Do you know who murdered 64 year old Benjamin Owens? In the early morning hours of February 26, 1998, the life of 64-year-old Benjamin Owens was tragically cut short in a robbery at a Chesapeake, Virginia, gas station. Owens, a male retiree who had taken on a part-time overnight shift at a Texaco Mart to stay active, was working when at least two armed individuals entered the store at approximately 1:30 a.m.
In a final act of courage, Owens reportedly instructed a co-worker to hide, potentially saving their life.
During the commission of the robbery, Owens was shot multiple times. The assailants fled the scene, making off with less than twenty dollars. Despite the small amount of money taken, a life was extinguished, leaving a family and community in mourning. The getaway car was possibly a blue Chevrolet Cavalier carrying several other people.
In the years that followed, the investigation into Benjamin Owens' murder would encounter both glimmers of hope and frustrating setbacks. In 2000, a suspect was indicted on capital murder charges in connection with the case. However, the prosecution's key witness later recanted their testimony, leading to the dismissal of the charges and leaving the case unresolved.
Decades later, the murder of Benjamin Owens remains a cold case. Law enforcement officials believe that there are individuals in the community who hold information that could be crucial to solving the crime. They have periodically re-appealed to the public for any new leads, hoping that the passage of time may encourage someone to come forward with the information needed to finally bring justice to Benjamin Owens and his family. The case serves as a somber reminder of a life taken too soon and a crime that continues to haunt the Chesapeake community.
