Sacramento caretaker now faces homicide, fraud charges in death of Natomas man
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- Christina Cowens has now been arrested on suspicion of homicide in a Natomas man’s death.
- Richard McClintic, a man reported missing, was found dead last week in his apartment.
- Police said Cowens, McClintic’s caretaker, also faces felony charge of fraud.
A Sacramento caretaker already facing criminal charges has now been arrested on suspicion of homicide in the death of a man with cerebral palsy whose body was found inside his Natomas apartment more than a week after he was reported missing.
Christina Leona Cowens, 41, was initially arrested last week on suspicion of felony grand theft, along with misdemeanor counts of unlawful disposal of human remains and attempting to conceal a death. Investigators identified Cowens as the caretaker of 59-year-old Richard McClintic, according to the Sacramento Police Department.
McClintic was reported missing Oct. 25. Officers discovered his body Thursday inside his apartment on the 2000 block of San Juan Road in the Natomas neighborhood. Homicide detectives deemed the death suspicious and began investigating.
Cowens has remained in custody since Friday at the Sacramento County Main Jail. Police announced on Monday evening that Cowens now faces a homicide charge in McClintic’s death. Jail records show she also faces a felony charge of fraud in connection with the alleged homicide.
The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office had not yet positively identified McClintic. Family members confirmed to Sacramento television station KCRA that the man found at the apartment was McClintic.
The Bee’s Darrell Smith contributed to this story.
