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Owens, Robert
Status: active
Profile written June 14, 2026
This profile reflects positional accountability — this individual held the leadership roles shown during the dates shown, during which the listed deaths or lawsuits occurred. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding of personal culpability for any specific incident.
Tenure Summary
Robert Owens began his career with the Georgia Department of Corrections in 2015 as a Corrections Officer, rising through sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and unit manager roles before being promoted to Deputy Warden at Metro Reentry Facility, effective January 2024. He continues in that post as of 2025, earning $82,857.59 annually. GPS records attribute 18 in-custody deaths to the facility during his tenure as deputy warden—all at Metro Reentry—between January 2024 and April 2026. A notable incident under investigation is the January 2026 death of Silas Westbrook, who was transferred to Metro Reentry after a riot at Washington State Prison and died shortly after arrival. Several lawsuits name Owens as a defendant, though none have yielded publicly reported settlements.What happened on his watch
At Metro Reentry Facility (Deputy Warden, 2024–present), GPS records show 18 deaths between January 24, 2024, and April 13, 2026. Many of the deceased were older prisoners with advanced illnesses. According to DeKalb County Medical Examiner case notes integrated into GPS data, the causes were predominantly natural, including metastatic cancer, end-stage liver failure, and cardiac events. For instance, John Whitfield, 61, died of stage‑4 lung cancer while under hospice care in October 2025; the record notes he lacked an on‑site nurse before being found unresponsive. Larry Jones, 76, was transferred for hospice and died of end-stage lung cancer a week later. Rodney Corbin, 55, died from cardiac complications five days after being discharged from a hospital to the facility infirmary. A traumatic death involved Timothy Crumbley, 65, who suffered a brain hemorrhage after a fall at the facility in September 2024; the medical examiner ruled the manner an accident. Decedents ranged in age from 36 to 85.In addition to those recorded deaths, intel reports document the case of Silas Westbrook. In January 2026, Westbrook, who had been hospitalized for minor injuries sustained during a riot at Washington State Prison, was transferred to Metro Reentry. Per multiple GPS intel entries, he suffered a medical emergency upon arrival on January 17 and was pronounced dead. The GDC’s Office of Professional Standards and the GBI crime lab launched an investigation into the death, which is described as the fourth fatality linked to the Washington disturbance. Neither news mentions nor published DOJ findings specific to the facility were cited in the available intelligence.
Litigation
- United States v. Beckham, 2:26-cr-00001 (GASD, filed Jan. 6, 2026) — pending.
- Robert M Taylor Iii v. Piedmont Healthcare Inc, 1:24-cv-00019 (GASD, filed Feb. 16, 2024) — pending; Owens is named as a defendant, filed shortly after he assumed the deputy warden role.
- Moore v. Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, 1:23-cv-01109 (GAND, filed Mar. 14, 2023) — pending; predates his deputy warden posting but lists Owens.
- Cheek v. Gl Nv24 Shipping Inc, 2:22-cv-00086 (GASD, filed Sep. 6, 2022) — terminated June 25, 2024; no settlement amount.
- United States v. Lockett, 5:21-cr-00003 (GAMD, filed Jan. 12, 2021) — pending.
- Buske v. Owens Corning Corp, 1:16-cv-00709 (GAND, filed Mar. 4, 2016) — terminated Dec. 18, 2017.
- Daker v. Head, 6:14-cv-00047 (GASD, filed May 19, 2014) — terminated Sep. 30, 2022.
- Smith v. Owens, 6:13-cv-00115 (GASD, filed Dec. 30, 2013) — terminated Aug. 24, 2016.
- Seibert v. Owens, 1:12-cv-00327 (GAND, filed Jan. 31, 2012) — terminated Sep. 30, 2014.
Sources
- GPS internal records: personnel positions, salary data, death attribution totals (2024–2026)
- DeKalb County Medical Examiner case files (24-0199, 24-1134, 24-1756, 24-1919, 25-0620, 25-1748, 25-1775, 25-1824, 25-1843, 26-0002, and associated ORR intake records)
- GPS intel events: multiple entries detailing the Silas Westbrook transfer, death, and GDC/GBI investigation (Jan. 2026)
- CourtListener dockets: all case records listed in litigation section
Positions Held
| Title | Facility | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| DEPUTY WARDEN | METRO REENTRY FACILITY | 2024-01-01 → present |
| CSM CORRECTIONAL UNIT MANAGER | 2021-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | |
| CSM CORRECTIONAL CAPTAIN | 2019-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | |
| CSM CORRECTIONAL LIEUTENANT | 2017-01-01 → 2018-12-31 | |
| CSM CORRECTIONAL SERGEANT | 2016-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | |
| CORRECTIONS OFFICER (SP) | 2015-01-01 → 2015-12-31 |
Lawsuits as defendant
| Case # | Court | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:26-cr-00001 | GASD | 2026-01-06 | pending |
| 1:24-cv-00019 | GASD | 2024-02-16 | pending |
| 1:23-cv-01109 | GAND | 2023-03-14 | pending |
| 2:22-cv-00086 | GASD | 2022-09-06 | terminated |
| 5:21-cr-00003 | GAMD | 2021-01-12 | pending |
| 1:16-cv-00709 | GAND | 2016-03-04 | terminated |
| 6:14-cv-00047 | GASD | 2014-05-19 | terminated |
| 6:13-cv-00115 | GASD | 2013-12-30 | terminated |
| 1:12-cv-00327 | GAND | 2012-01-31 | terminated |
Deaths attributed during tenure
18 people died at facilities under Owens, Robert's leadership.
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