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Marinette man enters plea in teen drowning case

By Sophie Vogelmann 3 min read

MARINETTE, Wis. -- A Marinette man accused of homicide in the drowning of a 13-year-old boy pleaded not guilty by mental disease or defect Tuesday in the Marinette County Circuit Court.

Tylor Robert Birch, 22, appeared before Judge James A. Morrison to enter the plea. Birch is charged with second-degree reckless homicide in connection with the August 2025 death of Jakob William Bowerman, also of Marinette.

Following the plea, the court ordered a mental health examination of Birch. Under Wisconsin legislature, a court orders an examination of a defendant if “the defendant entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect or there is reason to believe that mental disease or defect will otherwise become an issue as to the following crime(s).”

Birch initially appeared in the Marinette County Circuit Court on Aug. 28, 2025, where his bond was set at $500,000 cash. He has remained in jail since his arrest on Aug. 21, 2025.

Peyton Liam Carnot, 17, of Kaukauna, was also detained in connection with the investigation.

Carnot was later charged with second-degree reckless homicide in Bowerman's death. He pleaded not guilty in January of this year, according to court records.

In June, Marinette County District Attorney DeShea Morrow said a plea deal was offered to Carnot, though specifics of the deal were not divulged. The defense reportedly requested more time to consider the offer, and a status conference was scheduled for Aug. 7.

The criminal complaint states the drowning incident took place Aug. 20 at the Marinette pier. Bowerman was reportedly pulled from the water by first responders and transported to the St. Vincent Children’s Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he died three days later after succumbing to his injuries.

Bowerman's autopsy listed the cause of death as drowning.

Initial statements reportedly given to police by Birch and Carnot claimed Bowerman jumped into the water voluntarily and began struggling. Both said they attempted to help but were unable to rescue him.

A witness nearby called 911 after hearing cries for help, according to the criminal complaint.

Investigators said both Birch and Carnot's accounts of the incident differed after their initial statements to law enforcement.

Documents state Carnot told police he and Birch grabbed Bowerman by the hands and feet, swung him and threw him into the water, despite Bowerman saying he could not swim.

At one point, Birch told investigators he turned away and only heard a splash, and at another, he acknowledged Bowerman may have been pushed, according to the criminal complaint.

Birch is set to appear back in the Marinette County Circuit Court on Oct. 9 for a status conference.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.

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