Leicester murder suspect admits destroying bodies

ASHEVILLE — Search warrants released at a press conference held by Sheriff Van Duncan Friday afternoon reveal murder suspect Robert Jason Owens admitted that he "stored and destroyed" the bodies of two victims.

The warrants also show the remains were at Owens' home on Owens Cove Road, part of them inside a woodstove.

Warrants state that Owens admitted hitting and killing Joseph "J.T." Codd with a pickup truck at the Codds' home at 87 Hookers Gap Road, but there was no indication of how his pregnant wife, Cristie Codd, was killed. Duncan declined to elaborate on her death.

Duncan also declined to elaborate on questions about whether the victims were dismembered and burned in the stove.

"We were able to recover what we think are human remains. Part of those were recovered from a woodstove at the residence," was all Duncan would say on the subject in the press conference at the sheriff's office's satellite facility on New Leicester Highway.

A fire early Friday that destroyed an unoccupied mobile home on Owens' property provided a new twist in the case. Duncan declined to comment about whether the woodstove was inside the structure that burned or how the fire might fit with the murder investigation. Arson investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the blaze.

Duncan said investigators believe the Codds died Thursday. The sheriff's office got involved Sunday afternoon when officers went to the couple's home after Cristie Codd's father filed a missing person report. When officers entered the home, using a key provided by a neighbor, investigators determined a break-in had occurred.

According to a timeline provided by Duncan, Owens became a suspect Sunday night after someone on Donna Road in Candler reported a man behaving suspiciously while placing large trash bags in a Dumpster.

"They said someone had come out and in a very suspicious way had left things in a Dumpster," Duncan said. "We were able to locate items (from the bags) that we know belonged to Cristie Codd."

Based on the caller's description, deputies Monday found and interviewed Owens, who admitted he broke into the Codds' home, Duncan said. Owens was charged in the murders Monday night after investigators executed search warrants for his property and discovered the remains.

Duncan said he couldn't comment on a motive. He stressed the investigation is ongoing.

"What we know right now might not be exactly what we know in a week or two weeks from now surrounding motive," he said.

Owens, a contractor, had done some work on the Codds' home, the sheriff said.

According to warrants, phone calls and texts from cellphones belonging to J.T. and Cristie Codd stopped on March 11 — except for a text from Cristie Codd's phone on March 14 to her mother, two days after investigators believe she died.

According to warrants, detectives learned how J.T. Codd died from interviewing Owens' wife. She told them "that Owens had told her that he was driving the 2008 Dodge Ram that belonged to the victim when he struck and killed the male victim at 87 Hookers Gap Road," according to the warrant.

Owens also was the main suspect in the disappearance of Zebb Quinn, an Asheville 18-year-old who vanished in 2000. But despite persistent efforts to gather evidence against him, police were never able to charge Owens in the case.

Asheville police Sgt. Dave Romick said Owens' arrest in the Codds' murders "definitely is a significant event" in the Quinn cold case.

"We're going to continue following up on all investigative leads," said Romick, who noted he couldn't be more specific.

District Attorney Todd Williams said he would wait to decide whether to seek the death penalty against Owens until detectives complete their investigation.

Remains of the Codds still haven't been positively identified, according to a Buncombe County medical examiner. The remains were sent Thursday morning for autopsies at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

The Codds, who had worked in the film industry in California, moved to Buncombe County seeking a quiet place to raise a family, friends said. J.T. Codd worked as a grip, handling cameras and other equipment, and his wife was a celebrity chef and caterer, according to friends.

Owens, 36, is facing two first-degree murder charges in the deaths of J.T. Codd, 45, and Cristie Codd, 38. Officers also charged Owens with the murder of an unborn child because of Cristie Codd's pregnancy.

In addition, Owens was charged with breaking and entering and larceny in the break-in at the Codds' home.