People seem to lose their minds at this time of the year.
That's for sure. Seems our entire county went into meltdown a couple of weeks ago. I understand that we are the number one county in the number one state, per capita, for the manufacture of meth. I suppose that could explain some of these whack jobs. It's not too hard to spot the druggies though, if you're working with them. This was in today's paper. Some of the people in the office know these people...well. Marion County is the next county over. My supervisor and some of my kids are over there.
MC couple charged with Missouri murder
MAGGIE ROTERMUND
Bulletin Staff Writer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More than a month after a body was found in the Mark Twain National Forest just north of Dora, Mo., a Marion County couple has been charged with first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse.
The body of 45-year-old Marlene Krabbenhoft of Harrison was found Nov. 4. According to Ozark County authorities, Krabbenhoft was beaten and strangled to death.
On Wednesday, the Ozark County, Mo., prosecutor charged Orien Andrew Owens, 34, and Katherine Irene Owens, 35, with first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse.
They are in custody in the Marion County Jail in Yellville, where they have been held since November on drug charges unrelated to the murder.
According to Marion County Sheriff Carl McBee, Andrew Owens pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of criminal attempt to manufacture methamphetamine and was being held pending a transfer to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Katherine Owens pleaded guilty to the same charge and was sentenced in Marion County Circuit Court to probation. The couple resides at 1210 Brushy Fork Road in Yellville.
A third person is accused of helping hide the body in the Mark Twain National Forest. The suspect, Julie McVey, formerly of Baxter and Marion counties, is charged with abandonment of a corpse. She has not yet been arrested, according to the Ozark County Sheriff's Department.
Krabbenhoft's body was in a sleeping bag wrapped with rope and a distinctive sheet of linoleum, which helped investigators identify her after the linoleum was recognized through news reports. A tipster then led Ozark and Douglas County detectives to the discovery that Krabbenhoft was killed at a home in Ozark County around Oct. 26.
In an affidavit filed with the charges, Ozark County Chief Deputy Dave Stark said Katherine Owens admitted she fought with Krabbenhoft on Oct. 25 and struck her in the face and head, despite knowing Krabbenhoft had undergone brain surgery two years earlier and "a blow to her head could cause serious injury or death."
Stark's statement says McVey admitted in an interview that she saw Katherine Owens assault Krabbenhoft that day. The next morning, McVey told the detective, she and Krabbenhoft "were in bed together, asleep, in the early morning hours" in Krabbenhoft's home when McVey was awakened by Andy Owens strangling Krabbenhoft with mini-blind cords.
McVey then told authorities she saw Katherine Owens help with the strangulation. Stark said the Owenses admitted they snuck into the home and killed Krabbenhoft.
The detective said the three suspects all admitted that they "conspired to dispose of Marlene Krabbenhoft's body, and attempted to do so in Ozark County, but were unsuccessful." Stark said both Owenses admitted that they dumped the body in the national forest in Douglas County.
Andrew Owens has had previous run-ins with the law in Marion County.
He was arrested in May and June of 2000 on charges of criminal attempt to manufacture a controlled substance, methamphetamine; possession of anhydrous ammonia; manufacture of a controlled substance, marijuana; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The original charges Andrew Owens faced after his arrest Nov. 9 were felony hot-check violations; criminal attempt to manufacture a controlled substance, methamphetamine, a felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, also a felony; intimidating a witness, a felony; harassment, a misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor; as well as failure to appear, according to McBee.
Both Andrew and Katherine Owens are being held in the Marion County Jail on a no bond order and are scheduled to appear before the Marion County District Court today on the Missouri charges.
There is no information available as to whether the Owenses will waive extradition to Missouri.
maggier@baxterbulletin.com
Originally published December 17, 2004