Remember Durga
Published Thursday, July 3, 2008
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To the editor:
I would like to remind the News-Miner and your readers that July 8 will be nine years since our friend and neighbor, young Durga Owens, was viciously murdered.
I wanted to ask if everyone would bow their heads in prayer for one minute for him at 3 p.m. on July 9.
A couple of years ago, your paper printed a story about a gathering of people who were affected by unsolved murders or cold cases. On the TV news that evening, Durga’s sister, Rhiannon Owens, admitted that she was the one and only suspect in the murder of her little brother.
Does the News-Miner or anyone else know if she has cleared her name as of now, or does anyone know if she is still the No. 1 suspect in her brother’s murder?
Please contact Crime Stoppers if you have any information that will help solve this unsolved crime.
Paris “Dean” Hutton
Chatanika
Community Discussion
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I will definitely remember him on the 9th. This murder haunted me for a while - such a young child and such a brutal, horrible death. I remember frustration once that the police hadn't solved this case yet until I was told that the sister was the main suspect. I don't know about now but up till a couple of years after his death, she was still the main focus. Thank you for remembering Durga.
Hmm...I was here nine years ago and I don't recall this story.
I remember this well...I remember because I spent a lot of time fishing that particular stretch of the chatanika that summer...It was a little spooky and I didnt fish there as much afterward, still dont, but occasionally will...The thought of sharing the river with someone who would kill an 8 yr old boy kept me away...Im disappointed that whomever committed this heinous act hasnt been held accountable...I also recall reading something about a neighboring homesteader being a person of interest...its good to see there's still some concern after 9 years...
The neighbor's name, which WAS INDEED CLEARED, is on the signature line of the letter above. . .
Durga Owens was an 8-year-old boy found shot in the woods along the Steese Highway, about 53 mile, in 1999.
Last I heard of this the sister was *the* suspect but haven't heard anything about it in a long time.
Just remember Mr Hutton that, if you point one finger at someone, there are 3 pointing back. Also if you need to bring up the past, we ask why do it unless you are involved? The Owens family has suffered long enough with out you dredging up the past and re-opening the wound.
As for Rhiannon, she must have been cleared of the charges for both events seeing as how she is not in jail.
It was indeed a tragedy and the whole Owens family needs to be remembered for their loss.
I feel the Owens family suffered enough. My thoughts are it was tragety to lose a family member and Durga is with the light now we cannot change that.
If Rhiannan was not arrested then the police decided that they did not have enough evidence against her because it was all circumstantial.
Mr. Hutton If you want to live in the past do so on your own the Owens Family have moved on and there are many unsolved other murder cases out there that you can fixate on.
My heart goes out to Rhiannan and her family because you must drag this out over and over again.
ENOUGH! Put it to rest as the family did and move on. We cannot bring Durga back but we can remember him as he was and how he brought light to our lives. I am lighting a candle for the family in rememberance of him.
I created a profile so I may comment on the coverage of this story. I went to school with little Durga and Rhiannon out in Central. I was the oldest child in this small, close knit community the second year I knew them. Central has lost three classmates now, the first and most shocking was the murder of Durga Owens. Those who really knew this family do not take a minute every few years, but remember him every time they pass 66 mile on the highway, the school or see a cute little boy with a helpful, loving big sister. I spent many hours with both of them and my personal opinion is that Rhiannon was the most caring and affectionate older sibling I've ever seen. I clearly remember her putting that boy on the bus, tying his shoes, zipping his coat and carefully putting a scarf around his face to make sure he was warm. She was a shy, quiet girl which apparently makes her a free target for big mouthed people. Of course we want the murder solved-and it's up to the offender to release the burden off their own conscience and do what's right or for people to pay attention to what's in the wind. Please let this family heal. It's hard enough to lose a sibling as I have, but to walk around with people gossiping about you being a suspect (especially to a CHILD!!!) is unthinkable. The killer will have this on their head for life whether caught or not and I hope for everyone that they come forward or are caught someday. In the meantime, remember this sweet little boy affectionately and let his family try to move forward.
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lagirl--You said that you were here 9 years ago, and that you don't remember the story in the newspaer about the cowardly murder of 8 year old Gwyndurga J.D. Owens-Hawman. I would be more than glad to send you a copy of the Daily News-Miner papers (Dates: July 10, 11, 12 and 16 of the year 1999 and April 27, 2005). Also from the Anchorage Daily Newspaper dated 7/12/1999, plus a half hour video tape about what was covered on the T.V. news.
KingFisher907--I am, and was the neighboring homesteader that was a "person of interest".
Christie and endotheroad--Thank you for both for telling the people that read this blog, that I had cleared my name with the police. Yes, I was involved in the investigation by the police, and they cleared my name after only 7 days.
alaskaprincess--Thank you, you are right. Since I was involved in the murder investigation of young Durga Owens, I do feel that I have the right to bring up the past, about this sad vicious murder of a young boy. How else will this horrible crime come to justice, until we all find out who did it? Unless we keep bringing it up, instead of just dropping it, we might end up forgetting about it, as if it never happened.
lachesis--You are right, the murder of 8 year old Durga Owens was a tragedy. Maybe the police had enough evidence against Rhiannon. Maybe, when they turned it all over to the District Attorney, HE dropped it, and let it go, as if it never happened. Now, maybe it's all buried in a deep vault. It saddens me to think that you don't want me to have just as much right as any of the other bloggers on this site have. If a person wants to bring up a subject that he or she believes in, and has proof of, they should be allowed to do so. It should not matter if it is past, present, or in the future.
Some people seem to be able to put this to rest because they were not up there at the time, and were not involved, the way some of the rest of us were. So, why would a person say to "drop it, and move on"? People need to remember that Rhiannon was only 14 at the time of her brother's death.
I do not have internet service, as most of you people who live in town do. Please do not get mad at me for responding to all of your blogs at the same time. It is not as convienent for me, as it is for all of you.
Thank you for your time. For any questions you might want to ask, feel free to write to me. Paris "Dean" Hutton P.O.Box 10439 Fairbanks, AK 99710-0439, or call a voice mail message number (907) 459-8102.
I will tell you a true story, and back it up with proof that you will be amaized at.
I've done some digging, and Dean "GrizzlyAdams" Hutton sure was involved in the investigation. As a paid informant! That's how the cops ignored the fact he couldn't pass a polygraph to prove he wasn't involved and the fact that his alibi was later disproved.
What I like is where he says "some people can put this to rest because they were not up there and were not involved." Meaning that he can't drop it and stop tormenting this poor family because he *was* involved!
So go ahead. Write this guy a letter and ask him why he knows more about this child's murder than either the child's family or even the cops do. Maybe he even has a videotape of what he did to that poor little boy he can show you!
But remember, this guy is a professional snitch. Unless he wants someone to confess to, his "true story" is probably nothing but a huge pile of steaming cow pucky.