UPDATED: Woman severely beaten, stabbed before being shot by grandson, police say

Jeremy Owens was captured by police after a short standoff Wednesday. He is accused of killing his grandmother.

Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies say 32-year-old Jeremy Owens shot his grandmother, Bernice Champlin in the head in addition to stabbing and beating her during an argument at her home on Queen Road in Lily Wednesday.

Laurel County Sheriff’s Public Affairs Officer Gilbert Acciardo said an autopsy completed Thursday revealed that Champlin had been shot once in the head. She was stabbed at least once in the body, though investigators are not releasing how many times.

In addition, she has been beaten in the face. Acciardo said it appears the weapon used in the beating were fists.

While investigators know how Champlin was killed, Acciardo said they are still searching for a motive.

In an interview with detectives following his arrest, Owens stated that he had gotten into an argument with his grandmother that turned physical.

"We still don’t know what the argument was about," Acciardo said.

Owens was arrested at Champlin’s home Wednesday afternoon following a short standoff with deputies who responded to a complaint of a shooting.

According to Sheriff John Root, deputies were called to the home off of Slate Ridge Road about 4:45 p.m. to investigate a disturbance complaint.

"While they responded to the scene the call was upgraded to a shooting at the residence," Root stated.

Upon arrival, deputies spoke with Jeremy Owens’ brother, Josh, who told them that Jeremy Owens had shot Champlin, and that he was still inside and armed with a pistol.

Acciardo said the gun was a .38-caliber revolver. However, he did not have any information on whom the gun belongs to or how Jeremy Owens had gotten hold of it.

When deputies announced their presence, Root stated that Jeremy Owens barricaded himself inside and refused to come out.

"He (Owens) told the deputies, ‘You will have to come in and get me,’" Acciardo reported.

After several minutes of conversation with Jeremy Owens, Root stated he was able to convince him to surrender to authorities.
In an interview with detectives, Root stated that Jeremy Owens had gotten into a verbal argument with Champlin that turned physical.

Though Acciardo did not know what had caused the argument, he said Jeremy Owens lived across the street and was frequently at Champlin’s home.

Deputies found Champlin’s body in the hallway of the home. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Jeremy Owens was charged with murder and is being held in the Laurel County Detention Center on a $250,000 cash bond.

He is scheduled to be arraigned today (Friday) in Laurel District Court.

Laurel County Sheriff’s Detective Billy Madden is continuing the investigation.