Inmate dies after beating at Graceville CI

The Florida Department of Corrections said that an active investigation is underway into what has been reported in local media as the beating death of an inmate at Graceville Corrections Institution.

"The victim passed away this morning," said Gretl Plessinger of the Office of Public Affairs of the Department of Corrections. "His name is Jason Owens.  We have a person of interest but no suspect yet."

Jason Jerry Owens, 31, was adjudicated guilty of being principal to lewd and lacivious sexual assault on a victim under the age of 16 stemming from an incident on May 1, 1997 and was sentenced to 2 years and six months in state prison.

Owens later accumulated an extensive criminal record in Pasco County, being adjudicated guilty on nine various burglary charges and possession of controlled substance from an incident on April 3, 2002. He was scheduled to be released on April 4, 2017 after a 15-year prison sentence.

The St. Petersburg Times reported on April 6, 2002 that Owens was arrested after what appeared to be a burglary spree through New Port Richey while he was trying to break into cars. Deputies reported that Owens earlier donned latex gloves to burglarize jewelry from a home while a family slept, and used a screwdriver to break into a home and take jewelry and cash.

Owens broke into another home and took batteries, informing a resident that, “I’m a burglar,” and broke into three vehicles and stole tools and cigarettes.