‘Food Network Star’ Murder Suspect Says He Destroyed Bodies

The remains of Cristie Schoen-Codd and Joseph “JT” Codd were found in a stove belonging to Robert Jason Owens, according to search warrants

Cristie Schoen Codd/Food Network

The suspect in the deaths of “Food Network Star” contestant Cristie Schoen-Codd and her husband, Joseph “JT” Codd, told police that he stored and destroyed the bodies of his victims, according to search warrants released on Friday.

Robert Jason Owens — who lived in the same city of Leicester, North Carolina, as the couple — was charged with two counts of first degree murder, one count of murder of an unborn child, breaking and entering and larceny on Tuesday. They had married in September and Schoen-Codd, 38, was five months pregnant with their first child.

Human remains believed to be those of the couple were found in a wood stove on property belonging to Owens, reported WLOS.

Owens admitted to his own wife that he was driving a car that belonged to the victims and admitted to hitting and killing JT Codd, according to homicide detectives. However, the search documents show no indication of how Crista was killed.

Asheville Citizen-Times‎
Asheville Citizen-Times‎

A celebrity chef and caterer, Cristie Schoen had been a finalist on Season 8 of the Food Network competition series. JT Codd, 45, worked as a grip in the film industry, handling cameras and other equipment on projects including HBO’s “Carnivale.” A neighbor said the couple had only recently moved to Leicester from California.

Investigators believe that the couple was killed on Mar. 12, but they were not reported missing until Mar. 15. Their vehicles were still at their home, as were their two dogs.

Sheriff Van Duncan said that Cristie’s ID and other personal items were found in a dumpster. A witness also saw Owens putting large garbage bags into a dumpster on Sunday around 8:30 p.m.

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