BREAKING: The chilling murder of 14-year-old Karen Slattery continues to reverberate through Boca Raton, Florida as new developments in the case unfold. In a harrowing incident that took place in May 1984, Slattery was brutally killed while babysitting, leaving her family and the community in shock.
Just after 10:00 PM on that fateful night, Slattery made a call to her mother, unaware that a predator was lurking nearby. Duane Owen, the man responsible for this horrific act, broke into the home, attacking Slattery in the kitchen. By 12:30 AM, her lifeless body was discovered, having suffered 18 stab wounds after being raped. Fortunately, the two young children she was watching, aged three and seven, were unharmed.
Owen’s heinous actions did not end there. Just two months later, he murdered 38-year-old Georgianna Worden in a similar fashion, attacking her with a hammer while she slept. Disturbingly, Worden’s daughter found her mother’s body the next morning. Owen was apprehended, and a fingerprint found at the scene linked him directly to the crime.
As the legal battle continued, Owen’s claims of insanity and a troubled childhood were met with skepticism by juries. Despite his defense team’s efforts, including renowned attorneys, he was sentenced to death in 1986 for both murders. His repeated appeals over the decades have drawn public attention, particularly after a Florida Supreme Court ruling on death sentences that did not originate from a unanimous jury recommendation.
The community remains on edge as Owen’s legal saga unfolds, with his most recent appeal making headlines in 2017. In light of his disturbing past, residents are left questioning how someone could commit such violent acts and evade justice for so long.
The emotional toll on the families of Slattery and Worden is profound, with their loved ones’ lives irrevocably changed by these brutal crimes. Many in Boca Raton are calling for justice and closure, hoping that Owen’s appeals will finally come to an end.
As this case continues to develop, authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any new information related to Owen’s past or other unsolved cases in the area. The legacy of Karen Slattery and Georgianna Worden serves as a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need for justice in the face of such horrific violence.
Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds, and share your thoughts on social media to help keep the conversation alive.
