Estranged Husband Arraigned on Murder Charge in Franklin Friday Killing

An East Bridgewater man was ordered held without bail after entering not guilty pleas in Wrentham District Court late Friday afternoon, December 17, 2021 to charges that he murdered his former wife, assaulted his former mother-in-law, and set fire to the Franklin home they shared on Friday morning, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey.

Wrentham District Court Judge Scott Peterson ordered Brendon Owen, 47, held without bail and to return to court on January 19, 2022 for a probable cause hearing, District Attorney Morrissey said.

District Attorney Morrissey and Franklin Police Chief Thomas J. Lynch briefly addressed members of the press gathered outside the Franklin Police Department building shortly before 1 p.m. According to the timeline they laid out, Franklin Police had received a 911 call at approximately 7:40 a.m. from a Grace Lane resident reporting an ongoing domestic assault at the residence of their neighbor Shirley Owen. Police arrived within 5 minutes and observed Mr. Owen inside the home. He ignored commands to open the door to police and instead exited the home through another door.

Police encountered him in the area of the garage and driveway, deploying a Taser to bring him into custody. Officers entering the building after he was under control were met by substantial smoke and fire inside the building, but were able to evacuate Shirley Owen, who was found between the garage area and the home itself, outside. She showed obvious signs of major traumatic injury and was unresponsive when FPD began first aid and life support measures. She was pronounced dead at the scene after the arrival of ambulance and fire personnel.

Police blocked off not only Grace Lane but South Street as well for a period of hours. The area swarmed with responders, including units from Mendon and 6-8 unmarked law enforcement vehicles, presumably from one of the agencies involved.

In court, Brendon Owen was represented by Attorney Neil Madden. He pled not guilty to murder home invasion, kidnapping, arson of a dwelling house, and assault and battery causing serious bodily injury. According to a source with knowledge of the scene, the victim’s mother, who lived at the home, escaped from the home and alerted police to her daughter being still in the home. She was reportedly treated at a local hospital for injuries and may have been held in some kind of restraint prior to her escape, the source said.

Two children resided in that home. According to reporters who spoke with neighbors, the children were at or on their way to school at the time of the incidents.

Officials have indicated that they are safe tonight. Chief Lynch said he had been in touch with the Superintendent of Schools early on Friday to be sure the children were taken care of.

The Office of the Fire Marshal is also involved in the investigation of the origin of the fire, District Attorney Morrissey said. Morrissey also said preliminary reports indicated the home was likely a total loss. Video shot by a neighbor and later broadcast on area television stations shows flames coming out of many points on the structure and billowing black smoke.

At the press conference, Lynch said the address had become familiar to the police department over the last several years. There was an active restraining order at the residence and a pending hearing on a restraining order violation, Lynch said.

It’s been 24 years since the last time someone was charged with murder in Franklin, Morrissey said. And Lynch echoed the point that Franklin remains a safe community. However, a killing last October, for which formal murder charges were never filed and where the person of interest was recently himself killed in Worcester, was not counted in that calculation.

Fire Department scanner commentary indicated that Brendon Owen was seen pouring a liquid, presumed to be gasoline, on the property, prior to his arrest. Statements were also made on scanner traffic regarding the possibility of explosives on the site but nothing in subsequent official statements gives any credence to that speculation.

The home, on just over an acre of land, was built in 2013 and seems to have only been owned by the deceased, through the Shirley B. Owen living trust.

As reporters waited for the press conference to begin later on Friday morning, a Palumbo Towing flatbed arrived at the police station with a silver Toyota RAV4 with a broken side window. The vehicle is reported to be registered to an Ann Owen, and was unloaded at the police lot.

In stark contrast to the events for which the media was gathered Friday morning, a number of Franklin residents arrived at the police station, making their way past a phalanx of reporters, with bags bulging with wrapped Christmas presents they were donating at the Police Station.

Also arriving at about the same time was an SUV with a New Hampshire vanity plate that made it clear the operator was a defense attorney. A reporter approached and asked if he was there to defend the suspect in the Grace Lane murder and he replied sharply, “I wouldn’t represent that piece of ____.”

Below, an image of 11 Grace Lane from the Assessor's propety database.