In the late summer of 2017, a family's life in the Glasgow Village neighborhood of St. Louis County was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence. Patricia Steward, a 56-year-old woman, was found deceased in her home on August 24th, the victim of a quadruple homicide. Alongside her were her two sons, 20-year-old Joseph Corley and 10-year-old Terrence Dehart, as well as an 18-year-old visitor, Deandre Kelley Jr.
The discovery was made after concerned family members requested a welfare check when Patricia, a hip-hop producer, uncharacteristically failed to show up for work. The scene that awaited law enforcement was grim, with all four victims having been shot to death in different rooms of the house.
The initial investigation left detectives with few leads, and the seemingly motiveless crime shocked the community. As weeks turned into months, the case grew colder, prompting public pleas from the family for any information that could lead to an arrest. The break in the case finally came four months later with the apprehension of 24-year-old Ja'Vonne Dupree in Columbia, Missouri. The investigation revealed a troubling connection between the suspect and the victims. Dupree, an aspiring musician, had been taken in by Patricia and was living in the basement of her home while they collaborated on music. However, a falling out led to Dupree being evicted from the residence.
The motive for the gruesome murders appeared to be rooted in this conflict. In what was described as a fit of rage, Dupree returned to the home and carried out the fatal shootings. Following the murders, he stole a car, electronics, designer clothing, and shoes from the victims. A significant piece of evidence that led to his capture was his own social media activity, where he reportedly boasted about the killings, revealing details that had not been made public. When he was arrested, authorities also found him in possession of items stolen from the Steward home.
In October 2021, Ja'Vonne Dupree stood trial for the murders. The legal proceedings brought to light the full extent of his actions on that tragic day. The jury found him guilty on four counts of first-degree murder, bringing a long-awaited sense of justice to the families of the victims. While the prosecution had initially considered seeking the death penalty, the final sentence handed down was life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring that the man responsible for the deaths of four innocent people would spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
