Dead man identified as missing lobbyist

? A body found near the Kansas River was that of a convicted sex offender who became a lobbyist for the homeless, Topeka police said Wednesday.

But the Shawnee County coroner has yet to determine a cause of death for David Patrick Owen, 38. Owen’s father, from Cimarron, reported him missing, having last spoken with his son on June 16.

A local anti-violence group will have a memorial service for Owen at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, said its leader, Sonny Scroggins. The event will be just east of the old Santa Fe railroad bridge where Owen’s body was found Sunday.

Police had received reports that Owen had confrontations with homeless people as they camped along the Kansas River. Owen frequently talked to them to urge them to contact their families.

Since 2002, Owen has been registered as a legislative lobbyist for his own group, Homeless Come Home. He frequently attended public meetings in the Topeka area.