Pendleton County Commission declines amended appraisement in Clinton Ann Bowers estate after heirs raise concerns

At a Feb. 17 meeting at the Pendleton County Courthouse, the Pendleton County Commission declined to approve an amended appraisement filed for the estate of Clinton Ann Bowers after heirs and their counsel raised concerns about the accuracy of the filing and possible missing funds.

Danita Alt, counsel for heirs Diana Smith and Roy Bowers, told the commission she did not want the amended appraisement approved until she had received a copy of a nonprobate filing and asked the fiduciary commissioner to obtain bank statements for review. Alt also stated there is a criminal case addressing alleged missing gold from the estate of John Roy Bowers Jr.

Joseph Caltrider of Bowles Rice, counsel for the executrix and heir Maria Miller, responded in a letter saying a copy of the nonprobate filing had been submitted to Danita Alt. The minutes record the exchange but show the matter was not resolved at the meeting.

After reviewing the submitted materials and the fiduciary commissioner’s recommendation, the Commission declined to approve the amended appraisement and directed the fiduciary commissioner to obtain bank records for further review. The minutes do not record a formal roll-call vote on the decision.

Heirs Diana Smith and Roy Bowers addressed the commission directly with concerns about the amended appraisement’s accuracy; the commission’s decision leaves the matter open pending the requested financial documents.

The commission adjourned its meeting and is set to reconvene on March 3, 2026; no further procedural dates for the estate were recorded in the minutes.