A transformed radical Muslim charged with plotting an ISIS-linked bombing on the New York State Capitol was the roommate from hell who allegedly threatened to explode their residence constructing, her housemates informed The Put up.
Jessica Bowie, 35, went on a monthslong reign of terror in her Albany residence that solely ended when she was kicked out for not paying lease, roommates Zephyr Brennan and Ivory Thomas mentioned.
From January by way of July, Bowie blasted Islamic prayers in any respect hours of the evening from her bed room within the Hudson Avenue townhouse and infrequently resorted to violent threats when confronted about her disturbing conduct, the roomies claimed.
“Wanting again, the Arabic hymns at 2 a.m. ought to’ve been a pink flag,” Brennan mentioned.
lethal assault on the New York State Capitol in Albany.
Chillingly, in her final two weeks on the dwelling, Bowie by no means took off the head-to-toe Islamic garb — and hid her identification totally from Brennan, who she had identified for years previous to changing to Islam, the roommate mentioned.
Thomas, 23, informed The Put up she referred to as police seven instances since January on Bowie, together with to report loss of life threats, however that Albany Metropolis Police did nothing to halt the terrorizing.
“She tortured me for like six, seven months,” mentioned Thomas, who moved into the residence on the identical day as Bowie in January. “I could possibly be lifeless proper now.”
Thomas recalled what she mentioned was the primary time she was threatened by the accused jihadi Jane.
seven instances to report Bowie within the six months they lived collectively. Lone Pine Press for NY Put up
“I used to be sitting in the lounge space, I used to be on the cellphone with my boyfriend, and she or he walks previous me and says, ‘I’ll bomb this complete place down,’” Thomas mentioned.
Terrified by the menace, she mentioned she instantly referred to as the town police and claimed she was informed that the difficulty was a “he-said-she-said” and so they have been unable to take motion.
One other time Thomas referred to as police due to a twisted menace Bowie allegedly screamed when she thought she was dwelling alone.
“[My boyfriend] hears Jessica saying, ‘Are you aware how straightforward it’s to place rat poison in your meals, f—ts?’”
Thomas mentioned she instantly referred to as the cops, who informed her that they have been unable to do something concerning the menace.
In one other occasion, a squabble over rubbish ended with Bowie threatening to kill Thomas, who as soon as once more referred to as police. Officers responded to the house however have been unable to talk to Bowie, who refused to return out of her room, in accordance with Thomas.
The Albany Police Division declined to touch upon any potential calls made to Bowie’s dwelling.
Thomas mentioned she additionally referred to as a toddler protecting service company as soon as after Bowie’s 11-year-old son, who didn’t reside on the home and who she claimed Bowie allowed to smoke marijuana and Black and Delicate cigars throughout his visits, allegedly harmed her cat.
Youngster protecting service companies that function in Albany declined to touch upon any circumstances probably opened involving Bowie or her household.
As tensions between the roommates grew, the constructing’s landlord in Might tried to supply Bowie a room in one other residence close by, the place she can be dwelling with fellow Muslims. These tenants refused to reside with the convert, who they knew from the native mosque Masjid As-Salam, after claiming that she had exploded with anger after listening to a joke she didn’t like, in accordance with the owner.
“She would go all the way down to the mosque and they might flip her away. When does a mosque flip individuals away?” mentioned Thomas.
Brennan, who moved into the residence simply two weeks earlier than Bowie was requested to depart for not paying lease on July 14, was mates with the alleged terrorist within the years earlier than she transformed to Islam.
From 2016 to 2019, Brennan knew Bowie as a gifted Schenectady, New York-based prose and poetry author, visible artist, and a loving mom of two boys.
She was additionally a recovering heroin addict who had been recognized with schizophrenia, mentioned Brennan.
“I had spoken along with her about her [schizophrenia diagnosis]. She was very candid at that time. It was like a throwaway line,” mentioned Brennan. “There have been moments the place you possibly can positively inform she was unwell.”
his ex-pal as a result of she by no means took off her niqab. Lone Pine Press for NY Put up
However Brennan, 35, was not conscious she was dwelling in the identical home as an previous good friend as a result of Bowie, who joined Islam 5 years in the past, didn’t take off her niqab at dwelling. The 2 had nearly no interplay as Bowie would “tunnel to her bed room” each time she got here dwelling throughout that two week span.
Bowie — who Brennan knew solely as “Jessica” — sinisterly revealed her identification the evening she was pressured out of the house after not paying lease.
“She rotated and she or he referred to as me by my lifeless title,” mentioned Brennan, who’s transgender. “I had a second of recognition and my face had dropped. For me to see her full black garb, principally assuming a cosplay of kinds, it was very bizarre. And she or he received very very aggressive.”
As a substitute of packing her issues and leaving the residence, Bowie allegedly began breaking plates and making threats at Brennan and her accomplice, Faye Savage.
Savage instantly texted the Albany Police Division that Bowie had grow to be violent. Officers responded and escorted Bowie from the property, in accordance with texts offered to The Put up.
After getting tossed out, Bowie left behind a multitude of things in rubbish luggage, together with a e book referred to as “Synthetic Terrorists and Muslim Entrapment After 9/11.” She used black marker to blot out the faces of the US Marshals and presumed terrorists who have been on the quilt of the e book.
A lot of Bowie’s belongings, together with a cache of notebooks, have been seized by the FBI on Thursday after her arrest, the roommates mentioned.
Courtroom paperwork confirmed that Bowie — who’s accused of plotting to assault the state capitol constructing with a bomb hidden in a DoorDash meals supply bag — informed an FBI informant she believed to be an ISIS handler that she would kill her roommates in the event that they received wind of her plan.
Bowie allegedly joined ISIS by way of social media earlier this 12 months after a recruiter urged her to take an oath to “obey” the terrorist group’s chief.
“We pledge our allegiance to the Commander of the Devoted and the Caliph of the Muslims, the Mujahid Sheikh Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, to hear and obey,” the consumer instructed her in Arabic to say, in accordance with a federal legal criticism.
Bowie allegedly purchased bomb supplies from a House Depot on Aug. 5, whereas carrying a burqa, and deliberate to explode the Capitol constructing with assist from accomplices, who turned out to be FBI informants, in accordance with federal authorities. She was arrested on Aug. 19 and has been charged with trying to supply materials assist to a delegated international terrorist group.
