Stephanie Kirkpatrick Politte, a 29-year-old woman, was tragically murdered in her Missouri City, Texas home on March 11, 2014. Stephanie was a kind, intelligent, and outgoing special needs teacher who had a passion for working with autistic children. She had married Daniel Politte in December 2011, and they lived together in Missouri City.
On the night of her death, Daniel Politte called 911 claiming that Stephanie was vomiting blood and he was attempting to perform CPR.
When paramedics arrived, they found Stephanie dead with a gunshot wound to the back of her head. A firearm was found nearby, but Daniel had not mentioned the gunshot wound in his initial call. The police quickly became suspicious of Daniel's inconsistent story and erratic behavior.
Daniel Politte initially claimed he couldn't remember what happened but later changed his story, saying Stephanie had been suffering from depression and picked up the gun to kill herself. He claimed he tried to wrestle the gun away from her, and it went off during the struggle. However, forensic evidence revealed that Stephanie had been shot from a distance of about 12-15 inches, indicating she was asleep when she was shot. A picture taken by Daniel shortly before the 911 call showed Stephanie sleeping in the same position she was found in.
Daniel Politte was arrested and charged with murder. During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence of Daniel's inconsistent stories and the forensic findings. The jury found Daniel guilty of murder, and he was sentenced to 85 years in prison. The motive for the murder was never conclusively established, but it was suggested that Daniel may have been having an extramarital affair.
Stephanie's father, Neil Kirkpatrick, who is an Operations Commander of the Fort Bend County Sheriff Office's Reserve Division, has since spoken out about the importance of recognizing and addressing family violence. He hopes that Stephanie's story will encourage others to speak up and seek help if they find themselves in similar situations.
The case of Stephanie Kirkpatrick Politte is a tragic reminder of the importance of being vigilant about signs of domestic violence and the devastating impact it can have on families.
