November 24, 2015
Plymouth County officials and State and Bridgewater police are hunting Fernando Owens, 43, on charges he murdered a New Jersey woman and set her body on fire because he apparently thought she had something to do with the shooting death of his son Dominic on Shepton Street on Nov. 3.
The Plymouth County District Attorney's office reports:
"State Police investigators have determined that Owens was acquainted with the victim in this case and that he believed [Ashley Bortner, 29] had a hand in the recent death of Fernando's son, Domenic Owens.
"Police seized items from Fernando Owens' home at 65 Lonsdale Street in Dorchester that link him to the murder, including the same sort of Egyptian cotton bath towel and identical electrical cord found on the victim."
Prosecutors say Bortner's body was found, burning, near train tracks in Bridgewater, almost 24 hours after Dominic Owens's death:
"Her body was burned over 70%, she had been gagged by her own clothing and her face was wrapped with a towel and she was found in a comforter. Bortner's hands and feet were bound behind her and electrical cord was around her neck."
Separately, a Manchester, NH husband and wife were charged with being accessories after the fact:
"Cell phone records from the Squires put the couple in Bridgewater around the time of the 911 call to Bridgewater Police on November 3rd. Additionally, the Squires own a vehicle similar to the dark SUV described by the 911 caller."
If you see Owens, contact State Police at 508-947-8087, MBTA Transit Police at 617-222-1050 or Bridgewater Police at 508-697-6118.