Marshall man sentenced to life in prison for 2016 murders

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(AP) – A central Missouri man has been sentenced to life in
prison for the deaths of two Saline County residents.Fifty-nine-year-old Donald Owens, of Marshall, was sentenced Monday after he
pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed
criminal action and first-degree burglary. He was sentenced to life on both
murder counts, plus 25 years for both counts of armed criminal action.

Owens shot and killed 35-year-old Ryan Sanders in Slater and 83-year-old
Bonnie Charlene Hupp in Saline County in June 2016.

The Sedalia Democrat reports Sanders was married to Hupp’s granddaughter.

Court records say Owens said he killed Sanders to protect a family member
involved in legal proceedings against Sanders. He said he killed Hupp because he
believed she was responsible for his divorce.

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