PRESS RELEASE TO TRANSYLVANIA TIMES

19 February 2010

John Lanier
Editor, Transylvania Times
37 North Broad St, Brevard, NC 28712

John,

As you know, my family has been trying to get an investigation started since 23 November, 2009 regarding my Brother Edgar’s suspicious death. The Sheriff’s previous published quotes of their theory stated that Edgar fell into the creek and drowned while trying to dislodge his stuck vehicle. If you visit the scene and see where the truck was parked you will see that is a physical impossibility to fall from the truck to the creek and end up dead face down in a small shallow stream. Also, anyone in the county who has ever had a vehicle stuck knows that you have to have at least two or more people involved if you try to dislodge a stuck vehicle. One behind the wheel and one or more pushing the vehicle.

So, it appears that the Sheriff’s office is going to stick to their theory that Edgar alone tried to dislodge his vehicle. This theory is indicative of the quality of the investigation which really only consisted of a visit to the scene. The Sheriff’s Office has stated that their conclusion of “accidental drowning” was based on the absence of gunshot or knife wounds. No K9 unit was called to the scene to substantiate their theory. No family members or neighbors were questioned. The Medical Examiner chose not to visit the scene.

The medical examiner has stated to the family that his sole source for information on his finding of accidental drowning was the Sheriff’s investigator. No medical tests were conducted and an autopsy to determine the time and date of death as well as the cause of death was considered not necessary by the medical examiner’s reliance on the Sheriff’s Investigator’s conclusion of “accidental drowning”. The only action the Medical Examiner did was draw blood for a blood alcohol test. No toxicology screen was conducted as is the norm. No medical tests were conducted to confirm the Sheriff’s investigator’s assumption of drowning.

The family did not benefit from a law enforcement investigation and a medical investigation which is the norm. In place of conducting medical tests and a medical investigation, the medical examiner chose to accept the Sheriff’s conclusions. The Sheriff’s Office calls the visit to the scene an “investigation”. The family calls the “investigation” a sham and a lack of respect to Edgar and his family.

The family quickly found the Sheriff’s Office was sticking to their original assumption despite Edgar’s pockets being turned inside out, his wallet missing, and no explainable reason for Edgar to be at the scene. The absence of gunshot and knife wounds was sufficient for the Sheriff’s Office to make a hasty determination of “accidental drowning”. According to the “investigating officer” he saw no signs of foul play.

The family contacted the Chief Medical Examiner at Chapel Hill and obtained approval for the State to conduct an autopsy at State expense. Also, the Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. John Butts has agreed to cover the cost of transport of the body to Chapel Hill.

The family has requested that the District Attorney, Jeff Hunt request an SBI investigator to perform a thorough and professional investigation using basic investigative techniques normally used in an unexplained death. According to Toby Hayes, Agent in Charge, Western District, North Carolina, all the SBI needs to get involved is the DA’s request.
Jeff Hunt has not answered the family’s request to date.

The family issues the following press release:

OWEN FAMILY PETITIONS GOVERNOR BEV PERDUE FOR INVESTIGATION INTO THE 23 NOVEMBER 2009 DEATH OF EDGAR ALLEN OWEN

On 19 FEBRUARY EDGAR ALLEN OWEN’S FAMILY MAILED A REGISTERED LETTER TO GOVERNOR BEV PERDUE ASKING HER TO INTERVENE AND ASSIGN AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (SBI) TO INVESTIGATE EDGAR’S DEATH. ALONG WITH THE LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR, THE FAMILY INCLUDED A PETITION WITH 152 SIGNATURES FROM CONCERNED CITIZENS SUPPORTING THE FAMILY’S REQUEST. THE FAMILY IS CONTINUING TO COLLECT SIGNATURES FROM CONCERNED CITIZENS AND WILL MAIL ADDITIONAL PETITIONS ON A CONTINUING BASIS.


John, if for some reason you do not wish to publish the above press release, let us know how much it would cost to purchase newspaper space to print the press release.


Thank you,

Sincerely,


Carl Owen
Brother of Edgar Allen Owen