Court Date Changed for Man from Sparta Accused of Murdering his Nephew

A man from Sparta who is accused of murdering his own nephew during an attempted theft is having his court date moved once again.

59-year-old Nick Owens is accused of shooting and killing his nephew, Zachary Owens, in June of 2022 during an attempt to steal a flatbed trailer that was on Zachary’s property in Mansfield.

The elder Owens was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Court dates for 2023 and 2024 were postponed or cancelled for court-ordered mental evaluations.

His new court date is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 10, 2025 in Phelps County, after he was granted a change of venue away from Wright County, where the alleged murder occurred.