Who is Scott Edmund Pettigrew?
Scott Edmund Pettigrew was kicked out by his landlord in the spring of 2016 after a dispute with a neighbor. Fortunately, his colleague Anita Mimie Cowen extended an offer for him to stay in a room at her residence on Heritage Court in Cathedral City, California, which is in the 69000 block.
In his 20s, he started a relationship with a man named Rob Salcedo that lasted for 12 years until they split up in 2002. By 2012, his roommate Julie Russell had reportedly endured a terrible living situation due to his lack of cleanliness and upkeep in their shared home.
Several months later, Anita’s kind gesture had unforeseen and deadly consequences for the 66-year-old woman. Within just a few weeks, Scott stopped fulfilling his rent payments and started neglecting the upkeep of the house.
For instance, he purportedly tossed garbage into the kitchen sink, let his dogs defecate all over the house, took some of her silverware without permission, refused to clean up after vomiting in the bathroom, and poured water on her electrical appliances.
Not only did Scott Edmund Pettigrew cause harm to the house, but he also made threats to harm the landlord, causing her to feel terrorized in her own home. When his anger had reached a worrying level, the landlord filed for a protection order against him on June 9, 2016, and requested his immediate eviction from her property.
Anita Cowen’s Restraining Order
The following day, her plea was approved and the court instructed Scott Edmund Pettigrew to keep a five-yard distance from her and relocate his dogs from the house.
Despite this, as there was no evidence of physical harm, the judge did not mandate Scott to vacate the premises. Tragically, this ruling proved fatal for Anita only a few days later.
On June 14, 2016, when the officers reached her home and delivered the restraining order to Scott, he accepted it and continued with his day. A couple of hours later, while Anita was talking to her son, Steven, they got into a heated dispute with Scott in the background.
Steven heard loud shouting and breaking glass and became worried for his mother’s well-being. He advised her to record the conversation while he and his wife, Cindy, went to her house.
At the same time, Cindy asked the police to do a well-being inspection of her property due to her worries. Upon the police’s arrival at Anita’s residence, they discovered her lifeless body in the pool and Scott in his bedroom, unclothed and with noticeable scratches on his body.
After recording the scene of the crime, Scott Edmund Pettigrew was handcuffed by the authorities and taken into custody for the murder of his landlord, Anita Mimie Cowen.
During questioning, he immediately requested the death penalty. The investigators also discovered a digital audio recording on the floor, which ultimately became a crucial piece of evidence in Scott’s conviction.
Scott Edmund Pettigrew Trial
Scott Edmund Pettigrew entered a plea of not guilty in August 2019 during his trial for the alleged first-degree murder of Anita Mimie Cowen. This trial took place over three years after his initial arrest.
In defense, his legal team presented toxicology reports that indicated Scott may have been under the influence of alcohol, resulting in a severely impaired ability to make sound judgments and control his emotions on the night of June 14, 2016.
The prosecutors argued that Scott and Anita had a heated argument that moved from the kitchen to the backyard, supporting their claim that the murder was premeditated.
The prosecution emphasized that Anita had allegedly received multiple death threats from Scott in the past. Additionally, the defense presented the two occasions where Scott attempted suicide as evidence of his guilt.
During the preliminary hearing, a recording of a conversation between Anita and Scott believed to be from the night of the murder, was played. The prosecution argued that it was a deliberate attack, but the defense worked to prove that it was not premeditated.
After considering all the evidence presented by both sides, the jury reached a decision and found Scott guilty. He was charged with first-degree murder, elder abuse, and breaking a protective order.
Scott Edmund Pettigrew was given a 25-year to life sentence for the killing of his 66-year-old landlord, Anita Cowen, and was incarcerated at California State Prison in Corcoran in November.
Scott submitted an appeal to the court in March 2021, contesting his conviction for first-degree murder, but it was rejected and the ruling was upheld. Currently, Scott is incarcerated at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison on 900 Quebec Avenue in Corcoran, California.
Netflix Documentary
Netflix’s “Worst Roommate Ever” episode “Housemate From Hell” delves into the chilling murder of Anita Mimie Cowen in 2016. Along with uncovering crucial information about the crime, such as the investigation and verdict, the episode includes interviews with those close to the victim.
They share personal insights on Anita and the impact of her tragic death. Additionally, the background of the perpetrator, Scott Edmund Pettigrew, and his potential reasons for killing his landlord raise suspicion and curiosity.
