UPDATE: Kenneth Monroe Owens
GRANDSON TELLS GRANDMOTHER’S KILLER TO ‘ROT IN HELL’ AFTER GUILTY PLEA
excerpts from an article by Michael Barrett – The Gaston (North Carolina) Gazette
Almost nine months have passed since 12-year-old Troy Michael Conn was stabbed more than 20 times by an attacker who also killed his disabled, 54-year-old grandmother.
On Monday, Conn walked to the front of a Gaston County courtroom and spoke directly to Kenneth Monroe Owens – the man who had just pleaded guilty to the crimes.
“All we ever did was do good for him,” said Troy, first addressing Judge Nathaniel Poovey. “We gave him a place to stay, food to eat.”
Then Troy, a student at Stanley Middle School, turned to face Owens and spoke with a wavering voice.
“My grandmother and me never deserved this,” he said, “and I hope you rot in hell.”
Owens, 41, formerly of the 200 block of Washington Avenue in Bessemer City, pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree murder in the Nov. 12 stabbing death of Carolyn Hamrick Barnette.
Owens’ plea came as part of an agreement with the District Attorney’s office. It removed the risk of the death penalty, which prosecutors could have pursued had he been found guilty at trial.
Owens also pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, attempted first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill
inflicting serious injury. For those crimes, he received consecutive sentences of up to 90 additional years in prison, ensuring he will spend the rest of his life behind bars, prosecutors said.
Owens received credit for time served for the 274 days he has been in jail.
Troy’s family said in the months after last year’s attack that they were determined to see Owens put to death.
Owens and Barnette had previously dated, but had not seen each other for some time, they said.
But family members agreed to the plea bargain Monday to prevent Troy from having to relive the horrifying events of that night.
“This is not justice. We did this for Troy,” said Kevin Conn II, Troy’s 16-year-old brother. “Justice would be sticking a needle in him and watching him die.”
Troy was staying with his grandmother in her Bessemer City home on East Maine Avenue on the night of Nov. 11.
He fell asleep on the couch, said Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Hamlin.
At some point late that night or early the next morning, Owens arrived and attacked Barnette with a knife. Troy awoke to his grandmother’s cries for help from the other room and found Owens standing over her body.
As Owens turned to attack him, Troy recalled hearing his grandmother plead, “Kenny, please don’t kill Troy,” Hamlin said.
Owens stabbed Troy in his chest, stomach, leg and arms.
He also hit him with a lamp, causing ceramic to become embedded in his skin, Hamlin said.
“There was blood all over the residence,” she said.
Owens then took Barnette’s pain medication and some of her jewelry before leaving the scene.
Troy regained consciousness about 7 a.m. and called his mother. Emergency workers arrived to find his grandmother dead.
Troy was given three pints of blood at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. He has since endured numerous surgeries and rehabilitation as part of his recovery, Hamlin said.
Barnette’s son, Josh Barnette, said his mother tried to give Owens a place to stay and help him get a better education.
“All we have now is memories because of that man,” he said.
Kevin Conn, Troy’s father and Barnette’s son-in-law, said in court that his family had never done anything but try to help Owens before the attack.
“He tried to end my son’s life … who’s done nothing but love him,” Kevin Conn said to the judge.
He then also turned to speak to Owens.
“I hope somebody in that prison kills you,” he said. “If you ever get out, I will.”
Owens did not speak. He turned and waved to his father and brother in the audience before being led out of court.
Owens’ attorney, Rick Beam, said his client expressed concern about Troy’s condition after being charged.
“Mr. Owens all along has understood the serious nature of the events that transpired,” he said. “He understands he’s committed these offenses. He’s never denied that.”
I’d like to thank one of our readers, who called his/her-self ‘III’, for being obnoxious enough to cause me to wonder what happened to Kenneth Owens, after ‘III’ made a few comments expressing outrage at our comments denigrating Mr. Owens. Apparent in ‘III’s’ world the murder of a 54-year-old grandmother and the stabbing of her 11-year-old grandson (who nearly gave his life defending her from an armed and far bigger assailant) isn’t a good enough reason to be disgusted with a person.
My favorite ‘III’ comment was
yea, thats right make it all about how hard it was for everyone else.. what about kenneth’s family? huh? did you ever think about them? NO I bet you didn’t
No, really. This clown actually said this, in so many words; “Let’s make this all about the victims (you know, the woman who was stabbed to death, and the young boy who nearly died trying to save her) and their families. What about the family of the murderer (that would be Kenneth Monroe Owens)? Why are people being considerate of their feelings?
I assume this means that when we say bad things about poor ol’ Kenny, it makes his mommy and daddy very sad. Well, when Kenny kills innocent women, and slashes young children with a sharp knife, it makes us angry. Our suggestion to Kenny’s mommy and daddy is pretty straightforward; Get over it.
My personal suggestion to ‘III’ is to shut the fuck up.
But seriously, what we have going on here with our friend ‘III’ is typical family/friend/supporter reasoning. Blind to the reality of what happened and only concerned with things as it affects them, they refuse to see the harm their friend or family member has done. They minimize, justify and excuse behaviors by their loved one that would have them screaming bloody murder if they themselves were subjected to those behaviors. It’s hypocrisy at it’s absolute best.
Fortunately, Kenneth Monroe Owens was more afraid of the death penalty than he was of having to admit what he did, and back in 2008 he pled guilty to the murder of Mrs. Barnette and the attempted murder of her grandson, Troy Michael Conn. Now he can’t hurt anyone ever again, and people like ‘III’ have little left to argue about. Sadly, as we saw recently, it doesn’t stop them from trying.
17 Comments »
Thank you for this, Max. Not just for slapping Ill right in the face, but for the update. There is always a sigh of relief when we hear about people like Kenneth Monroe Owens getting the closest thing to just punishment that we can provide. I am sorry for the family of the victims.
I am also sorry for the family of the accused, but it’s not a priority in this case. Kenneths family and friends, if they do not understand why their pain is a less than secondary concern, should all go to hell with him. My grief is for the family of the victims, and that is all.
I hope III is sobbing pitifully into his or her pillow tonight.
What a brave kid. I hope he’s not too fucked-up by what happened. I can’t even imagine being there if that happened to my grandma, let alone getting stabbed myself.
I doubt III is sobbing into their pillow. Or sobbing over the REAL victims.
I never did read through all the comments on the initial post for this POS. I love his supporters’ contention that this was a “terrible accident”. Like, his knife just slipped accidently 20 times into the kid. Jesus.
Yeah, you have to feel bad for his parents but fuck that, this guy deserves death. Hope he gets it sooner rather than later.
I’d like to make a pre-emptive strike at Kenneth’s supporters and tell them to fuck off right now, prior to any of them actually showing up.
Me to TBS :) lol
Kenneth’s supporters sound like a bunch of people that can’t see much beyond the end of their noses, bellies or dicks depending on if they are busy bodies, fat or perverts.
All they want to see os what is happening to Kenny, not ever to bother to see what Kenny did to others. They only care about Kenny when he’s in their circles, they really don’t care about what’s happening in Kenny’s circle.
They are the type that don’t care where it comes from, how it’s gotten from others, as long as the check comes in the mail every month…….. (OK maybe some work………..)
I wonder how many of them drink & drive?
I wonder how many ofthem met their spouses at family reunions..
I think part of the reason we have so many crimes escalating is because of that attitude, that they are ‘our family’. I am sorry, but when your family member murders someone, it is 100% okay to say, “We still love you, but you are evil, and you should rot in hell.” It is called tough love. But it is still love, and if there were more of it out there, there would be fewer degenerates.
I totally agree. It is also 100% okay to say, “We no longer love you because you fucking suck” and then just pretend they died or something instead of communicating anymore.
YES! Love is supposed to strengthen, not weaken. Coddling weakens those you love. It’s a very simple concept, but so few people actually get it.
People like Kenneth Owens should be hung by their testicles and gutted alive….
and now that hes in prison, i assume something similar to that will happen. (i hope)
Not only was being stabbed horribly brutal, but I can’t imagine the agony over watching your grandson being stabbed while taking your final breaths. The pain mixed with that feeling of being totally helpless must have been the absolute worst way to die for that poor woman. It is a miracle that that poor boy survived, but unfortunately will carry physical and emotional scars that will haunt him for the rest of his life. Kudos for him to be able to stand up to that piece of shit during the murder as well as the trial. The sentencing to hell is certainly what the kid wants, and I stand behind him. May that scumbag suffer indefinitely in the afterlife.
Please keep your thoughts in mind when some hippy scum slobber and moan about how this scum should not be executed.
Oh, make no mistake, I am all for the death penalty. Too bad these scum balls can plead guilty and weasel their way out of it.
The system is so broken. People like this shouldn’t have a huge loop hole to jump through to keep their lives when they so brutally took someone else’s.
It’s not a matter of being insanely right or left – we all agree certain crimes are inhuman and should be dealt with accordingly. Just thinking about it makes part of my brain feel numb.
When I read on this site, I often think about the family of the offender. I always do. However, the thought is in fact- “how sad the mother must be.” because had that been my son who killed a grandmother and hurt a small boy–That p.o.s would be dead to me. I would completely side with the family that was put into such a horrific situation. To actually go on a public forum or in public and declare sympathy towards this monster is just ANOTHER slap in the victims face! So “III”–PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP.
i’d hate to be the one who birthed owens. but thats all the pity i’d have for the owens…
thank heaven the little man made it. may his gramma r.i.p.