He told victim she had broken his heart
A “heartbroken” 24-year-old Burlington man killed himself while fleeing from police Monday after allegedly abducting a woman from a Walmart in Mukwonago, according to authorities in Eau Claire.
The suspect, Mitchell F. Owens, 24, was found dead Tuesday in a wooded area near Eau Claire from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to WEAU.com, court records filed Tuesday in Eau Claire show Owens told the former co-worker he abducted outside the Walmart in Mukwonago that she had broken his heart and the kidnapping was the only way they could be together.
The criminal complaint filed against Owens also contends the victim told investigators she recognized Owens as a former co-worker when he walked up to her Monday about 3 a.m. outside the Walmart and ordered her into his car at gunpoint.
At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Eau Claire County Sheriff Ron Cramer confirmed Owens was found dead in a wooded area about a half a mile from Zion Lutheran Church in Fall Creek, WEAU.com reported. Cramer said Owens took his own life. A rifle was found next to his body.
According to the report, law enforcement on the scene heard a gunshot at 1:30 p.m. Monday. Crews spent the remainder of Monday evening and into Tuesday, searching the area. The sheriff told those at the press conference the department was cautious about entering the wooded area because they were concerned Owens could be waiting for them. About 200 law enforcement personnel participated in the search.
Several residents in the area were forced to evacuate while police searched for Owens.
Walmart abduction
Village of Mukwonago Police Chief Kevin Schmidt said Monday the 21-year-old woman who was abducted escaped on her own at an Eau Claire gas station and is safe.
Schmidt initially said police weren’t releasing the name of the victim because they weren’t sure if all her family members had been notified.
“We don’t want them to hear it on the radio,” he said.
Schmidt said it was sometime after 3 a.m. Monday morning when other Walmart employees became concerned about the victim’s whereabouts.
“Apparently she took a break at about 3 a.m. or so and after that they couldn’t find her,” Schmidt said. “Store personnel checked surveillance cameras after paging her and not being able to find her. They saw a silver, four-door car on the tape and a male got out. He was only on camera on couple seconds … he was holding long gun or shotgun and walked off camera, then he got back in the car and when they saw that they contacted the police.”
Schmidt said Mukwonago police got the call shortly after 5 a.m. about a Walmart employee in her 20s who was missing.
“The female was able to send text messages to her boyfriend. One of them just said ‘Help,’” Schmidt said. “We were able to track the cellphone to the Eau Claire area.”
He said the Mukwonago Police Department contacted Eau Claire police to apprise them of the situation and “be on the look out.”
In the meantime, Schmidt said, the suspect stopped for gas at an Eau Claire Kwik Trip and the woman was able to escape.
“When they stopped for gas, she jumped out of car and into another car at the gas station and asked for help,” Schmidt said.
After the woman escaped, the suspect allegedly took off in his vehicle and was pursued by the Eau Claire Police Department, Schmidt said.
“I know eventually he crashed into something … and then he ran off on foot,” Schmidt said. “He had the rifle, or long gun, in his hand.”
