BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Three people are facing charges for the murder of a 29-year-old woman in Bridgewater last fall.
Ashley Bortner's body was found burned along the railroad tracks in Bridgewater.
Fernando Owens, who had fled to the Dominican Republic, was arrested earlier this week, and Shannon and Julian Squires's charges were upgraded. The New Hampshire couple is facing murder and aggravated kidnapping charges. Owens is facing a murder charge.
The district attorney revealed in a press conference Friday that Bortner's body was bound and gagged, and she was burned over 70 percent of her body. First responders did not know the burned item on the tracks was a human being. It isn't known if she was alive when she was set on fire.
District Attorney Timothy Cruz said items found in Owen's Dorchester apartment that matched items found on Bortner's body. There were 13 cell phone calls between Owens and Bortner on the day of her murder, said Cruz.
The motive may lie in the unsolved murder of Owens' son Dominic.
"It was our belief at the outset that the reason why Ashley was murdered by Fernando Owens and others, was the fact they believed she had information regarding Owens' son who had been murdered in Dorchester the night before her homicide," said Cruz.
In a statement, Bortner's mother said, "as a Christian woman, I have forgiven these people, but justice still needs to be served for what they did."
Owens will be arraigned soon in a Queens, New York courtroom. The Squires are being held without bail in Plymouth.
Cox Media Group
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