MICHAEL OWENS WAS OVERCOME WITH EMOTION WHILE ON STAND TODAY. HE HAD TO REMOVE HIS GLASSES AS TEARS CAME DOWN HIS FACE WHILE TALKING ABOUT HOW HE KILLED HIS WIFE IN 2023. MICHAEL OWENS TOOK THE STAND — TRYING TO CONVINCE THE JURY HE WAS REGRETFUL OF KILLING HIS WIFE EBONI OWENS. OWENS TRIAL PART 2 WAPT-MP1ó4 8:17 I LOST EVERYTHING, I LOST MY WIFE, I LOST MY KIDS, I LOST MY HOME, I LOST MY JOB. I THINK ABOUT IT EVERY DAY. I THINK ABOUT HER EVERYDAY 8:29 OWENS CONFESSED TO SHOOTING HIS WIFE, DUMPING HER BODY IN THE BIG BLACK RIVER AND SETTING HER CAR ON FIRE IN MARCH 2023. HIS DEFENSE TEAM POINTED OUT THIS WAS A CRIME OF PASSION. THEY SAID MICHAEL AND EBONY HAD A ROCKY AND UNFAITHFUL 6-YEAR MARRIAGE. MICHAEL SAID HE CAUGHT HIS WIFE IN BED NAKED WITH ANOTHER MAN THE NIGHT HE SHOT HER IN THE HEAD. OWENS TRIAL PART 2 WAPT-MP1ó4 5:22 WHEN I SEEN THIS MAN IN OUR HOUSE THAT’S WHAT MADE ME SNAP 5:24 IN RESPONSE — PROSECUTION PUT OWENS THROUGH INTENSE QUESTIONING. MP1 5 4:17 MR.OWENS YOUR SITTING HERE CRYING NOW, WERE YOU CRYING WHEN YOU ROLLED HER UP IN THAT CAR 4:24 THEY ARGUED THAT OWENS IS AN UNRELIABLE SOURCE THEY SAID DURING THE INVESTIGATION IN 2023 WHEN EBONY WAS REPORTED MISSING — OWENS LIED A TOTAL OF 49 TIMES WHEN DETECTIVES ASKED HIM WHERE SHE WAS. MP1 6 9:51 FOR HOURS WE LISTENED TO YOU DENY EVERYTHING, 9:58 YOU DO ADMIT YOU LIED ON THAT VIDEO RIGHT? YES 10:00 THEY ALSO ARGUED THAT HE PLANNED TO MURDER EBONY BECAUSE OF THE PREPARATION HE WENT THROUGH TO GET IT DONE — MANY QUESTIONS THAT PROSECUTERS ASKED, OWENS REFUSED TO ANSWER MP1 6 NO I’VE GOT TO GET A DRILL SO AS TO REMOVE THE TAG? TRUE? YOU SAID IVE GOT TO GET A GAS TANK SO AS TO BURN THE CAR? TRUE? 2:10 THIS TRIAL HAS NOT WRAPPED UP YET. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO COURT ON MONDAY AT 9:30. LIVE IN JACKSO
Hinds County man convicted of killing his wife, setting her vehicle on fire
Michael Owens sentenced to life in prison
Updated: 3:10 PM CDT Sep 8, 2025
An Edwards man convicted of killing his wife and setting her car on fire will spend the rest of his life in prison.A Hinds County jury found 38-year-old Michael Owens, of Edwards, guilty of first-degree murder and third-degree arson. Michael Owens testified last week, offering an emotional confession and claiming he shot his wife, 36-year-old Ebony Owens, in self-defense while the couple argued in 2023. Michael Owens admitted to dumping his wife’s body in the Big Black River and setting her car on fire.His defense team said it was a crime of passion as a result of a rocky, unfaithful relationship. Prosecutors said the trial was about justice for Ebony Owens.The couple had four children.”This trial, this case has been troubling to this court. Very seldom does a case trouble this particular judge,” Hinds County Judge Faye Peterson said before sentencing Michael Owens. “And yet, as I listened to the testimony in this case, the one word that went through my mind was selfish.”Peterson sentenced Michael Owens to life in prison.
JACKSON, Miss. —
After a weeklong trial, a man has been convicted of killing his wife and setting her car on fire.
A Hinds County jury found 38-year-old Michael Owens, of Edwards, guilty of first-degree murder and third-degree arson.
Michael Owens testified last week, offering an emotional confession and claiming he shot his wife, 36-year-old Ebony Owens, in self-defense while the couple argued in 2023. Michael Owens admitted to dumping his wife’s body in the Big Black River and setting her car on fire.
His defense team said it was a crime of passion as a result of a rocky, unfaithful relationship. Prosecutors said the trial was about justice for Ebony Owens.
It took the jury about two hours to reach a verdict. Sentencing is set for 3 p.m. Monday.