Albany woman charged with Capitol bombing plot has documented mental-health history

A 35-year-old Albany resident was taken into custody Wednesday on federal charges alleging she pledged allegiance to ISIS and plotted to bomb the New York State Capitol with a firearm and an explosive device. Court documents say Bowie met with three undercover FBI informants over two months, discussing plans to target state officials and then flee to an ISIS-controlled area in Syria.

Neighbors and family members described Bowie as a mother of two boys, ages roughly 13 and 10, who had not shown suspicious behavior before the investigation. Her half-brother, Ronald Bowie Jr., said he had not seen her in more than a decade and recalled that she had struggled with mental-health issues, noting that their father once mentioned a possible bipolar disorder diagnosis.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Bowie initially expressed a desire to attack the White House but was told it would be too difficult, leading her to focus on the state Capitol. She allegedly visited the Capitol five times, selecting the north-side Washington Avenue entrance as the intended detonation point. In late July, an informant posing as an ISIS facilitator arranged a meeting in which Bowie received $200 and purchased materials such as nails, electric tape, a 9-volt battery and acetone, which she said would be used to construct the bomb.

During a recorded meeting, Bowie reportedly asked whether the nails would be large enough to serve as shrapnel and mentioned using a delivery bag to hold the device. Prosecutors say the informants convinced her that an ISIS commander was aware of the plot.

Bowie appeared before U.S. Magistrate Daniel J. Stewart, who ordered her to remain in U.S. Marshals custody pending further proceedings.