William Douglas "Dee" Owens, aged 31, met a tragic end on July 26, 1945, in Lawndale, California. The events leading to his death unfolded during a dinner gathering at the home of Leon and Lois Benon, a young couple celebrating their first wedding anniversary. Owens, who was also known by the alias Harold Timothy Young, had been romantically pursuing Lois for several months, despite being a father himself. On that fateful evening, Owens convinced Lois to leave her husband and run away with him to Texas, promising her a luxurious lifestyle.
As Lois began packing her belongings, Leon, her husband, appeared to accept her decision calmly. However, beneath his composed exterior, Leon was deeply troubled by the situation. He retrieved a disassembled .22 automatic rifle from a drawer and began assembling it, claiming he intended to practice shooting in the backyard. Owens, realizing the potential danger, attempted to intervene, but Leon was resolute. As Lois and Owens prepared to leave, Leon declared, "Well, Dee, you asked for it," and opened fire, fatally wounding Owens.
The police were summoned to the scene, and Leon confessed to having planned the murder for two months, driven by his knowledge of the affair between Lois and Owens. Despite his youth, Leon was tried as an adult. His defense centered on the argument that he was protecting the sanctity of his home. The jury, composed of 11 women and one man, deliberated for just over 24 hours before acquitting Leon. The case concluded with Leon being granted an annulment of his marriage to Lois on August 9, 1946.
