In the crisp autumn of 2007, the community of Oklahoma City was shaken by the tragic death of 48-year-old Denise Stice, a dedicated and well-respected director at Tinker Air Force Base. On the morning of November 27th, her body was discovered in the cold waters of Lake Overholser. The grim finding sent ripples of fear and sorrow through those who knew her as a cheerful and talented woman with an infectious laugh.
The investigation into her death revealed a brutal and violent end.
Denise had been beaten and had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Her body was found nude, with only her wedding ring remaining. A short distance from the lake, her gold-colored Chevrolet Monte Carlo was located in an apartment complex parking lot. A witness reported seeing a stocky white man, approximately six feet tall and dressed in a white button-down shirt, black pants, and cowboy boots, exiting her vehicle.
As detectives delved into Denise's life, their attention turned towards her husband, Gerald Don Stice. He was identified by law enforcement as a strong person of interest in the investigation, though he consistently denied any involvement in his wife's murder. While no suspects were officially named in Denise's homicide, a little over a year after her death, her husband was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, as well as concealing stolen property. He later pleaded guilty to one count of concealing stolen property and two counts of drug possession, which resulted in a prison sentence.
Despite the passage of time, the murder of Denise Stice remains an unsolved case. The leads and interviews conducted by the Oklahoma City Police Department have yet to culminate in an arrest for her murder. The memory of Denise, a beloved sister, wife, and stepmother, continues to live on with her family and friends, who still await justice for her untimely and violent death.
