LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. —
The day after their grandmother was buried, two brothers were in jail together — one charged with her murder and the other charged with inappropriate behavior in the courtroom.
Jeremy Owens was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday on charges that he shot his grandmother, 74-year-old Bernice Champlin, at her Lily residence on Wednesday, July 27.
During his preliminary hearing in Laurel District Court, Owens entered a not guilty plea to the murder charge. Kentucky law prevents felony offenses from being tried at the district court level, and Owens’ case will be presented to a Laurel grand jury within 60 days of the preliminary hearing.
Laurel County Sheriff’s Detective Billy Madden testified Owens admitted killing his grandmother. Champlin was found lying in the hallway of her Queen Road home with a gunshot wound to her head. Preliminary autopsy reports revealed she was also stabbed and severely beaten in the face prior to the shooting. Owens’ bond remained at $250,000 cash and he was returned to the Laurel County Detention Center after the hearing.
An unexpected turn of events came when, as the hearing ended, Owens’ 30-year-old brother Josh stood up and uttered a profanity in a loud voice toward the judge. Josh Owens was arrested by court bailiffs and charged with disorderly conduct.
Josh Owens, of Stilesville, Ind., joined his brother in the Laurel County Detention Center. He was scheduled for an arraignment hearing on Wednesday.
njohnson@sentinel-echo.com
Local News
August 8, 2011
Owens’ murder case goes to grand jury
Brother arrested for profanity in courtroom
- Local News
-
-
Baptist Breast Care now open
-
Services offer convenience, comfort for patient
- Female inmates join work crews
- New veterinary hospital coming to London
-
Man saves two in fiery crash
- Tips to protect your child from potential predators
- Teen flees abductor
- Meth maker gets 20 years
-
Names of fallen officers added to memorial
-
Laurel family honors slain U.S. Marshal
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
Raw: Accused US Spy Reportedly Leaves Russia
AP CEO: Records Seizure 'Unconstitutional'
Fatal Hot Air Balloon Accident in Turkey
Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest
'Babyland': Camp Lejeune's Toxic Legacy?
Raw: Heavy Tornado Damage in Shawnee, Okla
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
