Authorities Seeking Person of Interest in Saline County Homicides

Authorities have been investigating two homicides in Saline County after a 35-year-old man and his 83-year-old grandmother-in-law were killed on Thursday morning. The Saline County Sheriff's Department has announced that a person of interest in the case is being sought, according to reports.

KMMO says that 58-year-old Donald Bruce Owens was identified by Saline County Sheriff Cindi Mullins as a person of interest on Friday. Mullins is described as a white male, approximately 6'1", 225 pounds, with blue eyes and graying blonde hair.

Authorities are also reportedly searching for a white 2007 Dodge Caravan, with Missouri license plate UD6-J3T.

Anyone with information on Owens whereabouts, or knowledge that may be helpful to the case, is asked to call the Saline County Sheriff's Department at 660-886-5511, the Missouri State Highway Patrol or their local law enforcement agency.

A woman reportedly called police around 1:45 a.m. Thursday, reporting that she heard shots and a man yelling for help. When an ambulance arrived, they found the man, later identified as 35-year-old Ryan Sanders, unconscious a short distance away from the caller. The man was taken to an area hospital, where he later died.

The other victim was found at a home just north of the Slater city limits around 8 a.m. on Thursday. That victim has been identified as Bonnie Charlene Hupp, 83.

“We believe these two incidents are related,” Sheriff Mullins said at a Thursday news conference.

Slater is a small community located about 10 miles northeast of Marshall, with a population of nearly 1,900.