OLATHE — Derek Deon Owens, 33, was sentenced Thursday to more than 70 years in prison for the murder of Laura K. Coltrane, formerly of Humboldt. Owens had been convicted of beating and strangling Coltrane, who had obtained a protection order against him.
Specifically, Owens was found guilty by a jury of second-degree murder, rape, aggravated sodomy and three counts of violating a protection order.
Coltrane, 25, died on the afternoon of Feb. 8, 2011, at her Olathe apartment.
Records showed Owens also had raped and beaten Coltrane the previous month, shortly after being released from jail for domestic violence. While in jail, Owens made 225 phone calls to Coltrane and threatened her.
Owens has an extensive criminal record in Allen County and elsewhere in southeast Kansas, as a juvenile and adult.
Coltrane was a radiological technologist.
Coltrane graduated from Humboldt High School in 2003 with a 4.0 grade point average. She earned an associate degree from Allen Community College and then completed the radiology technologist program at Labette Community College, Parsons. She was employed by College Park Family Clinics in Kansas City.
