When Laura Cowan met Mansa Musa Muhummed in 1995, she was already struggling. Her husband was incarcerated. She was raising two small children alone. Life was undeniably hard—but what followed next plunged her into a living nightmare.
At first, Muhummed appeared supportive. However, that façade quickly faded. He lured Cowan into a polygamous household, one already full of wives and children. Behind closed doors, he ruled through control, isolation, and violence. Within years, Laura Cowan—the Girl in the Garage—was imprisoned in a place where hope seemed impossible.
How Abuse Began: From Manipulation to Isolation
Cowan didn’t experience a violent abduction. Instead, her captivity happened gradually—one manipulated decision at a time.
Initially, Muhummed monitored her calls. Later, he denied her access to the phone altogether. Over time, she was forbidden to leave the house. Eventually, she and her children were locked inside a cold, unheated garage with no plumbing or privacy.
Although the world outside continued on, inside the garage, Cowan and her children were starving, suffering, and completely cut off.
Life in the Garage: Seven Months of Darkness
The garage lacked insulation, running water, and basic sanitation. For nearly seven months, Cowan and her children endured unimaginable conditions.
- They slept on thin mats over cold cement.
- They used jugs and buckets in place of toilets.
- They ate what little food they were given, often not enough to survive.
“My baby’s skin turned green from hunger,” Cowan later shared. “He was dying right in front of me. We all were.”
Nevertheless, she refused to give up.
Words as a Weapon: Laura Cowan’s Secret Letter
Even when she had nothing, Cowan still had her words.
Searching through boxes in the garage, she found a notepad and pen. She began documenting everything—abuse, dates, details, threats. Over the weeks, her testimony grew into a 26-page letter. To keep it hidden, she stored it in her underwear at night.
“I told my son, if I don’t survive, you find someone and give them this,” she recalled.
This simple act of defiance would become her lifeline.
A Silent Rescue: Slipping the Letter That Saved Her Life
One day, Muhummed took Cowan with him to collect food stamps. She tucked the letter into her underwear once more, uncertain of how—or if—she’d get a chance to pass it to someone.
At the post office, a stranger briefly distracted Muhummed. That fleeting moment gave her the opportunity she needed. As she handed paperwork to the clerk, Cowan slipped the letter beneath the counter. The woman didn’t speak. But she nodded—just once.
It was all Cowan needed to believe rescue might come.
Freedom Finally Arrives
Two mornings later, law enforcement knocked at their door. This time, they weren’t coming for paperwork. They were coming to set her free.
Officers arrested Muhummed and removed Cowan and her children from captivity. Although Cowan had been hesitant to tell her children rescue was coming, she knew, in that moment—they were finally safe.
Justice Served: Conviction and Consequences
Mansa Musa Muhummed was arrested in November 1999. His trial faced delays, but the evidence was overwhelming. Cowan’s letter, combined with forensic reports and witness testimony, painted a horrifying picture.
In 2009, the court convicted Muhummed of 25 counts, including torture, child abuse, and false imprisonment. He received seven consecutive life sentences—ensuring he would never harm another family again.
FAQs: Laura Cowan Girl in the Garage
Who is Laura Cowan?
She’s a survivor of extreme domestic captivity who escaped and helped convict her abuser, Mansa Musa Muhummed.
Why is her story called “Girl in the Garage”?
She and her children were imprisoned in a garage for seven months, enduring starvation, abuse, and isolation.
How did she escape?
She wrote a detailed letter documenting the abuse and passed it secretly to a postal worker, who contacted authorities.
What happened to her captor?
He was convicted on multiple charges and sentenced to seven life terms in 2009.
Is there a movie about her story?
Yes. Lifetime’s Girl in the Garage: The Laura Cowan Story dramatizes her powerful journey.
Where is Laura Cowan today?
She’s a speaker and advocate for abuse survivors, using her voice to raise awareness and prevent similar tragedies.