UPDATE: The chilling murder of **14-year-old** babysitter **Karen Slattery** has resurfaced with shocking new claims from her killer, **Duane Owen**, as legal battles continue to unfold decades later. This heart-wrenching case from **1984** is back in the spotlight as Owen insists he was seeking female hormones when he brutally attacked Slattery, reigniting public outrage and interest in this horrific crime.
In a horrifying sequence of events, Slattery was killed on **May 25, 1984**, while babysitting two young children, aged **seven and three**, in **Boca Raton, Florida**. At **10 PM**, she made a routine phone call to her mother, but by **12:30 AM**, her lifeless body was discovered by the children’s parents. Reports confirm she had been **raped and stabbed 18 times** by Owen, who had broken into the home through a bedroom screen.
Owen’s initial trial led to a **death sentence** in **1985**, but his claims of insanity and a plea for a new trial in **1999** have complicated the case. He contends that he was looking for hormones during the attack and could not be held fully responsible due to his traumatic childhood experiences, including the deaths of his alcoholic mother and father. Despite these assertions, a jury did not find them credible, reaffirming Owen’s sentence.
The case is further complicated by Owen’s history of violence. Just two months after Slattery’s murder, he attacked **38-year-old Georgianna Worden**, striking her multiple times with a hammer as she slept. Worden’s daughter discovered her mother’s body, adding another layer of tragedy to this saga. Owen was convicted for this murder as well, receiving a second death sentence in **1986**.
As of **2017**, Owen has appealed again, citing a **Florida Supreme Court** ruling that could impact death sentences not resulting from unanimous jury recommendations. His legal battles continue to draw interest, highlighting both the complexities of the American justice system and the devastating impact of his crimes on the victims’ families.
This case remains a haunting reminder of the dangers that lurk in everyday life and the lasting effects of violence on communities. Many continue to seek justice for Slattery and Worden, urging authorities to revisit Owen’s claims and the implications they hold for victims and their families.
The public is urged to stay informed as this developing story unfolds, revealing the dark realities of crime and the justice system in America.