Estranged husband arrested in nursing student’s slaying in Farmingdale

Kelly Owen, 27, was found dead in her bed in South Farmingdale two weeks ago.

News 12 Staff

Jan 29, 2020, 10:31 AM

Updated 1,562 days ago

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The estranged husband of a Farmingdale woman who was found strangled to death earlier this month has been now charged with her murder.
Michael Owen, 27, was led out of Nassau police headquarters Wednesday morning. Detectives say he strangled his estranged wife Kelly Owen in her parents Farmingdale home.
The nursing student's body was discovered by her parents after Kelly Owen's 6-year-old daughter was supposed to be joined by her mother at an after-school program.
Detectives say Michael Owen was legally separated from Kelly Owen but they still had an intimate relationship. At the time of the incident, he was living with another woman.
They say Kelly Owen was a few months pregnant at the time of her death, possibly with Michael Owen's baby, and that the couple was fighting over finances and health insurance coverage.
"He did not want this child. He did not want to give her medical insurance; he had this new relationship that he was involved in. And he was in a bad position," says Detective Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick, of the Nassau County Police Department.
Police have not released information on exactly what evidence lead them to charging Michael Owen, but says tips from the Farmingdale community were crucial.
"Everybody in that neighborhood came forward whether they had video or they saw something and a lot of that information was significant for our case," says Detective Lt. Fitzpatrick.
Michael Owen is charged with second-degree murder with intent to cause death. He is being held without bond and expected back in court on Jan. 31.
 


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