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Elizabeth “Bizzy” Stevens' three-year-old daughter will never remember what it was like to be held by her mother.
“You and you alone stole the opportunity from this little girl,” Stevens’ grandmother, Linda Wood, said of her great-granddaughter. “She will not remember her mom’s touch.”
When the young child wants to give her mom a hug, she goes to Chambersville Cemetery to hug the only thing she can – Stevens’ headstone.
“To [her], Biz is a picture,” Julie Feguson, Stevens’ mother, said during her victim impact statement as part of the nearly two-hour sentencing hearing held last week.
Stevens was found dead with a gunshot wound to the back of the head on Texas Pike on Sept. 14, 2021. On April 24th of this year, an Owen County jury found 39-year-old Jay White guilty of murder and obstruction of justice.
Approximately 30 individuals were present at the sentencing hearing.
At the start, Prosecutor Ben Kim and defense attorney Megan Schueler were summoned into the chambers of Special Judge from Monroe County, Darcie Fawcett. The day before, Schueler filed a motion for the court to vacate the guilty verdict and a motion for a directed verdict. Vacating the verdict would void the determination made by the jury, and a directed verdict is one in which the judge rules that there is legally not enough evidence for a reasonable jury to reach a different conclusion.
Before the sentencing proceedings could begin, Fawcett denied both motions.
Schuler argued that Stevens' death would have been impossible to achieve from the front seat to the back seat as the prosecution suggested and was corroborated by testimony from Tyler Byers.
“His entire testimony was incredibly dubious,” Schuler said.
Schuler also argued that White believed he had to agree to the polygraph, which he failed, in order to speak to police.
She asked for the verdict to be overturned or for a new trial to be granted.
Kim argued that they would be rearguing the evidence and that it is within a jury’s right to choose which evidence to believe or give weight to.
Fawcett noted that neither expert definitively said how close or how far away the gun was fired or the path of the exit.
“I do believe [the verdict] was supported by the evidence,” Fawcett said.
The court then moved into the sentencing hearing.
Ferguson was the first to take the stand. She said that on Sept. 15, 2021, White’s sister sent her a message around noon saying that Stevens was missing. Later that afternoon, she found out that a body was found on Texas Pike.
“I had a sickening feeling in my stomach,” she said.
And at 5:02 p.m., she received the call confirming what she feared – her daughter was dead.
Ferguson admitted that her first thought was revenge.
“You are the luckiest individual in this courtroom,” she said to White, adding that what stopped her was that she did not want her granddaughter to lose her too.
Ferguson also submitted a separate written statement that was entered into evidence.
Five photos were also entered into evidence including a photo depicting Stevens’ gravesite on Mother’s Day with her daughter hugging her gravestone.
She testified that Stevens’ daughter saw an image of the headstone on the front page of the May edition of The Owen News accompanying the story of White’s guilty verdict and said, “That’s mommy’s place.”
Among the photos was a photo of Stevens in her casket.
“I kept praying to God that everyone was wrong and it wasn’t her,” Ferguson said.
Another photo was taken Sept. 6, 2021 and is the last photo of Stevens with her daughter.
“She’ll have no recollection of this day ever,” Ferguson said of her granddaughter.
Ferguson also testified that her granddaughter has said, “Gigi I want a real mommy.”
“How do you explain it to a three-year-old when I don’t understand it at 51?” Ferguson said. “Part of my mind is stuck on Sept. 15, 2021 at 5:02 p.m.”
She said she did not believe White to be remorseful and asked for the maximum sentence of 65 years for Stevens’ murder.
“His feet should never touch soil outside of a prison wall,” she said.
James Wood then took the stand. He spoke about the business relationship that he had with White’s father, Bud White who owned a logging company. Wood owned a trucking company, and the two had done business together for nearly 30 years. Stevens was his youngest grandchild.
“There’s always going to be an empty chair at our table on Christmas and New Year’s thanks to you,” James Wood said. “I don’t know what sentencing you’ll get, but in my mind, it’s not enough.”
His wife Linda Wood also took the stand, where she spoke of how Stevens’ daughter’s story is forever marred by her mother’s murder.
It was then Schuler’s chance to call witnesses to speak to White’s character. Chia Ruble, White’s sister-in-law was the first to take the stand.
She spoke about White raising her sister Amber’s daughter as if the child was his own.
Ruble also called White “upstanding” and “trustworthy,” despite acknowledging that he lied to police. She said it was because White trusted someone else to take care of it and said that he put himself in jeopardy for Byers.
“His word is his bond,” Ruble said.
Janet Lucas, White’s mother, also took the stand.
She spoke of White’s childhood, noting that he would stand up for the underdogs.
“Jay was a good kid,” she said, adding that he was a “country kid.”
Stevens wasn’t a stranger to her either.
“All my kids had a heart for Bizzy,” she said, later adding that “She kind of landed at our place.”
Lucas said that Bud White was hard on the boys and that he put them to work when they could legally drop out of school in the 10th grade. She said that both of her sons ended up the opposite, saying, “He’s just not violent.”
According to Lucas, White did not ever receive a driver's license and that he has some trouble reading.
Finally, White’s wife Amber White took the stand.
She spoke about how she and Jay met and she testified that she started nursing school one week after they got married. She said that while she was stressed about going to school and working full-time, Jay told her to quit work and that he would support their family.
“He’s a very good dad,” Amber White said of her husband, adding that there were only three instances of corporal punishment between the two children in 17 years.
Kim asked the court for a sentence of 60 years for the murder charge, and Schuler argued that the majority of White’s offenses in the past were centered around driving without a license. She also said that White responded well to probation in the past and that this is not a crime to likely happen again. She asked for mitigating factors to allow the court to go below the minimum sentencing of 45 years.
Fawcett first addressed Ferguson, “You have the court’s sympathy.” She also added that all of the children impacted, both Stevens’ daughter and White’s two children, should receive professional support to understand what has happened.
She also focused on the loss of a mother to a young child.
“It’s plain and simple not measurable,” she said.
While she did not consider it an “aggravator” in determining sentencing, Fawcett noted that White had contact with the court for a license violation just 34 days before Stevens’ murder.
She also noted that while there is hardship on White’s dependents, she could not get to the point where it was classified as undue hardship.
White was then sentenced to 60 years in the department of corrections, with five years suspended to probation on the murder charge.
In count two, which was a level 6 felony for obstruction of justice, White was sentenced to 360 days in the department of corrections.
Time served will also be applied.
She also mandated that should White be released, he must check in with Owen County probation within 72 hours of his release.
Fawcett noted that she would leave the appearance for Schuler who had 30 days to initiate an appeal on White’s behalf.
White did not wish to make a statement to the court, and Schuler said she plans to file an appeal.
Hannah Amos contributed to this article.
Two of the three Owen County Commissioners are new to their positions. Those new commissioners are former sheriff Sam Hobbs and David Risk.
In fact, the only commissioner who isn’t new to the position is Gary Burton, the board's former president.
At the beginning of the commissioners’ first meeting of 2025, held on Jan. 9, Hobbs was unanimously elected president of the board, and Risk was unanimously elected vice president.
Immediately following the reorganization, Hobbs gave a monologue about what can be expected from the board moving forward.
“It’s going to be kind of a lengthy meeting. We got a lot to go through. I’m not here to upset the apple cart with anybody, but I’m going to. It’s just the nature of the beast,” Hobbs began. “I base my faith off of God being in control because He is. We’re just here to do His will and try to make the best of a community that is falling apart.”
After sharing his long-standing attendance at these sorts of public meetings, Hobbs commented on a trend.
“The thing that I’ve seen in the last several years of coming to the meetings and stuff like that is the discord and dislike between the employees, whether you’re elected or appointed or whatever, has turned into a hatred. And it’s going to end. The reason I say that is we’re a team here together,” Hobbs said. “We were elected to serve the people and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. The people have a voice. You’re taxpayers. You’ll have a voice in every commissioners’ meeting. That’s only right. I expect your ideas, your vision, your goals and your solutions to some of the problems that we have.”
Hobbs then quoted Proverbs 23:19.
“This county is going to have a vision for everybody, not just for self-centered seeking thumb-sucking selfish people. I won’t tolerate it. I won’t tolerate rude behavior from nobody,” Hobbs said. “I’m in no way here to tell anybody to pack up and get going. If you’re not doing your job that’s required of you, there’s going to be a problem.”
Hobbs then said that employees are the county’s biggest liability and the county’s biggest asset.
“We’re going to work together as a team,” he said.
He then reiterated that the commissioners do not have any authority over other elected officials. He also said that commissioners should allow for autonomy and leadership from the county’s department heads saying they have a business to run.
Hobbs was clear that department heads could and should ask for guidance and help from the commissioners when needed and said the commissioners will not interfere unless asked or unless there is an issue.
“I’m new at this part [being a commissioner], but I’m not new at being around here. I’ve seen how some people have been treated and mistreated, and rest assured of one thing. That’s coming to an end, like real soon,” Hobbs said.
Then, instead of making the usual first meeting of the year liaison appointments, Hobbs announced that those appointments would not be made until February. He cited a “legal problem” but did not go into details.
“There’s some things facing this county that is going to be revealed in the next 30 to 60 days that could change the whole outlook on certain things,” he said.
One and only one liaison appointment was made, and that was for Risk to serve as the liaison for the highway department.
“Gary cannot do that because his wife works there,” Hobbs said.
Until appointments are made in February, Hobbs said that he would serve as the liaison for the auditor’s office and appointed department heads. He noted that elected officials can go to any of the commissioners that they want.
The commissioners then began with the routine business of approving the meeting minutes and claims.
In both this meeting and the Jan. 23 meeting, the commissioners addressed the extensive and inappropriate amount of out-of-cycle claims.
The board then went on to new business.
“This is where the rubber is going to meet the road for some of you,” Hobbs said, adding that it was unfortunate that not everything was going to be good news.
The first matter that was addressed was the contract with Dana Kerr for his services as county attorney.
“We’ve been through this for a couple of months. The current attorney is not here today. He is sick. We wish him the best in his recovery,” Hobbs began. “Dana is not here today, but we have to proceed with business. This has been discussed briefly in a couple commissioners meetings. The contract that the current attorney has is on a week-to-week basis at the moment.”
“Mr. Kerr’s last day will be Jan. 31. I’m not going to sit here and bad mouth him, run him down or anything like that. He did what he did and done what he’s done for what he thought was right. He’s an attorney. I do feel and I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mr. Kerr was led down a couple roads that he shouldn’t have had to go down. That’s my two cents worth. I think if Mr. Kerr had things to do over again, they would be done different. Again, this is my opinion.”
With that, Hobbs moved to relieve Kerr of his duties as county attorney as of Jan. 31. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
“This is not the end of this story,” Hobbs said.
After allowing him to introduce himself, the commissioners hired Tony Overholt from Frost Brown Todd Attorneys in Indianapolis. Overholt has served as the attorney for the county council. The commissioners hired Overholt, who has been an attorney for 30 years, for six months. Overholt has experience representing local government.
Overholt will be paid between $350 and $375 per hour.
There is $160,000 budgeted for the county attorney. Under Kerr’s extended 2022 contract that served from week to week until the end of January, approximately $13,000 would have been spent from the $160,000 budgeted for county legal expenses.
The council separately has budgeted approximately $40,000 for their legal expenses, as Kerr did not represent the council.
At the high end of Overholt’s rate, the county commissioners would have a total of 392 hours before exceeding the appropriation. This translates to a weekly average of roughly 7.5 hours per week without going to the county council for an additional appropriation.
During the approximately four-hour first meeting, the commissioners also:
The commissioners also held a joint meeting with the Owen County Council on Jan. 23. A story on that meeting will be made available soon on The Owen News website, theowennews.org. The commissioners met again yesterday, Feb. 6, and they will meet again at 6 p.m. on Feb. 20 in the second-floor Commissioners Room of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.
In celebration of its 31st anniversary, the Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) is thrilled to announce the return of the $1 for $1 Anniversary Match Campaign, building on the incredible success of last year’s 30th anniversary event.
In 2024, nearly $200,000 was raised to support local nonprofits serving Owen County. This year, OCCF invites donors and nonprofits to make an even greater impact.
Running from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, this match campaign offers a $1 for $1 match for donations made to Agency and Designated funds established at OCCF. These funds specifically support the work of nonprofits serving Owen County, providing them with both immediate resources and long-term sustainability.
“Spencer Main Street, Inc., took a big step forward in 2024 by establishing an agency fund with ‘our’ Owen County Community Foundation,” Julie Coffin, President of Spencer Main Street, Inc. said. “I think we don’t even realize yet how this strengthens our organization in terms of keeping us sustainable and giving us longevity. And those are vital qualities to have because we intend to keep working to make sure that Historic Downtown Spencer continues to be the heart and center of our community for another 205 years. The first word of our mission statement is ‘collaboration,’ and we are so grateful for OCCF’s support and collaboration as we all go forward!”
How the Match Works
For every dollar donated to an eligible fund, OCCF will provide a matching gift, which is designed to strengthen nonprofits in two ways:
This model allows nonprofits to meet immediate needs while building a stable financial foundation for the future.Participating Funds
Only Agency and Designated funds are eligible for the match. These funds support a wide range of causes, including youth development, historic preservation, animal welfare, community health, and more. A full list of participating funds is available on the OCCF website or by contacting the OCCF office directly. As of Feb. 5, the following funds were included in the matching campaign:
How to Donate
Organizations can accept donations in the following ways:
Join Us in Building a Brighter Future“The success of last year’s 30th Anniversary Match Campaign was a testament to the generosity and commitment of our community,” Karah Bobeck, OCCF’s Programs and Communications Director said. “We’re excited to offer this opportunity again and look forward to seeing the incredible impact it will have for Owen County nonprofits.”Nonprofits interested in participating in this campaign and establishing a fund at the OCCF, should contact the OCCF’s office at 812-829-1725.
A Gosport home was destroyed by a fast-moving fire that broke out around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
The first wave of firefighters and emergency personnel arrived on the scene a short time later to find heavy smoke billowing from the roof and flames engulfing the front porch of the home at 246 E. South St.
Homeowner Bryan Rogers was at home when the fire broke out and was reportedly unharmed, declining medical treatment at the scene from the Owen County Emergency Medical Service.
The American Red Cross was later contacted to help meet Rogers’ immediate emergency needs.
According to the Gosport Volunteer Fire Department, a cause for the fire was undetermined.
Firefighters estimated around 30,000 gallons of water was used to battle the morning blaze.
The Gosport VFD received mutual aid from the Owen Valley Fire Territory, Bean Blossom Township-Stinesville VFD, Owen County Sheriff’s Department and the Owen County EMS.
Fire personnel were called back to the scene around 12:30 p.m. where they were able to quickly squelch the rekindled debris at the home, located on the southwest corner of East South and South Second streets.
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