an attorney for this type of case.

That cleared the way for attorney Thomas Moore, who had been representing Bowling on a provisional basis, to permanently serve as defense counsel.

Assistant District Attorney Keith Werner was not available for comment.

According to search warrants, Vincent, 27, confessed to shooting Julie Bowling, whose body was discovered by a co-worker in the garage of the Bowling residence on River Glenn. Bowling worked as a radiation oncology therapist at Nash General Hospital.

Bowling, 36, was vacationing in Florida when his wife was murdered. He was arrested after he flew back to Rocky Mount.

Less than two hours after his arrest, he was declared "extremely suicidal" and was transferred to the mental health ward at Central Prison in Raleigh, according to an order by Nash County Sheriff Dick Jenkins.

Bowling is still being held in Central Prison. Vincent is being held in the Nash County Detention Center.

Vincent and Bowling met eight years ago when he directed her stepmother's funeral. At the time, the two of them had a short romantic relationship. That relationship resumed about a year before Julie Bowling was killed, authorities have said.

The Bowlings owned and operated Bowling Funeral Homes, which has locations in Rocky Mount, Enfield and Scotland Neck. Another location in Tarboro was closed in October.