‘I didn’t think he’d make it off that island’: Wife says Memphis man detained on Epstein island was trying to expose ‘darkness’

Two residents of Little Saint James told police they discovered multiple people on the property and ordered them not to move. According to court documents, the individuals fled on foot.

One of the residents, who said she is five months pregnant, told police she was pushed to the ground during the encounter and experienced pain.

Owen disputes that claim. In a statement provided to media, he said no one pushed the woman and claimed video exists of the interaction.

Court records say Owen was eventually apprehended by maintenance workers and held until officers with the Virgin Islands Police Department arrived. A detective later noted there is probable cause to believe Owen may have been unlawfully restrained.

Owen told investigators he was “taken,” tied up and placed in a holding area.

Another man on the island has been charged with striking Owen while he was restrained.

In an interview with ABC24, Owen’s wife, Jessica Owen, said the trip was planned weeks in advance and intended to draw attention back to Epstein’s crimes and support the nonprofit’s mission.

“He figured he would get caught and arrested – that was totally OK with him,” she said. “And actually, I think he wanted that a little bit, just to get eyes back on that subject, on that island, and, you know, possibly to get more…more eyes on ‘We Fight Monsters.’

She said Owen even brought bond money with him in anticipation of being arrested.

Jessica Owen described her husband as “a very good guy” and rejected allegations that he injured anyone.

“He’s not someone that would go knocking down any pregnant women,” she said. “He is very dead set on bringing to light things that people don’t want to talk about anymore.”

According to his wife, Owen and others swam to the island, took photos near structures on the property and were soon spotted by security.

She said Owen chose to stay behind while others left, expecting to be detained for trespassing.

Instead, she alleges, the situation escalated.

“You know, you think, like, a woman hogtied you, and a woman blindfolded you, but Ben says she was extremely aggressive and all these men that were under her were terrified of her,” she said. “So they hogtied him, they blindfolded him. They put him in something they deemed ‘the dungeon’, which is, and I saw a picture from, like, the Google Maps, and it’s essentially, like, it’s underground, almost.”

She claimed he was held for hours in extreme heat without water before police arrived.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed those details, but court documents indicate the investigation into possible unlawful restraint is ongoing.

Jessica Owen said the couple founded We Fight Monsters to combat human trafficking and addiction, adding that their work has included helping women recover from exploitation and regain custody of their children.

“Ben has always been trying to make things better,” she said. “Trying to make things better, trying to make kids’ lives better, trying to help trafficked women. Anything he can do to make the world better, that is what he’s going to do.”

She acknowledged the trip to the island was unusual but said it aligned with their broader mission.

“There’s definitely been nothing to this severity,” she said.

Owen is expected to appear in court in May. His wife said they are uncertain how the case will proceed, but praised local law enforcement.

She maintained that the risks he took were justified.

“I do think it was worth it,” she said. “He thinks it’s worth it. And if it’s going to bring more eyes back onto that island and the woman who was still running it was still running it for Epstein back in the day, like something’s very wrong with that.”

The case also comes as a separate investigation continues involving one of the island’s managers, who faces charges in an unrelated incident involving alleged detention and destruction of property.

As both cases move forward, authorities have indicated additional findings could emerge regarding what happened on the island and whether any crimes beyond trespassing occurred.