Still No Charges in Pregnant Woman Homicide Outside Court

Police question then release "person of interest" in pregnant woman beating death

A 21-year-old pregnant woman died after a fight outside Philadelphia Traffic Court Monday afternoon.

On Wednesday afternoon authorities were talking to a "person of interest" in the case but the man was released without being charged, said Philadelphia Police.

That person isn't believed to be the one who threw the deadly blows that allegedly killed mother-to-be Tovoyia Owens but was present during the attack, a source said.

Owens, a mother to a 4-year-old girl, and her current boyfriend were leaving the courthouse at 800 Spring Garden St. when they had some sort of altercation with a group of men just before 2 p.m., sources said.

Witnesses said that about five men attacked Owens in front of the courthouse.

"We saw all these guys, like, beating this girl," said one witness, David Cole. "And she was pregnant, and like, no one tried to help."

During the fight, one of the men allegedly struck Owens in the head. She fell to the ground, possibly hitting her head against the pavement, police said.

"I want their families to understand what these men did to my granddaughter," said Barbara Morris Monday night.

Owens was pronounced dead at 3:10 p.m. at Hahnemann Hospital after the altercation.

The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide due to blunt force trauma.

Originally it was believed that an ex-boyfriend of Owens was involved in the attack but a police source said that isn't true. She did however know the men, according to the source.

A 29-year-old man was detained on Monday, said sources. His exact role in the brawl wasn't immediately clear and he was released after questioning.

Owens was taking classes at Cheyney University and worked as a pharmacy technician at a West Philly Rite Aid, family members said.

Friends and family gathered outside that Rite Aid Wednesday night to remember Owens.

"To know her is to love her," Owens' father Frank Walker said. "I have a heavy heart right now and I pray to God to soften my heart."


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