Michael Owens, a 37-year-old man from Edwards, Mississippi, confessed in court to killing his wife and disposing of her body in a river, attributing his actions to a moment of uncontrollable anger. Owens is currently facing charges of murder and arson related to the brutal death of his wife, Ebony Owens, in 2023.
The case began when Ebony’s “burned” vehicle was discovered near the couple’s residence. Later, her body was retrieved from the Big Black River following a missing person report. During his testimony, Owens emotionally recounted the moment he shot his wife, pleading with her not to die.
Owens claimed that the fatal incident occurred during a heated argument when Ebony allegedly reached for a firearm, compelling him to react in self-defense. However, investigators have noted inconsistencies in Owens’ accounts following his wife’s disappearance.
In his court testimony, Owens described his fear during the altercation, leading him to grab his gun and shoot his wife when she turned her head. He admitted to shooting her in the head out of anger.
Owens’ defense team has argued that the evidence presented does not conclusively prove that Owens planned his wife’s murder or set her car ablaze, leading to the arson charge. Owens expressed regret over the incident in court, describing marriage as a challenging endeavor filled with ups and downs.
The trial is set to continue throughout the week, with closing arguments slated for Monday.