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Missing Virginia Woman Found Dead, Prison Guard Boyfriend Charged With Her Murder
Dustin Owens, a Virginia prison guard, is charged with the first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, Amber Compton. The mother of three was seven-months pregnant.
A Virginia man was charged with first-degree murder for the death of his pregnant girlfriend who was reported missing over the weekend.
On Sunday, authorities discovered the remains of Amber Dawn Compton, 35, who was about seven months pregnant. Her body was found “with multiple gunshot wounds” at her home in Vasant, Virginia, according to NBC affiliate WVVA.
The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office said they received a call about a missing female on Saturday, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.
“During the course of death investigation, statements and evidence was received that led Investigators to apply to the magistrate and receive a warrant for 1st degree murder on Dustin Barret Owens, 38 years old, of Vansant VA,” the sheriff’s office said. “Owens is known to be the boyfriend of the victim."
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Owens was found at his home in Vasant, which was later the site of a forensic investigation. Deputies surrounded his home and confirmed that he was inside. Owens was taken into custody on Sunday without incident and charged with first-degree murder, according to the Sheriff’s department.
The investigation is ongoing and “further criminal charges are expected,” the release said.
“We’re still working on the timeline and at this time, I’m not going to release how long we think she might have been there, but we’re still working the timeline as to her events and days before that,” Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Eric Breeding told WVVA.
Authorities have not revealed a possible motive.
Owens is being held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Haysi.
Compton and Owens were both employees at the Keen Mountain Correctional Facility in Oakwood, Virginia, the Bluefield Daily Telegraph reported. Compton, a mother of three, was employed as a registered nurse at the correctional facility, according to an obituary posted on the Honaker Funeral Home website.
“Please, please, please say a prayer for my family. You didn’t deserve this, Amber,” one of her relatives posted on Facebook.
Another family member wrote: “Please continue to send prayers for my family, the world is so cruel.”
