Boyfriend Charged In Missing Cocoa Woman Case

Teresa Owens

Deone Turpin

COCOA, Florida -- The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Unit formally charged 32-year-old Deone Torrese Turpin, of Cocoa, Florida, with Battery/Dating Violence today.  Turpin currently has a $500.00 bond and is being held at the Brevard County Jail.  The Sheriff's Office said in a statement that Turpin refused to cooperate with the investigation.

At approximately 5:02 A.M. on November 11, 31-year-old Teresa Owens entered the Pilot Convenience Store located at 4455 West King Street in Cocoa with what appeared to be blood on her clothing and a swollen eye.  Deputies say that she told the clerk she ran away from a man and needed to call her mother for help. 

 

Approximately four minutes later, a man believed to be her boyfriend, Deone Turpin, came into the store, went behind the register where Ms. Owens was hiding, and took her out of the store.  Turpin was allegedly seen forcing Owens into his vehicle through the driver’s side door and fleeing the area.  The vehicle was found within two miles of the location. 

A request was made through the media to assist the Sheriff’s Office in locating Owens and she was found safe later that evening.  Officials say that Owens denied being forced to stay with the suspect but acknowledged that she was battered.