What we know about drug overdose death of Amy Bowden at Redwood Park, as partner Ethan Ross is charged

She was studying science at uni and trying to get clean. But Amy Bowden overdosed and died tragically on the floor of her home - with her partner charged.

She was desperately trying to turn her life around – but Amy Bowden died on the floor of her Redwood Park home.

Police have alleged her partner injected her with meth to reverse a heroin overdose.

Emergency services were called to the Somerset Ave home on Thursday morning after reports of an unexplained death.

Her boyfriend, Ethan Ross, 27, was charged with supplying or administering a drug of dependence and appeared at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Friday where he was remanded in custody awaiting a bail report.

Despite previous struggles and having survived an overdose a little less than a year ago, Ms Bowden, 26, and Mr Ross had moved into a new house and wanted to change their circumstances.

Here’s everything we know about the tragic circumstances of Ms Bowden’s death.

The incident

Emergency services were called to Somerset Ave, Redwood Park on Thursday, February 8 after reports of an unexplained death.

Upon arrival police located the body of 26-year-old Amy Bowden.

Police allege Ms Bowden had overdosed on heroin and her boyfriend, Mr Ross, had attempted to “balance her out” by injecting her with meth.

A court heard on Friday Mr Ross had bought naloxone – a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses – the night before but when that didn’t work he contacted a drug dealer in an attempt to obtain methamphetamine.

“On the afternoon of the 7th of February, he messaged a person asking for meth so he could ‘shoot her with it’ and ‘pick her up’,” prosecutors said.

“He makes references to the deceased taking smack, and reversing a downer with an upper. He asked for a point of meth.”

In court documents released to The Advertiser police allege Mr Ross messaged various people on the afternoon of February 7 about Ms Bowden’s overdose.

Ethan Ross and Amy Bowden. Picture: Instagram

Amy Bowden with her partner Ethan Ross. Picture: Instagram

In one alleged conversation with his meth dealer, police claim Mr Ross allegedly asked him to deliver “yellow bricks” so he could “shoot (Ms Bowden) with it and pick her up”.

“It’s the only way to wake her up,” he allegedly sent.

“I’ve already put a point in her. She’s breathing normal so I know another half to a point will have her up. Her lips were purple. They’re not now.”

In a conversation with another person, Mr Ross allegedly said he had seen Ms Bowden “like this multiple times”.

“My GF OD’d (sic). I’m having to shoot her up with ice to wake her up,” he allegedly said.

He then allegedly said that if she didn’t “respond to ice, it’s narcan time and if she doesn’t respond to that it’s ambo time.”

“She’s that f***ed she’s only responding to slaps in the face, but I’ve seen her like this multiple times and moment you shoot her witt ice (sic) she’s up,” he said according to the court documents.

Mr Ross was charged with supplying or administering a drug of dependence.

Amy Bowden

Amy Bowden from Redwood Park died from a drug overdose. Picture: Instagram

Amy Bowden, 26, was a “Pharmaceutical Sciences student” with aspirations to work in the medical field after ten years of working in hospitality.

The 26-year-old had been open about her addiction to drugs on Instagram with one post, from almost a year ago, stating she had survived an overdose.

“Overdosed and almost died last night stay safe,” she wrote on an Instagram story.

Ms Bowden also had a high presence on a Facebook “all girls” group where she discussed moving to Adelaide from Melbourne, getting a new job and moving into a house with Mr Ross.

“I’ve worked in hospitality for about 10 years I would prefer not hospo again,” she wrote in the comments section of a post.

Ms Bowden went on to say she’d like to work in a casual or part-time position in desktop or IT support, admin or customer support “as that’s most of my experience”.

“I would like to work in the health/medicine industry though,” she said.

Another post states Amy moved to Adelaide from Melbourne in October and was looking to start her third year of biomedical science.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms Bowden was a “Pharmaceutical Sciences STEM student interested in Medicine” at RMIT University.

Her profile elaborates saying she previously worked in roles including IT support, customer service, web design and development, data entry, admin, event managing and more.

Ethan Ross

Ethan Ross, 27, had only just turned his life around after experiencing homelessness.

Just over a year ago, Mr Ross took to Instagram where he said nine months prior he had been homeless and had just obtained a new job.

“Weird to think I homeless nine years ago and [struggling] to eat only 6 years ago,” he wrote.

“With no degree, a year 10 drop out who wasn’t meant to be s***, went from homeless to 200k a year in half a decade.

“I should stop boiling myself down to my illness/problems, and take pride in what I’ve done.”

Mr Ross was also open on Instagram about his love for Ms Bowden and the support she provided him.

Ethan Ross is currently in custody. Picture: Supplied

“Amy is the first person that’s helped me, and look where I am, I’m in a city the people who think they’re better than me save to visit, wearing $1000, I own a house, and I’m driving a paid off car that’s two years old back home,” he wrote.

According to Mr Ross’ LinkedIn profile he worked as a DevSecOps Engineer at Qantas until early 2023 after completing a Bachelor of Information Technology at the University of South Australia.

Qantas told The Advertiser Mr Ross left the company in early 2023 and worked as a third-party contractor. They said they could not comment.

Facebook states that Ms Bowden and Mr Ross got engaged in August last year and moved into their Redwood Park home in December.

Tributes from loved ones

Amy Bowden’s family, who reside in Victoria, has received an outpouring of love and support from friends who have posted several tributes to Facebook.

Amy Bowden, 26, with her aunty Sharon. Picture: Supplied

“A beautiful angel, loved so deeply by all who knew her. The brightest star in tonight’s dark sky will be Amy,” one friend wrote on Facebook.

Another wrote: “I can’t stop crying, you guys are breaking (my heart) – beautiful Amy.”

On Saturday, friend Jacinta Kirby was left in tears as she described the loss of her “beautiful, loving” friend.

“It’s just such a tragic thing to happen, it’s just so sad,” Ms Kirby said.

“(Ms Bowden and her fiance Ethan Ross) had been doing so well recently and this is just an unfortunate circumstance.

“I am heartbroken about this … she is just such a beautiful human being.”

Reactions from neighbours

At the scene on Thursday and Friday several neighbours expressed their shock over the sudden death of their neighbour.

Neighbour Seraphim Jovanov, a mental health and community councillor, said the death was “quite traumatic”.

“I didn’t know the people, but from what I heard yesterday and the intervention from the police, it was quite distressing,” Mr Jovanov said.

Neighbour Seraphim Jovanov spoke to The Advertiser about the tragedy. Supplied

“I feel sorry for her, and her family, I can’t imagine what they might be going through.

“(When I saw the police) I was shocked … I thought this is another way we have potentially failed as a society and system to protect victims.”

Only a street over, Redwood Park residents Peter Howard and wife Betty said they were a “bit shocked” something like this had happened in their quiet neighbourhood.

“It is tragic, we have been here 50 years and have never seen anything like it before,” Mr Howard said.

“It makes you feel unsettled … but didn’t know what to make of it.

“Drugs are a terrible thing … she was a young woman … very tragic.”

Originally published as What we know about drug overdose death of Amy Bowden at Redwood Park, as partner Ethan Ross is charged