Greensburg, in. — Greensburg police believe a confrontation over property and money resulted in the August 15 shooting death of Jason Owens, 32, of Greensburg. Rachel Smith, 29, and Matthew Carroll, 36, both of Greensburg, have been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
Police say Owens, Smith and Carroll developed a plan to rob George Griffith, 37, to get property Smith said belonged to her and money Carroll said Griffith owed him.
Court documents say during a confrontation at the Vista Village Mobile Home Park Owens, with a baseball bat and Carroll with a handgun approached Griffith. When Griffith ordered the two to stop advancing Owens stopped but Carroll continued to approach Griffith. Griffith fired two shots, one struck Owens in chest. Owens died hours later.
Griffith has admitted to the shooting and has claimed self-defense. Griffith, a convicted felon, has been charged with carrying a handgun without a license. Griffith also told police Carroll made threats to him and beat a family member days prior to the incident.
Police say even though Smith and Carroll did not directly commit the murder, their attempt to rob Griffith resulted in the death of Owens.
Smith and Carroll are being held in the Decatur County Jail. Griffith remains in jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond for his charges. That trial will begin in January of 2018.
