Derek Deon Owens, 29, was set to appear in court today on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of 25-year-old Laura K. Coltrane of Humboldt.
Owens, who lived in Olathe, was arrested by police as officers discovered Coltrane’s body at an apartment Friday afternoon.
Olathe police responded to a call on a medical emergency. Coltrane was declared dead at the scene. Owens, whose address listed on his booking information is in the same block, was arrested at the same time the body was found.
Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Erickson told the Kansas City Star that because a warrant was issued against Owens and a bond was set, at $500,000, he was considered to be officially charged with the crime.
Owens, who has lived in Allen County off an on, has an extensive criminal history.
He was convicted in 2000 in Allen County on a felony charge of aggravated assault and in 2004 in Labette County for the sale of marijuana.
He also was convicted as a juvenile in Allen County for criminal possession of a firearm in 1995 and criminal damage to property and battery in 1997. He was convicted as a juvenile for battery in Crawford County as well in 1997.
In all, Owens was convicted two other times as an adult for battery, four times for disorderly conduct (most recently in April 2009 in Humboldt), once for possessing marijuana, and once for obstruction of justice.
IN MAY, Owens was arrested by Iola police and charged by former Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway with rape, criminal sodomy and aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The charges were dismissed “without prejudice” in January, which meant that prosecutors still had the right to refile charges if more evidence became available.
