Remains of Food Network contestant Cristie Codd found in woodstove

The remains of Cristie Codd have been found inside of a suspect’s wood burning stove, investigators say. Codd, who was a finalist on season eight of the reality show “Food Network Star,” along with her husband, had both been reported missing last Sunday when friends and relatives could not find them. A contractor who did work inside of the Codd’s home in Leicester, North Carolina, was arrested earlier in the week.

Writes CNN on March 21: “A North Carolina man facing murder charges in the death of a Food Network Star contestant had human remains in his woodstove, authorities say. Robert Jason Owens, 36, is accused of killing former contestant Cristie Schoen Codd, 38, and her husband, Joseph Codd, 45. Cristie Codd was five months pregnant.”

Authorities responding to the missing person’s report broke into the Codd’s home and performed a search. Both vehicles belonging to the couple were there, as were the Codd’s two dogs. Police said it appeared that a robbery had occurred.

The following day, Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan said their office received an anonymous phone call from a person who claimed that a “suspicious” person was walking around Robert Owens’ home in Candler, approximately 14 miles away from the Codd’s home. The person was seen hauling bags to a dumpster.

“The caller identified that someone had come out and very suspiciously had left things in a dumpster,” Duncan said. “We responded and were able to locate items that we knew belonged to Cristie Schoen Codd.” A laptop, jewelry and a Glock handgun were stolen from the Codd’s home and found inside of the dumpster.

Police arrested Owens on suspicion of burglary; while he was in custody, he reportedly confessed to killing Joseph and Cristie Codd. A search warrant was obtained and investigators found human remains inside of Owens' wood stove. Those remains have tested positive as belonging to Cristie; forensics have not yet revealed whether Joseph’s remains were also found in the pot belly stove.

Adds CNN: “Owens faces various charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, murder of an unborn child and breaking and entering.”

Additional information was released and carried by USA Today: “The suspect in the deaths of a Food Network chef and her husband told authorities that he stored and destroyed the bodies of his two victims, according to search warrants released Friday… Owens admitted to investigators that he had hit Joseph Codd with a pickup truck, according to a search warrant.” Owens has not indicated how he allegedly killed Cristie Codd.