Human remains found in wood stove may belong to pregnant Food Network Star contestant and her husband
US police have arrested a man they believe killed season eight finalist of cooking show Food Network Star, Cristie Schoen Codd, 38, and her husband Joseph "J.T." Codd, 45.
The couple were reported missing on Sunday (March 15) by Mrs Codd's father, reported KTLA 5.
Officers visited the couple's house in Buncombe County, North Carolina and discovered it had been broken into.
That same day, police got a call about a suspicious man throwing large bags into a dumpster.
The bags were found to contain Mrs Codd's belongings, reported Citizen-Times.
Based on the description provided by the caller, police nabbed 36-year-old Robert Jason Owens, a neighbour of the couple.
COUPLE KNEW THEIR KILLER
Owens did not admit to killing them, but he told cops he had broken into the couple's home and that he had stored and destroyed their bodies.
Human remains have been found in a wood stove in Owens' home, according to search warrants released at a press conference on Friday (March 20). They have not been positively identified as the couple.
Owens' wife, however, told police that her husband told her he had killed Mr Codd with the man's own truck, reported The Times-Picayune.
The victims got married in September last year and Mrs Codd was pregnant.
They knew Owens, having previously hired him to carry out remodelling work at their home.
CHARGED WITH MURDER OF UNBORN CHILD
The Codds are believed to have been killed sometime on Thursday.
Owens has been charged with first-degree murder, murder of an unborn child, breaking and entering and larceny, reported USA Today.
He allegedly stole a laptop, jewellery and a handgun worth a total of $1,500 from their home.
Sources: USA Today, The Times-Picayune, Citizen-Times, KTLA 5
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