It's a call that no child ever wants to receive; For Kelly Gowe, it would be the call that changed her entire life and that of her family. On August 7, 2020, Kelly was notified by law enforcement that her Mother, Laura Kowal, was believed to be a victim of a romance/investment scheme which would later uncover that $1.5 million had been stolen from Laura by fraudsters.

Laura Kowal disappeared that day and would never be seen alive again. Tragically, two days later, Laura's body was found floating in the Mississippi River. The fraud scheme and her unexplained death will leave listeners with more questions than answers. 

In part one of this two-part podcast, Mike and Mark welcome with a heavy heart, Kelly Gowe, as she shares one of the most tragic stories ever heard concerning the impact that a fraud scheme can have on a victim. Laura's life savings, but most importantly, her life was taken from her family and friends at the early age of 57.  

Kelly will share this heartbreaking story with The Protectors podcast listeners and the public so she can educate others who might be tricked by fraudsters and family members who suspect their loved ones are being targeted. 

In part one of this story, Kelly will share some early warning signs of the scheme until her Mother's disappearance.  

In part two, Kelly will return to the podcast to discuss the mysterious circumstances of her Mother's body being recovered in the Mississippi River and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the case that has law enforcement taking a second look into her death. It may just take one listener to help police uncover what happened to Laura Kowal.   

This devastating incident brings to light the serious risks associated with fraud, in which people can not only lose their money but also their lives. We hope our listeners stand behind Kelly in her fight for answers, justice, and her mission to help others.

GUEST CONTACT INFO:

Kelly Gowe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-gowe/

Kelly Gowe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelly_gowe/

If you have any information regarding this case, contact the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Department at (815) 777-2141.

Kelly Gowe is the daughter of Laura Kowal, a romance scam victim who disappeared from her home in Galena, IL on August 7, 2020. Laura was tragically found dead on August 9, 2020 in The Mississippi River near Canton, MO nearly 4 hours away from her home. While this case is still under investigation, Kelly is now ready to share her mom’s story. Her goal is to provide awareness around this crime in order to help others from falling victim to this tragedy. She is also focused on educating, advocating, and providing hope to other victims and their families. Kelly is extremely hopeful that through advocating work and sharing intimate details of the case, it will one day bring this open investigation to a close, bringing justice to those involved in this horrific crime.