Former Lenoir County resident arrested for murder in Tennessee

The Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office arrested former Lenoir County resident Tyler Lee Owens, 29, on Monday. He was charged with second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, evading arrest, among other charges. The victim’s name has not been released at this time. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is helping the sheriff’s office with the investigation.

Owens is no stranger to encounters with law enforcement. In 2018, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office sought the public’s help in locating him over 10 outstanding warrants for his arrest in North Carolina.

The Johnson City Press reported that Owens was living at the Nolichucky Gorge Campground in Unicoi County, Tennessee. Owens attempted to escape through the back window of a camper. He also pointed a gun, but dropped it.