In the late summer of 2017, the life of Jason G. Owens, a 32-year-old male, was abruptly cut short in Greensburg, Indiana. What began as a plan to reclaim property and settle a debt spiraled into a fatal confrontation on August 15, 2017. Owens, along with Rachel Smith, 29, and Matthew Carroll, 36, allegedly concocted a scheme to rob George Griffith, 37. Smith claimed Griffith possessed property belonging to her, while Carroll asserted that Griffith owed him money.
The dispute came to a head at the Vista Village Mobile Home Park, where a confrontation ensued. Owens, armed with a baseball bat, and Carroll, carrying a handgun, approached Griffith. When Griffith ordered them to halt their advance, Owens complied, but Carroll continued to move forward. In response, Griffith fired two shots, one of which struck Owens in the chest. Jason Owens died hours later from the gunshot wound.
Following the shooting, an investigation led to the arrests of Smith and Carroll. They were subsequently charged with murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. The basis for the murder charges, as stated by police, was that their attempt to rob Griffith directly resulted in Owens' death, even though they did not fire the fatal shot. George Griffith admitted to the shooting but maintained that he acted in self-defense. As a convicted felon, Griffith faced a charge of carrying a handgun without a license. He also alleged that Carroll had made threats against him and had assaulted a family member in the days leading up to the deadly encounter. Smith and Carroll were held in the Decatur County Jail, while Griffith was also jailed with his trial set to begin in January of 2018.
