In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a community was left in shock and mourning following the tragic death of 39-year-old Kristina Schwaighofer on June 25, 2026. A graduate of Union High School, Kristina was a beloved daughter, sister, and friend, known for her creative spirit and love for her four cats. For the last five years of her life, she had worked at Don Thornton Collision in Tulsa, having moved back to the area to be closer to her family after living for a long time in Louisiana.
Her life was cut short in what police have described as an apparent murder-suicide.
The series of events leading to the discovery of Schwaighofer's body began when she failed to report for work on Thursday, June 25th. Concerned when she couldn't be reached by phone or text, her coworkers' anxiety grew. One of her colleagues, who was also a neighbor, went to her residence near East 51st Street and South Boston Place to check on her and noticed her car was still in the driveway. After a final unanswered text, the neighbor contacted emergency services to request a welfare check.
Upon their arrival at approximately 3:45 p.m., officers from the Tulsa Police Department's Riverside Division peered through a window and saw a man, later identified as 35-year-old Kyler Young, lying on the floor with a handgun nearby. Fearing someone inside might need medical assistance, they forced their way into the home. Inside, they found Schwaighofer deceased in a living room chair. Young was also found dead from what investigators believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The preliminary investigation suggests that Young fatally shot Schwaighofer before taking his own life. Authorities have stated that there is no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved in the incident. Neighbors indicated that the couple had been dating for several years and had recently been experiencing relationship difficulties, with one neighbor mentioning that Young had been struggling with personal issues and that tensions had reportedly increased after he lost his job the previous week. The investigation into the circumstances of the apparent murder-suicide is ongoing.
