DNA leads to charge in 1980 homicide

WOODS CROSS — A 56-year-old man surrendered at the police station after tests revealed his DNA under the fingernails of a woman who was strangled in her home nearly 30 years ago, an investigator said Thursday.

"I told him, 'Either you come in and let's make this easy or I'll get a warrant and we'll find you,"' Sgt. Brad Benson said.

"He chose to avoid any problems," Benson said. "I felt like he wanted to get this over with."

Edward Owens was arrested Wednesday and held on a charge of first-degree felony murder in the death of Karin Strom, 25. He will be arraigned Friday and probably will ask for a public defender, Benson said.

The arrest came two weeks after police said evidence under Strom's fingernails was being tested for DNA, a technology that wasn't available in 1980 when she was killed while trying to fight off an attacker in the Salt Lake City suburb.

The break in the case also means that her former husband, Steve Strom, who once was charged in her death, is exonerated, Benson said. A judge dismissed charges against him years ago due to lack of evidence but suspicions remained.

"We're glad we've got definitive results here," Benson said.

Owens knew the victim and was interviewed after her death. He also gave blood and hair samples at the time.

Benson said he moved those samples to the "top of the list" during the DNA testing, based on Owens' evasiveness during a recent interview. Police got a match this week.

A motive was unknown. Witnesses told police that Owens had scratches on him at the time of Strom's death.

"They were indicative of him being in a struggle. But he was a machinist. It was possible to get scratches at work," Benson said.

Owens has been living with his mother in Kaysville, but he also spends long periods with family members in Virginia, the sergeant said.

"I feel good about it," Benson said of the arrest. "Until we know for sure what was going on in his head, what the motive was, we won't be able to put it all together."

Steve Strom, who lives in the Las Vegas area, could not immediately be reached for comment. There was no phone number listed in his name.