Nathan Owen, a 31-year-old White male from Hayward, California, was in St. Louis, Missouri in late July of 2018. In the early hours of July 30th, he found himself at the Lumiere Place Casino, where he spent a long night gambling. After cashing out approximately $400, he left the casino with two men. This decision would tragically be his last. A few days after his arrival in the city, his trip took a fatal turn.
Later that morning, at around 5:23 a.m., the city's ShotSpotter system
detected gunfire in a north St. Louis neighborhood. Police were dispatched to the 4400 block of Athlone Avenue in the O'Fallon Park neighborhood where they made a grim discovery. Nathan Owen's body was found, stripped down to his underwear and socks. He had been shot multiple times, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. The investigation into his death began, with homicide detectives taking the lead.
The investigation progressed as authorities reviewed surveillance footage from the casino and a gas station, which, combined with cell phone records, connected two suspects to Owen. These men were identified as James T. Kinworthy and Laron L. Harris. The evidence suggested that after leaving the casino with Owen, they drove him to the north city location where he was ultimately killed.
Following the investigation, both James T. Kinworthy and Laron L. Harris were arrested and charged in connection with Nathan Owen's death. The charges brought against them included first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and kidnapping. Both men were subsequently jailed and held without bond as they awaited legal proceedings.
