Frank Crocker (3:06)

213'S Frank Crocker streaming live from the jail tonight. When did this latest search begin, Frank? Earlier today. That's when the crime scene tape went back up and sheriff's detectives went back to work. Investigators have been at 8 Owens Cove Road before looking for clues in this high profile TR cripple murder case.

Narrator/Reporter (3:26)

It is definitely a step in the process of going through and making sure that we've been very methodical in going through what we believe to be the crime scene.

Frank Crocker (3:35)

1.4 acres of heavily wooded property owned by suspect Robert Jason Owens. There were forensic evidence canines, also known as cadaver dogs, being worked back and forth even up onto the porch of the mobile home where Owens lives. It is a tedious job and you.

Narrator/Reporter (3:50)

Line up and you go back and forth through that and search it grid by grid until you make sure that you've overturned pretty much every leaf on the property.

Frank Crocker (4:00)

Evidence recovered weeks ago in a wood stove is what has detectives back out here again.

Narrator/Reporter (4:05)

Of course, what we had sent off earlier has been confirmed as human remains. We can't confirm at this point in time whether or not it's the cods, but of course, you know, with our actions, that's what we believe to be.

Frank Crocker (4:17)

The case and to help cover all the ground. Criminal justice students from Western Carolina University.

Narrator/Reporter (4:23)

They help with crime scenes, they look at processing of evidence, everything from the beginning of a case to the end of the case.

Frank Crocker (4:30)

And their outdoor classroom work included a walk down a roadside near Owen's home. And it might have paid off. They spotted something in a ditch which was then marked and recovered by one of the detectives. It's a cell phone someone likely tossed there. Just another piece of what might wind up being evidence in a triple murder case.

Narrator/Reporter (4:49)

It's very important for us to be able to do and it also provides them with a real world learning opportunity for the students.

Frank Crocker (4:56)

One of the things that makes this real world investigation so complex is its possible tie to the Zeb Quinn missing case from back in 2000. The sheriff confirming that Asheville police, working in concert with his detectives, certainly very interested in what might be uncovered out there during these searches. And we are told that detectives will be back on the scene in Lester to continue the search first thing tomorrow morning. Reporting live in Asheville, Frank Crocker, News 13.

Sarah Reed (5:25)

In April of 2015, a grand jury indicted Robert Jason Owens, at 37 years old on a long list of charges, two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of destroying remains to conceal death, two counts of first degree murder, and one count of murder of an unborn child, seven counts in all. At his first court appearance, News 19 WLTX reported that Judge Julie Keppel told Owens that each charge carried a maximum penalty of either death or life in prison without parole. Speaking through a public defender, Owens asked for a court appealed attorney. His probable cause hearing was scheduled for April 7, 2015, and he was ordered held without bond at the Buncombe County Detention facility. Christy and J.T. codd had first been reported missing by family members that Sunday, but according to arrest warrants, investigators believed that the couple had died several days earlier. On Thursday, Sheriff Van Duncan told reporters that Owens had been doing construction and odd jobs for the Cods through his small business. Investigators were still working to determine a motive, and at the time, Duncan wouldn't say how or where the couple had been killed. When deputies went to cod's home, they found both of the family's vehicles parked outside and their two dogs locked inside. It was Cecilia Owens, a friend of the Cods and oddly, Robert Jason Owens, aunt by marriage, who first went to check on the house. She told News 19 WTLX. As soon as I walked in, I knew something was wrong. She had left the dogs and she never would leave her dogs. Those were her babies. And that line says it all. If you're a dog person, you know, leaving them alone for days, that's just out of the question. And that just wasn't Christy. The smell inside the house was awful. And for Christy, who was meticulous and organized, that was unthinkable. When questioned, Jason Owens actually admitted he was involved, but he called it a terrible accident. He told investigators that Kristi and JT had gotten their trucks stuck in a ditch and somehow he'd run them over instead of calling for help. He said he panicked. Can you imagine hearing that? Accidentally running over both of them with a truck? The district attorney obviously wasn't buying it. Eventually, Owens admitted to much more. Eventually, he would confess to dismembering their bodies and burning them in his wood stove. He admitted to selling their belongings, then staging the break in to throw off investigators. In April of 2017, Owens pleaded guilty to three counts of second degree murder and two counts of dismembering human remains. The DA called it, quote, a sentence of death in prison, end quote. Owens was handed nearly 75 years behind bars. Christy and JT's lives were just beginning and their unborn daughter Skylar never even had the chance to take her first breath. All of it gone at the hands of a neighbor, someone they thought they trusted to the outside world. The case was closed. Owens was in prison. But for investigators in Asheville, his arrest was just the spark they'd been waiting for. Because if Robert Jason Owens could do something this heinous, what else was he capable of? And in the background, Another case, now 15 years old, still unsolved, had never gone away. Zeb Quinn's disappearance. It all started with a tip. Not from a stranger, but from one of Owen's own relatives. They told police that back in the year 2000, right around the time Zeb Quinn vanished, Owens had dug a large pit on his property. Later, he poured concrete over it, claiming he was building a fish pond. But the pond was never finished, and the concrete was eventually covered back over with dirt. And with that information, on March 31, 2015, just 11 days after a suspicious fire burned part of Owens property, investigators came back with a search warrant. And this time with shovels.

Andrea (Co-producer of Sequestered) (10:54)

Fall always feels like a reset. New schedules, new routines, maybe even a new backpack. So why not start fresh with your phone plan, too? That's why I switched to Mint Mobile. Hey guys, I'm Andrea, co producer of Sequestered. We just wrapped a 40 day road trip through the mountains, down to the ocean and back. And Mint Mobile kept me connected the entire way. Instead of stressing over surprise charges every time I pulled up a map, streamed a podcast, or shared photos from the road. Mint made it easy. Same speed and reliability I had with my old provider, but for way less money. And right now, Mint mobile is offering three months of unlimited premium wireless service for just 15 bucks a month. Say goodbye to jaw dropping bills and overages. All plans come with high speed data, unlimited talk and text, and they run on the nation's largest 5G network. Plus, you keep your own phone and your number, just like I did. I use Mint Mobile and you should, too. It's been the easiest switch and the savings are huge. Start this season with a reset that actually saves you money. Get this new customer offer and your three month unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month@mintmobile.com sequestered. That's mintmobile.com sequestered upfront payment of $45 required, equivalent to $15 a month limited time. New customer offer for first three months only. Speeds may slow above 35 GB on unlimited plan. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.

Narrator/Reporter (12:40)

Let's map out this week's amazing destinations and travel tips.

Andrea (Co-producer of Sequestered) (12:44)

Honestly will, I didn't plan any trips but I did switch to T Mobile with their new family Freedom offer.

Narrator/Reporter (12:52)

That's not the itinerary we're following.

Andrea (Co-producer of Sequestered) (12:55)

Well, I'm departing from AT&T and embarking on a new journey with T Mobile. They paid off my family's four phones up to $3200 and gave us four new phones on the house.

Narrator/Reporter (13:08)

Bon voyage.

T-Mobile Advertiser (13:10)

Introducing Family Freedom. Our lowest cost will switch our biggest family savings all on America's largest 5G network. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com FamilyFreedom up to $800 per line via virtual prepaid card typically takes 15 days. Free phones via 24 monthly bill credits with finance agreement eg Apple iPhone16128Gigabyte8 2999 Eligible trade in eg iPhone11 Pro for well qualified credits end and balance due if you pay off early or cancel contact T Mobile.

Sarah Reed (13:41)

For the first time in years, the disappearance of 18 year old Zeb Quinn was back in the headlines. The man who had been the last to see him alive was now a convicted killer. And when detectives returned to Owen's residence In March of 2015, they were ready to dig not just into the ground, but into the truth. That week, ABC News 13 shared this story.

Narrator/Reporter (14:11)

We were able to complete recover what we think are human remains. Part of those were recovered from a wood stove at that residence.

Frank Crocker (14:21)

New information in the case of a.

Narrator/Reporter (14:23)

Contractor accused of killing a Lester couple.

Frank Crocker (14:26)

And their unborn child.

Sarah Reed (14:27)

And we're learning more about an overnight fire on the suspect's property and how the building that burned relates to the case.

Narrator/Reporter (14:34)

Well, a lot of new details in.

Frank Crocker (14:36)

A case that has drawn national attention.

Narrator/Reporter (14:38)

We have team coverage of today's developments.

Sarah Reed (14:40)

News 13's John Lee is streaming live in Leicester. We're going to begin with him. John. What new details were revealed today about how they identified their suspect?

Narrator/Reporter (14:49)

Well, those compelling facts in the search warrants handed out at this news conference today. We're told that hours after the family first contacted the sheriff's department wondering about the missing couple at that time, well, we're told that the suspect was was behaving quite suspiciously. The search for Christy and JT Khan eventually led to their neighbor and contractor at a news conference. Sheriff Van Duncan saying Sunday night Robert Jason Owens was seen trashing their belongings in Candler. They identified that someone had come out and in a very suspicious way had left things in a dumpster there at Donna Drive. We responded and at that point in Time we were able to locate items which we knew belonged to Christy Schoenkop. They did find Christy Schoen's ID in that dumpster and several other items that came from the house. Owens eventually charged with three murders. According to friends, Christy, the former Food Network reality show contestant, was five months pregnant. Authorities released a stack of search warrants and including details from an interview with the suspect's wife. She did and what is contained in the search warrant, make the statement that he said that he had killed J.T. cobb and had struck him with a vehicle. The sheriff says still unidentified remains were found in Owen's wood stove. He did admit to taking the bodies storing on his property and destroying. Destroying. He. He did admit to that during his interview and the remains sent away for forensics.

Sarah Reed (16:30)

According to the search warrant, investigators seized fabric, leather, materials, unknown hard fragments, a white powdery substance, metal, and chunks of concrete. On paper, those items sound like they could be linked to a human body. But police never released the test results. And if this was Zeb, they weren't sang. Investigators also uncovered numerous plastic bags filled with what they described as possibly pulverized lime or powdered mortar mix. That detail raised a chilling question. Was someone trying to break down human remains? Neighbors remembered the search vividly. Crews were on site for several days. Large tarps spread across the yard to conceal where digging was underway. Officers moved slowly and carefully, working one section at a time. Buckets of earth were carried away for testing. Heavy machinery rattled in the background while crime scene tape stuck sealed off the entire property. In public, detectives were cautious. They refused to confirm what they were finding. But behind the scenes, they were working every angle, re interviewing witnesses, following up on old tips, and circling back to alibis that had never quite added up. The dig didn't end with the kind of revelation many hoped for. No body was announced. No charges were filed in Zeb's case. But the timing. Just days after the suspicious fire that burned part of Owens property left investigators convinced there was more to uncover. And though the headlines soon faded on the COD murders, the renewed attention on Jason Owens kept the spotlight on Zeb's clothes case. Because if nothing was found, what had Owens been trying so hard to hide in the first place?

Andrea (Co-producer of Sequestered) (18:45)

And it was really Jason who said.

Sarah Reed (18:47)

To us, you know, I'm here in.

Andrea (Co-producer of Sequestered) (18:50)

Jail and I trust you guys, and I want to tell you what happened. I want to tell somebody what happened to Zeb Quinn. And his reason for doing that was not to get himself a deal, okay? He knew that he was in very serious trouble. He told us that he wanted Zeb's.

Sarah Reed (19:06)

Mother to know what happened.

Narrator/Reporter (19:09)

I've had a lot of anger and hatred towards you guys. I know you have, and I'm trying to change about that. I want to help you guys, I do. I honestly, this has destroyed my life. I just. I've got to get it off my chest and get it. Get the truth out there, get. Get it through some resolve for his family.

Sarah Reed (19:29)

Owens never gave a straightforward confession to killing Zeb Quinn. Instead, he offered shifting blame. He claimed he'd been ordered by another man to follow Zeb that night. A man who, according to Owens, later killed him. Here is Jason Owens in his own words from WLOS's. The good kid.

Narrator/Reporter (19:54)

Gene got out first, went to the back of his truck. I got out of my truck and walked around back. To the back of your truck, to the back of Jean's truck. And then Zeb got out of the car and walked beside the passenger side on Stu. So Zeb comes around towards you guys there? Yes. And then what? Well, when I asked, and when I asked Gene where M was that, he said she'd be there in a few minutes. And I guess Deb was thinking too that she was down that trail. And he turned, looking down the trail and at that time Gene reached in the back of the pickup truck, brought out a.22 Ralph one, shot him in the back of the head.

Sarah Reed (20:32)

By the time Owens made this claim in 2022, the man he accused, Walter Eugene Owens, his uncle Gene, was already dead. Prosecutors weighed the story, but with limited physical evidence, Owens first degree murder charge was reduced to accessory after the fact. It was a compromise Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams said was necessary to secure any legal acknowledgment that Zeb Quinn had been murdered. But this wasn't the first time Owens had pointed the finger at his Uncle Gene. Not long after the COD murders, years before his plea deal, Owens sent a handwritten letter to two of his neighbors, Stacey and Amy. Part note of gratitude, part personal update and part warning. Here's what the note read.

Narrator/Reporter (21:30)

Hi, neighbors. I hope this letter finds you all doing well. It's been almost a year since I've been home, but I haven't forgotten about my wonderful neighbors. Samantha has kept me well informed on how you guys have helped her so much during this tragedy. You have no idea how much that means to me. Just knowing Samantha and our two girls have your help and support has greatly reduced my worries for them.

Sarah Reed (22:04)

Owens insists he didn't murder anyone, writing that he has the best Attorneys he could ask for. Then his tone shifts.

Narrator/Reporter (22:15)

As you all know, somebody burned down the double wide. And that somebody was my Uncle Jean. No doubt he burned it to send me a warning because I'm safe from him in here. I have lived in fear of him since January 2000 because of what I witnessed him doing. If you guys see him or anything odd around the place, please call the cops. And Samantha.

Sarah Reed (22:42)

It'S the same accusation he would repeat years later in open court, that Gene Owens had pulled the trigger and killed Zeb. In July of 2017, more than 17 years after Zeb Quinn disappeared, Robert Jason Owens was formally charged with first degree murder in his case. It was the moment Zeb's family had fought for. But court delays, Covid shutdowns and changes in personnel would push the trial further and further away. By the time Owens was finally back in court in the year 2022, prosecutors faced a hard reality. It's been 22 years. There's still no body. And the physical evidence wasn't strong enough to guarantee a conviction. The DA called the plea to accessory after the fact a way to legally establish that Zeb Quinn was murdered and to give the family some measure of closure. End quote. Owens took the deal 12 to 15 years to run alongside his decades long sentence for the COD murders. It was not justice in full, but it was something. Back In March of 2015, after Owens arrest in the COD case, Zeb's mother, now Denise Vlahakis, had released a public statement. She reminded the community, Jason's arrest has.

Andrea (Co-producer of Sequestered) (24:16)

Nothing to do with Zeb's case.

Sarah Reed (24:18)

We hope that if anyone has information concerning Zeb's whereabouts or disappearance, they will now come forward. Those words were more than a plea. They were a reminder. Even in the wake of another tragedy, her son's case could not be forgotten. In 2022, standing in court, Denise faced the man who had been tied to her son's last moments for more than two decades. She told Owens that while the plea deal left many questions unanswered, she hoped it would weigh on his conscience and that maybe one day he would finally reveal where her son is. For the first time, the justice system finally recognized what Zeb's family had known all along. Zeb Quinn had been murdered. But the plea left haunting questions. Was Owens telling the truth about his uncle Gene? If so, where's Zeb's body? And what really happened on that January night in 2000? For more than two decades, the answers have remained just out of reach. Fragments buried in lies, fear and silence. Zeb quinn was only 18 years old. He was a son, a brother, a friend. He was a young man with dreams ahead of him. And on a cold January night, someone took that away. Even with Owens legal conviction, the truth is incomplete. The details of Zeb's final moments and the place where he rests are still unknown. For Zeb's family, that's got to be the hardest part. They have no grave site to visit, no formal place to say goodbye. But there is something they have the certainty now recognized in a court of law, that Zeb was murdered. And as tragic as that, is the hope that someone, somewhere, still holds the missing piece that answers their questions.

Narrator/Reporter (26:49)

Foreign let's map out this week's amazing destinations and travel tips.

Andrea (Co-producer of Sequestered) (26:56)

Honestly, Will, I didn't plan any trips, but I did switch to T Mobile with their new Family Freedom offer.

Narrator/Reporter (27:04)

That's not the itinerary we're following.

Andrea (Co-producer of Sequestered) (27:07)

Well, I'm departing from AT&T and embarking on a new journey with T Mobile. They paid off my family's four phones up to $3200 and gave us four new phones on the house.

Narrator/Reporter (27:20)

Bon voyage.

T-Mobile Advertiser (27:22)

Introducing Family Freedom. Our lowest cost will switch our biggest family savings all on America's largest 5G network. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com FamilyFreedom up to $800 per line via virtual prepaid card typically takes 15 days. Free phones via 24 monthly bill credits with finance agreement eg Apple iPhone 16128 gigabyte $829.99 Eligible trade in eg iPhone 11 Pro for well qualified credits. End and balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel contact T Mobile.

Narrator/Reporter (27:47)

Step into the world of power, loyalty, luck. I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse. With family. Cannolis and spins mean everything. Now you want to get mixed up in the family business. Introducing the godfather@champacasino.com test your luck in the shadowy world of the Godfather slots.

Frank Crocker (28:07)

Someday I will call upon you to.

Narrator/Reporter (28:09)

Do a service for me. Play the Godfather now@Champacasino.com Welcome to the family. No purchase necessary. VGW Group void. We're prohibited by law. 21 + terms and conditions apply.

Sarah Reed (28:21)

Robert Jason Owens story, the one he told investigators and the one he repeated in court, is only one version of what might have happened to Zeb Quinn. And over the decades, others have surfaced. One of the earliest and most persistent theories was the love triangle involving Zeb, Misty Taylor and Misty's boyfriend, Wesley Smith, who police records show had A history of domestic violence, charges from prior relationships. Investigators told WLOS News 13 that they looked closely at whether jealousy could have played a role in Zeb's disappearance. Some in Zeb's circle believe Wesley may have confronted him. Owens knew both Zeb and Misty, and some theorized he may have been asked, were pressured to lure Zeb out that night. From there, the versions split. One scenario suggests Wesley himself confronted Zeb with Owens as backup. Another, closer to what Owens would later claim, is that a third party was brought in to handle the problem. What we do know is that Misty has never been charged in connection with the case. And in past interviews, she has denied knowing anything about where Zeb went that night. Another theory is less about a planned hit and more about a confrontation that could have spiraled out of control. Owens told police he and Zeb pulled over that night after Zeb got a page. Supposedly, Zeb rear ended him, apologized, and then drove off. It's a version of events investigators said they do not believe. But still, let's tease it out. Let's assume the page came from Misty. We know Zeb was eager to hear back from her after their long New Year's Eve phone conversation. If he thought he was going to meet her and Wesley showed up instead, tensions could have escalated fast. A fight turns physical, Zeb is injured or worse, and those present decide to cover it up. This version could explain why, two weeks later, Zeb's car was found abandoned in that parking lot with the puppy inside, the mysterious hotel key card, and the lips painted on the back window. Detectives have suggested some of those details may have been staged to mislead the investigation. There's also the possibility that the love triangle wasn't the central motive at all, that it was just a convenient cover for something else. Did Zeb know something he wasn't supposed to? Was he caught in the middle of a situation that had nothing to do with Misty or Westley, but was dangerous enough that someone wanted him gone. Some in the community have wondered if the love triangle theory gained traction simply because it was easy to understand. Jealousy is a motive to people recognize, but the truth is always more complicated. What we know for certain is Robert Jason Owens is legally tied to covering up Zeb Quinn's murder. Whether his version of events is the truth, whether his Uncle Gene pulled the trigger, or whether the real story is something entirely different remains unanswered. And unless someone comes forward, those answers and Zeb's body will remain hidden. For more than 20 years, Zeb's family has carried a grief made heavier by uncertainty. I honestly cannot imagine losing a loved one and never really having definitive proof of what happened to them. This case captured our hearts. Zeb Quinn was such a kind young man. He was just starting his life. He deserved better. If you know anything about the disappearance and murder of Zeb Wayne Quinn, please contact the Asheville Police Department at 828-252-1110 or your local law enforcement office. To see photos and source content on this case, go to sequesteredpod.com and if you want a deeper dive on the Zebb Quinn case, check out WLOS News 13's documentary and podcast, the Good Kid. We've linked it on our website. Please rate and review Sequestered wherever you listen. And remember, you can get ad free and bonus episodes early. As a subscriber on Apple Podcasts, I'm Sarah Reed. Thanks for listening.