Graceville Inmate Dies after Prison Fight
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Updated: 8:39 PM Mar 12, 2010
Graceville Inmate Dies after Prison Fight
An inmate died Friday morning after suffering injuries related to a physical altercation with an inmate.
Posted: 8:39 PM Mar 12, 2010
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The Florida Department of Corrections is investigating a beating death at the Graceville Correctional Facility.

Inmate, Jason J. Owens, died Friday morning after suffering injuries related to a physical altercation with a fellow inmate.

Gretl Plessinger of the Department of Corrections, tells NewsChannel 7, "The investigation is early on, however, at this point, it appears to be a one-on-one physical altercation that began Wednesday." Owens died at 10:46 a.m. Friday morning from the injuries he sustained during the altercation. Plessinger said investigators do have a person of interest in custody.

Owens was serving 15 years for numerous burglary charges in Pasco County, and has been in the Graceville Correctional Facility since 2003 and was not scheduled to be released until 2017.

This is all we know at this point, and will bring you more information as it becomes available.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Former Graceville Inmate Location: Floirda on Apr 18, 2011 at 11:19 AM

I am a former GEO Graceville inmate, as an inmate Graceville is considered what they call a sweet camp, their were many problems at graceville during my 2 year stay, from the actual guard showing favoritism towards inmates to the actual introduction of contraband, as well as the relationsips between the staff and inmates, im still scratching my head , how is graceville and educational camp with lifeRs, i mean if u got life whats the use of and education. the co's used to chase us down to go to class and tell us just to sign in an go back to our dorm so it shows that we were present in class so they would be in compliant with an educational camp standards,i worked in the kitchen and let me tell you they cut the food with so much water it ends up looking like soup. I seen alot of good gladiator fights, it seemed like every time a incident would happen the co's would just run away and wait for the goon squad.
Posted by: Chasity Location: Florida on Oct 3, 2010 at 09:01 PM

I am Jason Owens sister, and it has been seven months since the brutal attack and mueder on my brother. I would like to say thank you to all the current and former employies that have came forward. If you dont already know Mark Henry has bee fired for incompetent job performance, and the facility has been taken over by the ACC. I have recieved letters from inmates who now feel safe, and say that the conditions there have inproved. The officers are now trained in tactic ; therefore less security issues. It is truley a shame that it took the life of my baby Brother, but I know that he is smiling down that no one else will be hurt in the state of Florida, due to the incopetence of the Geo group. With that being said, there are more Geo prisons in the United States. I am aware of the same incopetence, security issues and murders as a result. I dont want any family to feel the hurt anger, and pain that my family has endured.If anyone has any information contact Eric Stevens att in Fla.
Posted by: concerned citizen on Apr 5, 2010 at 06:29 PM

the inmates that witnessed the murder were told to "be a team player" or their lives would be made miserable. and yes an inmate was attacked the day before with a pick axe.
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