A Mississippi man accused of killing his wife and setting her car on fire admitted on the witness stand that he fatally shot her during an argument, later dumping her body in a river.
The Admission in Court
Michael Owens, 37, of Edwards, is on trial for murder and arson in the 2023 death of his wife, Ebony Owens. Testifying before jurors last Thursday, Owens claimed an argument escalated until, in his words, “She made me snap.”
“When I shot her, I said, ‘Baby, don’t die. Don’t leave me. Don’t die,’” he told the court, according to ABC affiliate WAPT.
Owens alleged that Ebony reached for a gun first, forcing him to shoot. “I just, I feared for my life,” he testified, according to NBC affiliate WLBT. “When I pointed my gun back, then when she turned her head like this, that’s when I shot her.”
He later admitted, “I was so mad I just shot her — shot her in the head.”
Discovery of the Crime
After Ebony was reported missing in March 2023, investigators discovered her burned vehicle near the couple’s home. Days later, her body was pulled from the Big Black River, confirming the worst fears of her family and authorities.
Defense and Charges
Owens faces charges of first-degree murder and arson. His defense attorneys argue that prosecutors cannot prove the killing was premeditated or that Owens intentionally set fire to his wife’s car.
The arson charge stems from evidence that Ebony’s vehicle had been deliberately burned shortly after her death.
Owens’ Statements on Marriage
On the stand, Owens claimed he regrets what happened and spoke about the couple’s troubled relationship.
“A marriage is not easy,” he said. “A marriage is what you make of it. A marriage is a job. We had our ups and downs, our differences.”
What’s Next in the Trial
The trial is expected to wrap up with closing arguments scheduled for Monday, after which the jury will deliberate on Owens’ fate.
This case has drawn widespread attention in Mississippi, both for the brutality of the crime and Owens’ shifting explanations to police and the court about what really happened the night Ebony Owens was killed.
