A father has been accused of strangling his estranged wife after she told him she was pregnant with their second child — a wrinkle that complicated his relationship with a new live-in girlfriend, Nassau County Police said on Wednesday, according to CBS New York.
Michael Owen, 27, was arrested for the murder of Kelly Owen, also 27, who was found dead in her Farmingdale home on January 15, as CrimeOnline reported earlier.
“He did not want this child,” Det Lt Stephen Fitzpatrick told CBS New York. “He did not want to give her medical insurance. He had this new relationship he was involved in, and he was in a bad position.”
Kelly Owen and her 6-year-old daughter lived with her parents after separating from Michael Owen in March 2018, although police said they continued a “physical and intimate” relationship.
On January 15, Kelly Owen, a nursing student, got her daughter ready for her father to take to school, according to NBC New York. She had been expected at an after-school event at 3 p.m., but her parents returned home about 30 minutes after that and found Kelly unresponsive in her bed. They called 911, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The coroner found that she died of asphyxiation and was in the early stages of pregnancy. Police said there was no sign of a break-in.
Michael Owen pleaded not guilty to second degree murder in court on Wednesday. He was ordered held without bail and to have no contact with his daughter. He returns to court on Friday.
This is a developing story. CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.
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[Featured image: Kelly Owen]
