Deadly Routine: Porsha Owens

In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: On a quiet June morning in 2018, Porsha Owens prepared to take her three young children to summer day care, unaware that her life was about to be shattered. A violent carjacking turned deadly in the Castle Point neighborhood of St. Louis County, leaving her children as witnesses to a tragedy that would rock their family and community.

If you would like to support her children directly, you can do so here:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/porsha-owens-memorial-fund 

This is the story of Porsha Owens.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that happened on a June morning in
twenty eighteen. A twenty eight year old mother and school
safety officer prepared to take her three young children to

(00:22):
summer daycare. Her morning routine was ordinary, predictable, but in
a matter of minutes, it turned into a nightmare. Her
life would be tragically stolen in front of her young
children in a senseless act of violence. Her life, her family,

(00:43):
and her community would never be the same. This is
the story of Portia Owens. Portia Owens worked for the
Riverview Gardens School District as the school safety officer, a
role she took seriously. She was a mother of three

(01:06):
r J who was eight, Hayley four, and Hayden three.
She was known for her dedication to her children, her
work in her community. On the morning of June eleventh,
twenty eighteen, she was wearing her uniform ready to start
the day when she stepped outside of her home in

(01:27):
the Castle Point neighborhood of Saint Louis County, Missouri. The neighborhood,
while residential, had its struggles with crime. Castle Point, an
inner ring suburban community in Saint Louis County, had one
of the highest violent crime rates in the area. According
to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, violent crime in the

(01:51):
neighborhood was substantially above the national average. But for Portia
in her family, it was home, a place she worked
tirelessly to create safety and stability for her children. That morning,
Porsia was completely unaware that danger was waiting. An eighteen

(02:13):
year old named Mark Haywood had been watching. He wanted
her white Dodge Charger. He was armed, and he approached
her as she emerged from the house with her three children.
Heywood demanded her keys in money. Porscha was unarmed and
faced with a gun. As she turned toward him, Heywood

(02:34):
fired two shots at close range, striking her in the chest.
Despite being shot, Porscha fought to stay conscious. When the
gunman couldn't start her car, he fled, leaving her and
her children behind. Her eight year old son r J.
Gathered his younger siblings and helped them hide safely before

(02:55):
running to get help. According to Porsha's mother, Yvette King
r J. Found a police officer and stayed close to
his mother until an ambulance arrived. Porsche was discovered with
at least one gunshot wound and rushed to a local
hospital in critical condition. She unfortunately later passed away from

(03:19):
her injuries. According to k m o V News, the perpetrator,
Mark Haywood, was apprehended shortly afterward, at just eighteen years old.
Haywood reportedly had a history in the juvenile system dating
back to age ten. At the time of Porsche's murder.

(03:40):
Prosecutors charged him with second degree murder, first degree robbery,
and two counts of armed criminal action. Haywood's bail was
set at a million dollars. Later, he pled guilty to
all charges and received a twenty five year prison sentence.
Reports confirmed the sentence was handed down by a circuit court.

(04:03):
Although the sentence met Missouri legal requirements, Porsche's family still
struggled with the feeling that justice had not been fully served.
Her mother, Yvette King, spoke publicly about her frustration, stating
it crushed me. I was already torn from the fact
that my daughter was murdered and not with us and

(04:26):
then when they gave him this sentencing of twenty five years,
my heart just dropped. Her words capture the raw pain
and disbelief that no legal outcome could erase their loss.
Porscha's death left three children without their mother. Her eldest RJ,
just eight years old, witnessed his mother's final moments. The

(04:50):
trauma experience by these three young children is unimaginable. A
GoFundMe campaign was established in twenty eighteen, raising over two
hundred and forty four thousand dollars to help care for
the children. The Castle Point neighborhood rallied around the family. Friends, neighbors,

(05:11):
and community members offered support, but the loss was so profound.
The tragedy also highlights the challenges facing communities like Castle Point,
where high crime and limited resources have made safety a
constant concern. Porsche's life, in her commitment to her children,

(05:32):
stood in sharp contrast to the violence surrounding her. Mark
Haywood had a history in the juvenile system beginning at
a young age, with reports indicating he entered the system
around the age of ten. Specific details about his record
are not publicly available. However, cases like this often raised

(05:54):
difficult questions about systemic issues, from how young offenders are
rehabilitated to how easily guns end up in the wrong hands. Now,
seven years later, Porgia's family continues to grieve, care for
her children, and seek ways to honor her memory. My
thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of

(06:16):
Portia Owens as they continue to endure this tragic loss.
If you would like to support her children directly, the
link to the gofund me can be found in the
description below. As we close out this episode, remember that
sharing Porsche's story helps to spread awareness and supports her
family and their journey toward closure. Don't forget to click

(06:40):
the follow button to stay updated on this case and
others like it. Be sure to subscribe to Hunting for
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you're watching us on YouTube, cheer your thoughts on this
case and the comments below. Thank you so much for

(07:01):
joining us on another episode Until next time. Hunting for

(07:22):
Answers is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network.
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