Crime
Michael Owens denied bond in killing of wife, Ebony Owens
A judge in Hinds County has denied bond for Michael Owens, the man accused of killing his wife, Ebony Owens, and dumping her body in the Big Black River. Owens made his initial court appearance on Monday afternoon, at the same time as search crews began their fifth day of searching the river for his wife’s remains, WLBT reports.
On Mar. 16, Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones announced that the case into the disappearance of Ebony Owens, 36, was updated to a murder investigation.
Ebony Owens died from at least one gunshot wound, according to a Facebook post by Jones on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Mar. 15, a burnt vehicle suspected to belong to Ebony Owens, a missing 36-year-old woman from Edwards, Mississippi, was found, while Michael Owens was still unaccounted for. The family of Ebony Owens reported her missing on the same day, according to a tweet from Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones.
The investigation led to the discovery of a 2015 White Acura TXL, believed to be owned by Ebony Owens, burnt in the vicinity of Old Highway 80 and Jones Road in Hinds County. Later on, in a tweet, Sheriff Jones mentioned that the license plate was found in a nearby location and the search for Owens is currently ongoing.
The victim’s sister and best friend attended Michael Owens’ bond hearing and expressed their desire for the focus to remain on finding the victim’s body so that she can receive a proper burial.
Despite several challenges, including strong currents, debris and poor visibility, investigators believe that the victim’s body is in the river.
Michael Owens is also facing an arson charge for the burning of the victim’s car.
