On a Tuesday afternoon in Checotah, Oklahoma, the life of 31-year-old Rachel Lenee Stewart of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was tragically cut short in what authorities have described as an apparent murder-suicide. The incident, which unfolded on May 27, 2025, also resulted in the death of 30-year-old Todd Patterson of Checotah. Acquaintances reported that Stewart and Patterson were in a relationship.
Police were called to a residence on 2nd Street at approximately 4:42 p.m., where they discovered
the bodies of Stewart and Patterson. Stewart was found partially in the yard of the residence, while Patterson was located a few feet away in the street. It appeared the two had been unloading bags from the trunk of a vehicle. The State Medical Examiner later determined that Stewart had sustained a single gunshot wound to the face from a handgun, and Patterson had a gunshot wound to the right side of his head.
A harrowing detail of the event is that Stewart's 7-year-old son was inside the vehicle when the shooting occurred. He reportedly heard a gunshot, followed by his mother's voice saying, 'be careful with that thing,' and then two more shots. The child was physically unharmed and was later released to his biological father.
Rachel, born on July 8, 1993, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was remembered as a beautiful soul with an infectious laugh who loved to sing and dance. A 2011 graduate of Eufaula High School, she was a talented florist who poured her heart into her work. Her greatest joy and accomplishment was her son, Jeremiah, whom she lovingly called 'Miah.' The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Stewart and Patterson is being conducted by the Okmulgee County District Attorney's office, which also serves McIntosh County.
