Visitors offer words of encouragement for sergeant paralyzed in CJC elevator accident
CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- Nearly a week after breaking his back during an elevator accident at the Criminal Justice Center, Sheriff's Deputy Paul Owens continues his fight to recover.
On Wednesday, he got a few words of encouragement.
At midday, the two judges who head up the Philadelphia court system arrived at Hahnemann University Hospital accompanied by Sheriff Jewell Williams.
They came to visit Sgt. Owens who remains in an induced coma, paralyzed from the waist down.
His wife Heather, herself a former deputy sheriff, remains at his bedside 24/7.
Owens is suffering from severe head and chest injuries and multiple broken vertebrae.
Doctors are waiting before attempting any surgery.
Judge Marshal Niefield, the head of Municipal Court, and Court of Common Pleas President Judge Sheila-Woods Skipper came to try to comfort the Owens family.
"We went in to offer our prayers and thoughts. They are managing given the circumstances," Woods-Skipper said.
The visit lasted only a few minutes.
The family is not ready to talk to reporters, but asked we pass along their extreme appreciation of all the support they've received.
They have also set up a GoFundMe account: https://www.gofundme.com/sergeantpaulowens.
