Joe Owens - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Blackout · 08-14-2009, 12:43 AM

remember the old guy who killed his wife Gladys?

do you guys think Joe Owens could have killed people before? why only kill someone in your old age?

Mastermind · 08-14-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

do you guys think Joe Owens could have killed people before? why only kill someone in your old age?

1. Some of the most vicious criminals have been in their 70s and 80s. Murder has no age restriction unfortunately. Even 7 year olds have killed. As long as you have the will and the means, anyone can be a murderer.

2.That being said, I would not be surprised if Joe Owens did this act before to some degree. Perhaps a business partner or girlfriend earlier.

3. I forget this story, but wasn't there an issue of insurance involved here?

UMfan77 · 08-14-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mastermind

3. I forget this story, but wasn't there an issue of insurance involved here?

I don't think so, I think he just wanted to get rid of her. I don't think money was involved at all. But he sure did love his compost box.

TracyLynnS · 08-14-2009, 03:15 PM

Totally not remembering this one. I need to go back and see if there are some threads describing the details.

Seems strange to start your criminal career in murder so late in life.

But I do recall the case of a Maine couple who were each on, like their 6th marriage with each other. (Seems like the wife's name was dotty or dorothy, I can't remember the husband's name.) They looked to be in their sixties.

Anyway, the husband apparently hadn't ever killed before, but for whatever reason, he lost it, murdered his wife, wrapped her in a tarp and buried her in the dirt floor of their basement.

The case has been shown on Forensic Files or a similar program.

Blackout · 08-15-2009, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UMfan77

I don't think so, I think he just wanted to get rid of her. I don't think money was involved at all. But he sure did love his compost box.

yep that case

Apostapler · 08-15-2009, 05:37 AM

No insurance money involved--I can say that with confidence because Joe never wanted Gladys to be found.

DP1 · 08-16-2009, 02:16 AM

What always surprised me about this case was that Joe Owens actually did kill himself in the end. Usually when these guys go on the run and then call someone saying they're going to end their life, it's usually just talk. But he actually did it. I don't think it was out of remorse for his actions. I think he was just scared about the prospect of spending the rest of his life in jail.

justins5256 · 08-16-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DP1

What always surprised me about this case was that Joe Owens actually did kill himself in the end. Usually when these guys go on the run and then call someone saying they're going to end their life, it's usually just talk. But he actually did it. I don't think it was out of remorse for his actions. I think he was just scared about the prospect of spending the rest of his life in jail.

Yeah, I think you're right. I doubt he committed suicide due to any kind of remorse or similar feelings. His wife had been "missing" for a long time when Joe finally took off and killed himself. This also coincided with the police turning up the heat and asking questions about his wife's disappearance. I think that Joe realized the jig was up, he was out of time, so he did himself in.

idol · 08-19-2009, 10:13 AM

For me the Joe Owens case ranks as one of the most compelling. I put it up there with the Wackers..

justins5256 · 08-19-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idol

For me the Joe Owens case ranks as one of the most compelling. I put it up there with the Wackers..

Yeah, it's a good one. I saw it for the first time in reruns on Lifetime. I don't think Lifetime showed it much, but I remember being shocked/surprised at how darn strange the story was.

UMfan77 · 08-19-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justins5256

I don't think Lifetime showed it much, but I remember being shocked/surprised at how darn strange the story was.

For some reason, the picture of Gladys always creeps me out, I almost have to cover my eyes when the picture is shown. Am I weird or what?

Zero · 08-19-2009, 04:01 PM

Yeah there is no real closure to this case I think. Why did he kill her? As RS put it, the two of them led very separate lives. He ignored her and did gardening.... She did her own thing. Teaching piano lessons. It doesn't seem to me like she really got in his way.

Of course the short answer is because he wanted to, but that's not a good enough reason. We have to settle for that, but I'll always wonder why he wanted to kill her in the first place.

DP1 · 08-19-2009, 11:45 PM

Then there was the entire business with the compost box. I suppose when he tricked people into thinking his wife was visiting her mother, it didn't look like a strange thing. But then his wife is missing for weeks and he's going on and on about his compost box. He wasn't exactly being subtle and seemed pretty amused by the whole thing.

Owens too was able to hide his wife's "disappearance" for several weeks, telling that one mother that his wife had gone off to take care of her mother. Cell phones weren't around back then (not counting those giant ones) otherwise that mother probably could have called Gladys herself.

Bit of unintentional humor...the way the investigator says that Joe Owens told people that "he was in love with his compost box" was funny.

DP1 · 08-20-2009, 11:02 PM

Who's Arden Bradshaw?

Zero · 09-11-2009, 11:45 PM

Arden was their nephew.

08-14-2009, 12:43 AM	#1
Blackout Sart Bimpson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 13, 2003 Location: where the sun rises Posts: 2,240	Joe Owens remember the old guy who killed his wife Gladys? do you guys think Joe Owens could have killed people before? why only kill someone in your old age?
	__________________ Destroy your local flock cameras

08-19-2009, 04:01 PM	#12
Zero Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 15, 2003 Posts: 495	Yeah there is no real closure to this case I think. Why did he kill her? As RS put it, the two of them led very separate lives. He ignored her and did gardening.... She did her own thing. Teaching piano lessons. It doesn't seem to me like she really got in his way. Of course the short answer is because he wanted to, but that's not a good enough reason. We have to settle for that, but I'll always wonder why he wanted to kill her in the first place.
	__________________ "Are we ourselves, and do we really know?"

08-19-2009, 11:45 PM	#13
DP1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2004 Posts: 394	Then there was the entire business with the compost box. I suppose when he tricked people into thinking his wife was visiting her mother, it didn't look like a strange thing. But then his wife is missing for weeks and he's going on and on about his compost box. He wasn't exactly being subtle and seemed pretty amused by the whole thing. Owens too was able to hide his wife's "disappearance" for several weeks, telling that one mother that his wife had gone off to take care of her mother. Cell phones weren't around back then (not counting those giant ones) otherwise that mother probably could have called Gladys herself. Bit of unintentional humor...the way the investigator says that Joe Owens told people that "he was in love with his compost box" was funny.
	Last edited by DP1; 01-01-2013 at 02:15 AM.

08-14-2009, 03:15 PM	#4
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	Totally not remembering this one. I need to go back and see if there are some threads describing the details. Seems strange to start your criminal career in murder so late in life. But I do recall the case of a Maine couple who were each on, like their 6th marriage with each other. (Seems like the wife's name was dotty or dorothy, I can't remember the husband's name.) They looked to be in their sixties. Anyway, the husband apparently hadn't ever killed before, but for whatever reason, he lost it, murdered his wife, wrapped her in a tarp and buried her in the dirt floor of their basement. The case has been shown on Forensic Files or a similar program.

08-15-2009, 05:37 AM	#6
Apostapler Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 06, 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 872	No insurance money involved--I can say that with confidence because Joe never wanted Gladys to be found.

08-16-2009, 02:16 AM	#7
DP1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2004 Posts: 394	What always surprised me about this case was that Joe Owens actually did kill himself in the end. Usually when these guys go on the run and then call someone saying they're going to end their life, it's usually just talk. But he actually did it. I don't think it was out of remorse for his actions. I think he was just scared about the prospect of spending the rest of his life in jail.

08-19-2009, 10:13 AM	#9
idol Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 280	For me the Joe Owens case ranks as one of the most compelling. I put it up there with the Wackers..

08-20-2009, 11:02 PM	#14
DP1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2004 Posts: 394	Who's Arden Bradshaw?

09-11-2009, 11:45 PM	#15
Zero Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 15, 2003 Posts: 495	Arden was their nephew.