Two added to sheriff’s most-wanted list as suspects in western Rowan break-ins

Published 4:23 pm Monday, July 24, 2017

SALISBURY — The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office has added two people to its most-wanted list after a multijurisdictional investigation into a string of vehicle thefts and break-ins.

Officials say the pair are involved in a number of the thefts.

This month, the Sheriff’s Office began receiving reports of vehicle thefts and residential and vehicle break-ins in western Rowan County. The investigation led sheriff’s detectives and patrol deputies to identify Dustin Blaine Owensby as a suspect.

Detectives were also joined in the investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Department and the Statesville, Mooresville and Cleveland police departments.

Warrants also were obtained for 29-year-old Dustin Owensby.

Owensby has lived in Salisbury and Troutman but is thought to be in the Mooresville area of Iredell County.

Authorities say Trisha Forster, 27, of Statesville is an accomplice in the crimes.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office has several felony warrants for Owensby and Forster for multiple counts of motor vehicle larceny, breaking and entering, larceny, felony larceny, financial card theft and forgery.

Statesville police and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office also have warrants for Owensby.

Rowan officials said more charges are likely as the investigation continues.

Both Owensby and Forster have been added to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office most-wanted list.

Anyone with information Dustin Owensby or Forster or any other suspects on the most-wanted list should contact CrimeStoppers at 866-639-5245, Lt. Chad Moose at 704-216-8687, or Sgt. Rodney Mahaley at 704-216-8711.