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Thread: Matthew Andrew Adams Sentenced to LWOP in 2018 KY Murder of Erica Owen

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    Matthew Andrew Adams Sentenced to LWOP in 2018 KY Murder of Erica Owen


    Erica Owen





    Domestic violence order wasn't enough for murder victim

    By Katie Kapusta
    WFIE News

    OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) - We are learning new information on the death of 25-year-old Erica Owen. She is the victim of a possible murder and attempted suicide in Owensboro.
    The Daviess County coroner says the initial results show Owen died from asphyxia strangulation on Tuesday.

    Matthew Adams has been charged with her murder, but we uncovered some troubling actions from his past.

    Erica Owen was a nurse, and friends say she was a happy-go-lucky woman. But after her death, signs show she was terrified of Matthew Adams, even filing a Domestic Violence Order against him.

    "A domestic violence order, for what it's designed to do, it can be effective," Andrew Boggess with the Owensboro Police Department said. "And it does give us another tool; another resource to use."
    Police say domestic violence orders can only be retrieved by the victim, and sometimes it's not enough.

    "Getting away where you're not able to be located is probably the best potential solution," Boggess said.

    The Oasis Shelter in Owensboro allows for people in domestic violent relationships to have a place to feel safe.

    "We do offer sheltered services, and that is we keep you safe from harm," Suzanne Craig the Board Chair at Oasis said. "And so we don't turn anyone away from any circumstance."

    They say even if you do have a domestic violence order, to always have a backup plan in case you need it.

    "Regardless, if that person has an EPO (emergency protective order) or not, still do that safety planning," Tiffany Pearl the Residential director at Oasis said. "That safety planning is very important."

    Ultimately, domestic violence orders don't always protect those who need to be protected.

    "At the end of the day, domestic violence orders, like I said, it's a good tool; it's not magically going to protect somebody," Boggess said.

    http://www.14news.com/story/38582571...-murder-victim
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Edited:

    Daviess prosecutor to seek death penalty against Adams in woman's death on Placid Place


    By James Mayse
    Messenger-Inquirer

    Daviess County Commonwealth's Attorney Bruce Kuegel has filed notice to seek the death penalty against Matthew A. Adams, the Utica man charged with murder last week in the death of a woman on Placid Place.

    Kuegel filed the motion to seek the death penalty against Adams Thursday in Daviess Circuit Court. Adams, 26, was indicted with murder, first-degree burglary, violation of an emergency protective order, theft by unlawful taking (auto) over $10,000 and tampering with evidence in the July 3 death of Erica Owen, 25, at her home in the 3200 block of Placid Place. Court records say Adams was Owen's ex-boyfriend.

    http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/ne...4aa449535.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Judge sets no bond in Owensboro murder case

    A judge has set no bond in an Owensboro murder case.

    Matthew Adams stood before a judge Wednesday for the first time since the prosecution announced they plan to seek the death penalty.

    The family of Erica Owen was present in the courtroom during the hearing in Daviess Circuit Court.

    Adams is accused of killing Owen inside a home on Placid Place on July 3.

    Owen had a domestic violence order filed against Adams at the time of her death.

    A judge stated that Adams will have no bond while he awaits court proceedings in the Daviess County Detention Center.

    Daviess County Commonwealth Attorney Bruce Kuegel has filed paperwork to seek the death penalty in the case.

    Kuegel also filed paperwork centered around aggravating circumstances.

    Adams is charged with murder, burglary, theft, tampering with physical evidence, and violating a domestic violence order.

    Adams is next scheduled to appear in court on October 15 for a pre-trial hearing.

    https://www.tristatehomepage.com/new...ase/1309613672
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

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    OASIS hosts candlelight vigil

    By Renee Beasley Jones
    Messenger-Inquirer

    For the first time, Brandie Sallee of Owensboro attended the OASIS Domestic Violence Services candlelight vigil Thursday evening at Smothers Park.

    The 36-year-old mother of three kept crying after the service ended and most the people were gone.

    "My mom went through abuse for years," Sallee said. "I didn't realize it until I went through abuse myself."

    She was one of up to 100 people who braved cool temperatures and strong winds to honor 27 Kentucky women who lost their lives to domestic violence during the past year. During the service their names were read and balloons were released in their memory.

    This year, that list included one Daviess County victim.

    Erica Owen died July 3, after being strangled at her home on Placid Place. She had an active emergency protective order against her ex-boyfriend Matthew A. Adams, 26, of Utica, who has been charged with murder in Owen's death.

    Daviess County Commonwealth's Attorney Bruce Kuegel has filed notice to seek the death penalty against Adams.

    Owen's father Rece Owen attended Thursday evening's service. He wore a white T-shirt that displayed her photo and read: "I'm fighting for Erica Noel Owen."

    He said a group of at least 25 people attended the vigil in his daughter's honor. One of those who came brought her golden retriever, Rex, who was a puppy when she died.

    "Nothing can bring (Erica Owen) back," Rece Owen said. "The community needs to be made aware."

    October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. At the vigil, speakers took the microphone and read many statistics.

    They included one out of three women will be abused during their lifetimes. Every nine seconds a woman is battered. More than 500,000 cases of domestic violence are reported annually.

    In Owensboro, OASIS provided more than 29,000 services to victims of domestic abuse during the past fiscal year, said Tiffany Pearl, interim executive director. Its facilities housed 538 women and children.

    More than 1,200 victims of domestic abuse were served by OASIS' outreach offices last year.

    "The names being called tonight are someone's daughter, someone's sister, someone's best friend," Suzanne Craig, OASIS chairwoman, told the crowd Thursday evening. "We honor the families, and we honor those who lost the fight."

    http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/ne...483fd1795.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Utica man charged in July death of woman has probation revoked

    By James Mayse
    Messenger-Inquirer

    Matthew A. Adams, the Utica man charged with murder in the July death of a woman on Placid Place, officially had his probation in another case revoked Monday in Daviess Circuit Court.

    People having their probation revoked is somewhat routine in Circuit Court, but Adams' revocation Monday had been a long time coming. A warrant for Adams' arrest on the probation violation was issued June 12 but not signed until June 18.

    The warrant wasn't served until after Adams was charged in the July 3 death of Erica Owen, 25, who was killed in her home on Placid Place. The warrant had the wrong address.

    Adams, 26, was charged with murder (domestic violence), tampering with physical evidence, first-degree burglary and violation of an emergency protective order. Owen had a protective order against Adams, and Adams had criminal mischief charges pending for vandalizing Owen's home.

    Commonwealth's Attorney Bruce Kuegel said previously he will seek the death penalty against Adams.

    Adams didn't contest the revocation of his parole in Monday's hearing in Circuit Court. Adams was on probation for a 2016 conviction during which he was sentenced to a year in prison and five years of probation for driving under the influence (fourth or subsequent offense within five years).

    Also Monday, Kuegel requested that, if there were going to be issues related to Adams' mental health that would require a mental health evaluation, those issues be moved along.

    Eric Stovall, Adams' appointed public defender, said there were numerous records to go through about Adams before he'd be able to determine if Adams needed an examination. A defendant's mental health can become an issue in court if there's concern the defendant is incompetent to stand trial.

    "He (Adams) has (had) at least one hospitalization and (he has) a couple of suicide attempts," Stovall told Daviess Circuit Judge Jay Wethington. "... We will not be dragging our feet on the matter, but it will be a lengthy process."

    The July incident began when city police officers were called to a home by Adams' relatives who said he'd tried to hang himself. Adams made statements at the home that he believed he'd killed Owen.

    Attorneys are in the process of reviewing "discovery," which is case evidence. Stovall said he had received 110 gigabytes of discovery from prosecutors.

    Adams is lodged in the Daviess County Detention Center and will next appear in court for a status conference on Jan. 10. A trial date has not yet been set.

    http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/ne...1d36d3877.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Trial date set for Daviess Co. death penalty case

    By Katie Kapusta and Sean Edmondson
    14news.com

    DAVIESS CO., KY (WFIE) - A trial date has been set for Matt Adams.

    Adams is one of a record three people facing the death penalty at the same time in Daviess County. Arnett Baines and Cylar Shemwell are the other two. All three are charged with murder.

    “We have not had this type of violence in Daviess County at any point in history that I know of," Bruce Kuegel the Commonwealth’s attorney said.

    Police say Adams killed Erica Owen at her home in 2018. Erica had a domestic violence order against Adams, a previous boyfriends of Erica's.

    In court Wednesday, the judge set October 1, 2020, as the date for Adams’s trial with the last day for pretrial motions on August 1, 2020.

    The trial is expected to last two weeks.

    Adams is set to be back in court on July 19.

    https://www.14news.com/2019/05/01/tr...-penalty-case/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Judge says Adams is trying to drag out process in murder case

    By James Mayse
    Messenger-Inquirer

    The judge presiding over the murder trial of Matthew Andrew Adams said Friday that Adams was delaying court proceeding against him by refusing to be transported to court.

    Adams, 28, was charged with murder, first-degree burglary, tampering with evidence and violation of a domestic violence order in the 2018 death of Eric Owens, who was killed in her home on July 3, 2018.

    Adams is facing the death penalty in the case. His trial is tentatively set for October, with the trial expected to last about two weeks, including jury selection.

    Adams, who is incarcerated in the Daviess County Detention Center, had a pretrial conference scheduled for Friday but refused to be transported. Adams has previously refused to attend hearings.

    Daviess Circuit Judge Jay Wethington told Adams’ defense team that he would compel Adams to appear at his next scheduled hearing.

    “He’s not going to frustrate these proceedings by refusing to comply with my orders” to appear, Wethington told Adams’ attorneys. If Adams again refuses, Wethington said he has “other methods” to make Adams come to court.

    Wethington told Adams’ attorneys to convey that he must come to court. Adams is next scheduled to appear in court on April 30.

    https://www.messenger-inquirer.com/n...420609acf.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Defense seeks release of man facing murder charge, citing pandemic

    By James Mayse
    Messenger-Inquirer

    Attorneys for Matthew Andrew Adams, the Owensboro man facing the death penalty in the 2018 strangulation death of a woman in her home, have filed a motion asking the presiding judge to release Adams from jail.

    Citing the COVID-19 pandemic, Adams’ public defenders are asking Adams’ bond to be set to “an amount he can make” so he can be released from the Daviess County Detention Center.

    A bond hearing has been set for Thursday in Daviess Circuit Court, with attorneys appearing by video conference.

    Adams, 28, who last had a Utica address prior to his July 3, 2018 arrest, was charged with murder, first-degree burglary, tampering with evidence and violation of a protective order in the death of Erica Owen, 25.

    Officers went to Owen’s Placid Place home on July 3, after first responding to a report of a suicidal man at a home on Barron Drive. Owensboro Police Department reports say officers encountered Adams, who told officers that he might have killed Owen, OPD Public Information Officer Andrew Boggess said previously.

    Adams had a prior relationship with Owen, which had been over for some time when Owen was killed. Adams is also facing charges of felony criminal mischief for allegedly causing vandalism damage at Owen’s home prior to the July incident.

    Adams is currently being held without bond in the Daviess County Detention Center.

    The bond motion was filed by defense attorneys Michel Bufkin and Eric Stovall. The motion says Adams has been assessed by pretrial services and is considered a low risk for not making future court dates. Adams was rated a moderate risk of new criminal activity, but the motion says pretrial rated Adams as having an “86.4% probability of remaining arrest-free prior to trial.”

    The motion says: “To require Mr. Adams to stay in custody puts him at substantially greater risk of contracting COVID-19” because he potentially could be exposed to people with the virus in jail, and because “he would be better able to safeguard his health by practicing social distancing in the community.”

    Adams has asthma which makes him “more vulnerable to COVID-19,” the motion says.

    “Mr. Adams shares a communal bathroom, including a toilet, sink and shower,” the motion says. “He must eat off of trays, shower in stalls, wash his hands in sinks, use toilets and telephones that many other inmates also use, all without proper sanitation measures recommended by the (Centers for Disease Control), because they are not available to him.”

    Daviess County Jailer Art Maglinger previously said inmates have access to cleaning materials in the jail and that surfaces are routinely cleaned.

    The defense requests that Adams be released to live with family members, on “narrowly tailored” conditions, and say Adams could be monitored electronically.

    The defense also argues that holding Adams on no bond is excessive and that the charges do qualify for bail. The motion says Adams’ family could put up some cash or property for his bond.

    Adams’ trial date is currently set for October and is expected to last two weeks.

    https://www.messenger-inquirer.com/n...0fb0f4b1b.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Defense in death penalty case asks for postponement of October trial

    By James Mayse
    Messenger-Inquirer

    Matthew A. Adams, the Utica man facing the death penalty for allegedly killing a woman in her Owensboro home in 2018, is scheduled to go to trial in October.

    But Adams’ lawyers are asking the trial be postponed at least until the beginning of next year, citing complications that the COVID-19 pandemic has created in preparing the defense.

    Adams, 28, was charged with murder and first-degree burglary in the death of Erica Owen, who was killed in her home on Placid Place in July 2018. Prosecutors charged Adams with breaking into Owen’s home and strangling her. He also faces charges of violating a protective order, tampering with evidence and theft of auto over $10,000.

    Adams had a prior relationship with Owen and was already facing charges for vandalizing Owen’s home before the July 2018 incident.

    Michael Bufkin, one of Adams’ public defenders, said in a motion that the pandemic has interfered with investigating the facts of the case. Also, potential mitigating factors, such as Adams’ mental health, can’t be adequately investigated because attorneys and evaluators are not currently able to meet with him in person, he said.

    Bufkin, who is part of the state Department of Public Advocacy, said the defense team is bound by an executive order from Gov. Andy Beshear to limit in-person contact with people, which has limited the information they can gather.

    “There are at least 45 relevant mitigation witnesses not previously interviewed who cannot be interviewed because of social distancing requirements,” Bufkin wrote. The motion also includes a statement from mitigation specialist Anita Dawn Jones, which says her examination of Adams’ mental health history has been stopped because Adams cannot be met with in person. Adams is incarcerated in the Daviess County Detention Center.

    In particular, Jenkins said she has found evidence of “cognitive disorders that need to be investigated,” including problems with reading and math, but Adams’ teachers can’t be interviewed because of the pandemic.

    Jenkins said Adams has “severe mental issues” including anxiety, depression and substance abuse disorder, but physicians who worked with Adams can’t be interviewed, and all records can’t be obtained, because of the pandemic. Defense mental health experts have also been unable to meet with Adams, Jenkins said.

    Jenkins wrote she would be at least six months from the time the state’s social distancing requirement is lifted to complete her investigation.

    April Rush, a fact investigator with the Department of Public Advocacy, also provided an accompanying statement with Bufkin’s motion that said she has been unable to meet with or find witnesses or visit the Placid Place home where the incident took place.

    Phone interviews are inadequate for interviewing witnesses, Rush said.

    Bufkin argued the pandemic also creates issues with conducting a trial that might still be present in October.

    The Administrative Office of the Courts has said that jury trials can resume no earlier than August.

    Bufkin said the trial will require a large jury pool that will create the possibility of virus transmission, and jurors might “be tempted to make rushed decisions” in order to get away as quickly as possible.

    “This pandemic is uncharted territory for a capital trial,” Bufkin wrote. “It would make sense for the court to try a number of less weighty cases before tackling a capital trial where a man’s life hangs in the balance.”

    A hearing is scheduled later this week to discuss motions, including one to exclude the death penalty.

    https://www.messenger-inquirer.com/n...0cc17fad2.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Defense seeking mediation in death penalty case

    By James Mayse
    Messenger-Inquirer

    The defense team representing Matthew A. Adams, the Utica man charged in the 2018 death of a woman at her home on Placid Place, is asking the trial judge to order the case be mediated to see if it can be resolved without a trial.

    Adams, 29, faces the possibility of the death penalty in the July 2018 death of Erica Owen, 25. Adams and Owen had a prior relationship, and Owen had a protective order against Adams at the time she was killed.

    Adams was charged with murder, first-degree burglary, tampering with evidence and theft by unlawful taking over $10,000 in the incident. Adams was also charged with first-degree criminal mischief for a prior incident where he allegedly vandalized Owen’s home.

    Michael Bufkin, one of Adams’ attorneys and a member of the state Department of Public Advocacy’s Capital Trials branch, filed the motion. Bufkin said Thursday that mediation is a process where a retired judge would meet with both prosecutors and the defense team, hear from both sides and ultimately make a recommendation to resolve the case.

    “The victim’s family is allowed to be there,” and is “allowed to raise some issues” during the process, Bufkin said.

    “It can take a day, or sometimes more than a day,” Bufkin said. “There’s no time limit on it.”

    Mediation in criminal cases has been used somewhat over the past decade, but has become more common, Bufkin said.

    “I think a lot of people are utilizing mediation now, because so many (cases) have been backed up by COVID,” Bufkin said. Trials were postponed and nonemergency hearings were canceled for much of last year, when courts shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In general, both sides would make statements to the judge and provide documents, and the judge would meet individually with the prosecution and defense before making a recommendation. The recommendation is not an order to resolve the case.

    https://www.messenger-inquirer.com/n...bb5561114.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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