Crime & Safety

Autopsies on Shooting Victims Scheduled for Sunday, Monday

Results will most likely will be released on Monday or later, according to spokesperson for the Chief Medical Examiner's Office.

 

The state chief medical examiner is scheduled to conduct an autopsy of one of the victims of Friday's double shooting on Sunday and the other on Monday, an office spokesperson told Patch on Saturday.

Further information regarding the first autopsy may be available as early as Sunday, the spokesperson said, but will most likely not be released until Monday or later.

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The area surrounding 131 Park Street was relatively quiet on Saturday compared to the prior afternoon when police cars were pulling in and out of the condo building's narrow driveway.

On Friday, officers responded to reports of gunshots fired and upon their arrival found a couple—James Owen, 48, and Billie D. Faigout-Owen, 52—dead in their apartment. A preliminary investigation revealed that Mr. Owen shot Mrs. Owen and then shot himself, according New Canaan Police Captain Leon Krolikowski. It wasn't until around 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon that the department released the identities of the victims.

Find out what's happening in New Canaanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to town records, Archie Stewart of Brennan Arch LLC is the owner of the two-story building where the deceased lived. Stewart declined to comment. Neighbors also declined to comment.

Diane Roth, owner of L'Armoire, a clothing boutique at 121 Park St., told Patch that she didn't know the couple, but was inside of her shop when police arrived Friday afternoon.

"We were in shock," she said. "Clients were calling us and asking us if we knew what was going on. I have clients that live down [on Park Street], so I was worried it was one of them. Apparently, the police went by without sirens, so I guess they knew [it was serious]. Maybe they thought there was a hostage or something."

And although police have not yet released a possible motive behind the shootings, Roth observed that it might have been triggered by financial circumstances. "People are under pressure, it's a bad economy," she said. "It's a lot of stress. I think that's what you can contribute it to."

Harold F. Cobin contributed to this report.

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