Three weeks after the gruesome discovery of a woman's burned and bound body near MBTA commuter rail tracks, authorities in Massachusetts have issued an arrest warrant for a Boston man.
Forty-three-year-old Fernando Owens of Boston's Dorchester neighborhood is wanted in connection with the homicide of 29-year-old Ashley Bortner of New Jersey.
His whereabouts are currently unknown, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz. Although the public is being asked to send in tips to locate him, investigators warn that Owens is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call state police at 508-947-8087 or Bridgewater police at 508-697-6118.
Owens believed Bortner may have played a role in the recent death of his son, Domenic Owens, according to Cruz.
Bortner's body was discovered late Nov. 3 near commuter rail tracks in Bridgewater. Investigators say burns covered 70 percent of her body, and that she had been gagged by her own clothing; a towel wrapped her face and comforter wrapped her body; her hands and feet were bound behind her with an electrical cord wrapped around her neck.
Monday, a New Hampshire couple was charged with misleading investigators after telling police they were with Bortner earlier on Nov. 3, but then allegedly lied about where they were later that day. Authorities announced that Julian and Shannon Squires were charged with accessory after the fact of murder on Tuesday.
Stay with necn and necn.com as this story develops.
