FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: February 25, 2008   Larry Fowler, Sherriff Parker County Sherriff's Office 817-594-8845   North Carolina Fugitives Captured   Weatherford- Parker County Special Crimes Unit (SCU) Investigators and U.S. Marshals arrested a Mineral Wells couple in western Parker County Thursday afternoon February 21st ending the fugitives four (4) year run from North Carolina authorities after being wanted in connection with a Child Abuse case in 2004. SCU Investigators recently joined the U.S. Marshals Service Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team in Ft. Worth who made the arrest. According to Sheriff Larry Fowler the case reportedly stemmed from a 2000 child abuse investigation in Gastonia North Carolina where the pair apparently fled. According to Investigators, Johnny Lee Owensby 30 was sentenced March 11, 2004 for Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and was ordered to indeterminately serve 29 – 44 months. He then fled before surrendering to begin serving that sentence. Joy Sue Smith also known as Joy Sue Owensby 29 was arrested June 23, 2000 on charges of Accessory After the Fact for Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Felony Child Abuse and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor Child. North Carolina authorities issued a warrant for her arrest February 12, 2004 after she Failed to Appear at trial in the case. Gastonia Detectives involved with the case learned the possible whereabouts of the couple last week and notified the U.S. Marshals Office in Charlotte, North Carolina, who coordinated efforts with the U.S. Marshals Service in Ft. Worth. According to Sheriff Fowler the investigation led the Marshals Strike Team to an address in Parker County, Mineral Wells near the old base housing addition in the 900 block of Morton. SCU members of the Strike Team along with Federal Marshals set up surveillance on the home around 2:00pm when they observed the female get into a vehicle and attempt to drive away. Joy Smith Owensby was taken into custody some blocks from the home by Investigators and provided them with a pass key to the house where the male suspect was found. According to Strike Team Investigators efforts to knock and announce went unheeded by the male suspect, the Team then entered the home and took the suspect into custody from his bed without incident. Johnny Owensby and Joy Smith Owensby remain incarcerated at the Parker County Justice Center where they will face extradition back to North Carolina. Sheriff Fowler said the investigation was a text book example of collateral efforts and commended the U.S. Marshals Strike Team in Ft. Worth, Charlotte North Carolina, the Gastonia Police Department and the SCU.