In the quiet town of LaFayette, Georgia, the life of 38-year-old Christina Michelle Denson, also known as Christy, came to a tragic end in November 2015. A resident of the small North Georgia community, her sudden death left a void in the lives of her family, including her two daughters. The circumstances of her passing would soon unravel a grim story of domestic violence that unfolded within the walls of her own home.
On Sunday, November 22, 2015, Christina was found deceased in her
residence. The cause of her death was a gunshot wound to the neck. The initial investigation into her death quickly pointed towards her husband, 41-year-old Steven Marcus Denson. It was revealed that after shooting his wife, Steven left her body in their home for at least a day. The grim discovery was made after Steven invited a neighbor over to his house, to help him with a chainsaw, and then showed the neighbor his wife's body. The neighbor promptly contacted law enforcement.
Following the discovery, Steven Denson was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife. While he claimed the shooting was accidental, investigators were skeptical of his account. Authorities reported that Steven Denson stated he and his wife were investigating a noise outside their home when they bumped into each other, causing the gun he was holding to discharge accidentally. However, his actions following the shooting, which included cleaning the scene, redressing his wife's body, and hiding her car in the woods, raised serious questions about his claims of an accident. It was also noted that as a convicted felon, he was not legally supposed to be in possession of a firearm.
In May of 2017, Steven Marcus Denson pleaded guilty to the felony murder and aggravated assault of his wife, Christina Michelle Carroll Denson. By accepting the plea deal, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. This plea brought a legal conclusion to a case that highlighted the devastating impact of domestic violence. Steven Denson had a prior criminal record that included charges of battery and cruelty to children, often associated with domestic abuse. The community was left to mourn the loss of Christina, a mother and daughter whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence.
