Account
Jan 28, 2026
Jan 28, 2026
James
Steven Knowles
57
57
5'7 inches
190 lbs
Black
Male
In the fall of 2017, a 57-year-old man named James Steven Knowles, also known by the nickname Steve, vanished from his life in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. On the evening of October 3rd, he was last seen in the parking lot of the Carva Apartments, located in the 1100 block of north St. Charles Place, where he worked as the maintenance man. His estranged wife was the one to report him missing, setting in motion an investigation into a deeply unsettling disappearance. The last person known to have seen him was his roommate, who had left their shared apartment to go to the store sometime after 7:00 p.m. When she returned, James was gone. Tellingly, he had left behind his cellular phone, house keys, and cigarettes—items considered uncharacteristic for him to be without, suggesting his departure was not planned. The investigation into James’s disappearance soon uncovered a sinister connection to another resident of the Carva Apartments, a man who had worked for James painting vacant units. This individual, Mario Normore, was identified as a person of interest. Investigators learned that Normore was a member of the Rollin' 20s gang and was a suspect in a string of violent robberies and three other homicides that had plagued Oklahoma City in 2017. He was arrested in October of that same year and initially charged with ten robberies. A year later, the charges against him were escalated to include four counts of murder, one of which was for the death of James Steven Knowles. The case against Mario Normore painted a grim picture of what happened to James. According to witnesses, Normore had given conflicting reasons for the murder, at one point claiming James was a "snitch" and at another, stating he killed him over a mere $20 debt. In March 2023, to avoid a potential death sentence, Mario Normore pleaded guilty to all charges against him, including the murder of James. He was sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. Despite this legal resolution, the profound sadness of the case remains. James Steven Knowles is still considered missing and is presumed to be deceased. The circumstances of his disappearance led authorities to suspect foul play from the beginning, a fear that was tragically confirmed through the conviction of his killer, though his body has not been recovered.
Oct 03, 2017
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Police Departmen
405-297-1129
06/04/2026
