Robert Jason Owens: The Convicted Killer At The Center Of Two North Carolina Murders
Who is Robert Jason Owens? The name might ring a bell for fans of early-2010s reality television, but it is now infamously synonymous with a brutal double homicide and a lingering missing-person case that continues to haunt North Carolina. Robert Jason Owens, a former contestant on the Food Network, transformed from a hopeful culinary entrepreneur into a convicted murderer, leaving a trail of tragedy that includes the deaths of a pregnant woman and her unborn child, and the unresolved disappearance of a young man. His story is a chilling descent from fleeting public fame into the depths of violent crime, raising profound questions about justice, investigation, and the lives shattered in his wake. This comprehensive examination delves into the facts, the legal proceedings, and the enduring mysteries surrounding Robert Jason Owens.
Biography and Background of Robert Jason Owens
Before his name appeared in police blotters and court documents, Robert Jason Owens cultivated a public persona as an aspiring chef and caterer with ambitions of culinary stardom. Little is publicly known about his early life, but records and reports indicate he built a life in western North Carolina, operating a catering business and seeking his big break on national television. His appearance on Season 8 of the Food Network's "Food Network Star" in 2012 placed him briefly in the spotlight, where contestants compete for their own cooking show. Owens presented himself as a passionate chef with a personal story, though details about his performance on the show are sparse in the wake of his subsequent crimes.
The stark contrast between his televised aspirations and his later actions forms a disturbing backdrop to his criminal history. Following his time on the show, Owens continued his catering work, even reportedly providing catering services on film sets, according to station reports. This period of apparent normalcy and creative pursuit stands in grim juxtaposition to the violence that would soon unfold, underscoring how individuals can lead double lives, hiding monstrous intentions behind a facade of ordinary ambition.
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| Personal Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robert Jason Owens |
| Known Aliases | None widely reported |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Place of Residence | Asheville, North Carolina area |
| Occupation | Caterer; Former "Food Network Star" Contestant (Season 8) |
| Known For | Convicted murderer; Central figure in two homicide/missing person cases |
| Confirmed Crimes | First-degree murder of Christie Codd and her unborn daughter, Skylar (2015) |
| Pending Charges | Murder charge in connection with the 2007 disappearance of Zebb Quinn (indicted, not yet tried) |
| Current Legal Status | Serving life imprisonment for the Codd murders; awaiting trial in the Quinn case |
| Incarceration | North Carolina state prison system |
From Reality TV Aspirant to Accused Murderer: The Food Network Star Connection
Robert Jason Owens' participation in "Food Network Star" Season 8 is a pivotal and surreal chapter in his biography. The show, known for launching careers like those of Guy Fieri and Amy Finley, pits aspiring chef-hosts against each other in weekly culinary challenges. Owens' inclusion on the program provided him with a national platform, however brief, and painted a picture of a man dedicated to his craft. Reports suggest he was eliminated from the competition, but the experience did not diminish his local catering business.
This phase of Owens' life is critical because it highlights the dissonance between public perception and private reality. To viewers and local clients, he was a chef chasing a dream. To investigators, this period would later become part of a timeline leading to murder. The skills and mobility associated with his catering work—travel, access to various locations, a understanding of schedules—would, in retrospect, take on a sinister significance in the context of the crimes he would commit. It serves as a stark reminder that not all predators fit a stereotypical mold; some operate within the fabric of everyday community life, their darkness concealed behind a veneer of normalcy and ambition.
The Brutal Murder of Christie Codd and Unborn Daughter Skylar
The first confirmed and convicted atrocity in Robert Jason Owens' criminal portfolio is the 2015 murder of Christie Codd and her unborn daughter, Skylar. This case is not merely a homicide; it is the annihilation of a mother and her child, a crime that shocked the Asheville community and resulted in Owens' life sentence.
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The Relationship and Events Leading to the Crime
Christie Codd was pregnant with Owens' child. Their relationship, while producing the desired pregnancy, was reportedly fraught with tension. Authorities and trial testimony painted a picture of a controlling and volatile dynamic. On the night of the murders, an argument between Owens and Codd escalated to a horrific conclusion. Owens allegedly assaulted Codd, causing her fatal injuries. The assault also directly caused the death of her unborn daughter, Skylar, who was full-term. The crime scene was one of profound tragedy, a domestic dispute culminating in the loss of two innocent lives.
The Investigation and Arrest
The investigation into Codd's death was initially handled as a homicide. Owens quickly emerged as the primary suspect. Evidence, including forensic analysis and witness statements, pointed overwhelmingly to him. His history with Codd, coupled with the nature of her injuries, allowed detectives to build a case swiftly. He was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder—one for Christie Codd and one for the unborn child, under laws that recognize fetal homicide.
Trial, Conviction, and Sentencing
Owens' trial for the murders of Christie Codd and Skylar was a solemn affair that laid bare the details of the crime. Prosecutors argued the killings were premeditated and born of a desire to avoid responsibility for the pregnancy and relationship. The defense offered little in the way of a plausible alternative narrative. In a verdict that brought a measure of closure to Codd's grieving family, Owens was convicted on all charges. The court sentenced him to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would never walk free. This conviction solidified his status as a convicted killer and set the stage for the next, more complex chapter in his story.
The Unsolved Disappearance of Zebb Quinn and Owens' Indictment
While Owens was being prosecuted for the Codd murders, a cold case from Asheville's past began to thaw, pointing directly back to him. The 2007 disappearance of Zebb Quinn had long puzzled investigators until new evidence allegedly linked Owens to the crime.
The 2007 Disappearance
Zebb Quinn, a young man working at a local Walmart, vanished on the night of July 11, 2007. His car was found days later, parked oddly in a lot with a puppy inside and a note that seemed to suggest he had left voluntarily. However, friends and family insisted he would never abandon his pet or his life without contact. For nearly a decade, Quinn's fate remained a mystery, his case a haunting open wound for his loved ones and the Asheville Police Department.
Breakthrough in the Case and Owens' Arrest
The breakthrough came after Owens' arrest for the Codd murders. As investigators reviewed old connections and followed new tips, evidence allegedly surfaced that placed Owens in proximity to Quinn around the time of his disappearance. While the exact nature of the evidence has not been fully detailed in public trials (as the Quinn case has not yet proceeded to trial), reports indicate it was sufficient for a grand jury to indict Owens on a murder charge in connection with Quinn's disappearance in 2017. The indictment was a seismic development, suggesting that Owens' violence may have begun years earlier and that Quinn's body, which has never been found, was likely disposed of in a manner that eluded discovery for a decade.
Legal Status and Pending Trial
Here lies a critical point of confusion and frustration for those following the case: Robert Jason Owens is yet to stand trial in connection with Zebb Quinn’s case. The indictment does not equal a conviction. Legal proceedings have been complicated by Owens' existing life sentence for the Codd murders, logistical challenges, and the sheer complexity of prosecuting a murder case without a body. The WSPA and WLOS reports, among others, have consistently noted this pending charge, making the Quinn case a lingering legal shadow over Owens' already sealed fate. He remains formally charged but untried for this earlier alleged crime.
Where is Robert Jason Owens Now? Current Incarceration and Future Proceedings
Given his conviction for the Codd murders, Robert Jason Owens is currently incarcerated in the North Carolina state prison system, serving two life sentences. He is housed in a maximum-security facility, his public interactions severely restricted. For all practical purposes, he will die in prison.
The question of "What happened to Robert Jason Owens?" is answered by his conviction and sentencing. The question of "Where is Robert Jason Owens now?" is answered by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety's inmate locator. However, the more haunting legal question is about the future of the Zebb Quinn case. Will the state of North Carolina allocate the resources to prosecute a man already serving life for a separate, equally brutal crime? Legal experts note that while it is procedurally possible, the motivation may be less about securing a further punishment and more about providing finality and justice for Quinn's family, who still do not have a body to bury or a definitive legal acknowledgment of their loss. Owens' next court appearance on this charge remains a matter of pending dockets and prosecutorial discretion.
The Impact on Victims' Families and the Asheville Community
The ripples of Owens' crimes extend far beyond the courtroom. For the family of Christie Codd and the unborn Skylar, the conviction brought a form of legal closure but cannot heal the profound, permanent loss. The murder of a daughter and a grandchild-to-be is a trauma that reshapes a family's entire world.
For the family of Zebb Quinn, the indictment of Owens is a bittersweet development. After years of not knowing, finally having a named suspect is a significant step, but it is not the same as having answers about where their loved one is or bringing him home. The fact that Quinn’s body has never been found compounds their grief with a unique, open-ended agony. Each passing year without a resolution in the Quinn case is another year of suspended mourning.
The Asheville community itself has been forced to reconcile its image as a vibrant, artsy mountain town with the dark realities of violent crime that can occur within its borders. The dual cases—a brutal domestic homicide and a long-cold disappearance—have fostered a sense of vigilance and a lingering sadness. They serve as a grim reminder that tragedy can strike anywhere, and that the search for truth can be a marathon, not a sprint.
Conclusion: A Story of Two Cases and Unfinished Justice
The saga of Robert Jason Owens is a macabre tapestry woven from threads of television fantasy and brutal reality. It began with a man seeking fame on the Food Network and ended with his conviction for the savage murders of Christie Codd and her unborn daughter, Skylar. Yet, the story remains incomplete because of the unsolved disappearance of Zebb Quinn, a case for which Owens stands indicted but not yet tried. This creates a dual narrative: one case closed with a life sentence, and another open, its final chapter yet to be written in a court of law.
Owens' journey from reality show contestant to convicted killer forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about the potential for evil hidden in plain sight. It also highlights the relentless work of investigators who do not give up on cold cases, and the enduring hope of families for answers, even when those answers come in the form of an indictment rather than a body.
For now, Robert Jason Owens sits in a prison cell, his future legal proceedings for the Quinn case a somber footnote to a life already forfeit. The ultimate justice for Zebb Quinn—a trial, a verdict, and perhaps one day, the recovery of his remains—remains a goal for law enforcement and a desperate hope for a family still searching for peace. The name Robert Jason Owens will be remembered not for culinary dreams, but as a symbol of devastating loss and the long, difficult road toward accountability.
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