Mitzie Sharia Pace

Mitzie Sharia Pace, a woman remembered for a smile that could light up a room, was a kind and loving person with a passion for helping others and creating beauty. A 41-year-old female originally from the small community of Oak Ridge, Louisiana, Mitzie had built a life around caring for people and nature. She dedicated part of her career to being a special education teacher, and she also expressed her creative side as a talented florist. Those who knew her recalled a sweet and kind woman who deeply loved her family and her two dogs, Emily and Mr. Pickles. Friends remembered her contagious smile and a child-like enthusiasm that filled any room she entered. Her energy and her passion for seeing life with new eyes left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

The warmth Mitzie brought to the world was violently extinguished on Thursday, March 1, 2012. Her body was discovered in a field in Creek County, Oklahoma, a place far from her Louisiana home. A group of people riding motorcycles about four miles west of the city of Sapulpa, just south of Highway 33, made the tragic find. Investigators from the Creek County Sheriff's Office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) were called to the scene. They determined that Mitzie had been shot to death and her body had been dumped in the rural field. She was identified through her fingerprints.

At the time she was found, Mitzie was wearing a distinctive white t-shirt with a bicycle printed on it, jeans, and leather boots that had fur around the tops and rubber soles. How she came to be in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, remains one of the central mysteries of the case. Investigators have not released information about any potential suspects or persons of interest, and the motive for her murder is unknown. The case has been hampered by a lack of public information and concrete leads, leaving her family and community without answers for over a decade.

The investigation into Mitzie Pace’s homicide is open and active, handled by the OSBI's Cold Case Unit. This specialized team works to resolve some of the state's most complex and difficult unsolved murders, reviewing evidence and seeking new leads in cases where progress has stalled. The unit’s motto is “Never Forgotten,” a pledge they make to the victims and their families. While years have passed, investigators believe that people with direct knowledge of Mitzie's death may still be reachable and could hold the key to solving the crime.

A memorial service for Mitzie was held on March 17, 2012, at a funeral home in Monroe, Louisiana, where friends and family gathered to remember the woman whose kindness had touched so many. Her obituary noted her love for nature and for "watching all God's creatures." Friends left messages of profound loss, with one writing, "Her kindness towards all creatures, her magnetic smile and hope in life will be with me always." Another wrote, "A piece of my heart died that day but I know she’s with the LORD & I will see her again."

As of October 2026, Mitzie Pace's murder remains unsolved and is listed in the OSBI’s cold case files. Investigators continue to seek information from the public that could finally bring justice for Mitzie and provide closure for her loved ones. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation urges anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact their investigators at 1-800-522-8017 or via email at [email protected]. Information can also be directed to the Creek County Sheriff's Office at 918-227-6374.