A 35 year old mother is found strangled inside her Oklahoma City home In the winter of 1986, a young life was tragically cut short in Oklahoma City, leaving a family shattered and a community searching for answers. Lisa Palmer, a 19-year-old Caucasian female, was a devoted wife and mother to two young children. On January 17th, she was at her home, juggling the everyday tasks of a mother, which on this particular day included looking after her youngest child and her 18-month-old half-brother.
The ordinary day took a horrific turn, marking the last time her family would see her alive.
Later that day, Lisa's husband, Donnie, returned home from work to a scene of unimaginable horror. He discovered his wife's body, a discovery made even more heart-wrenching by the presence of their young child, who was reportedly trying to wake their mother. The authorities were immediately called to the scene. Investigators found evidence of a struggle within the home, yet there were no signs of a break-in. The motive for the crime was perplexing, as there was no indication of robbery or sexual assault. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation.
In the initial stages of the investigation, law enforcement identified a potential person of interest, but there was not enough evidence to formally name a suspect or make an arrest. Lisa's husband was quickly ruled out as a suspect, as he had a confirmed alibi for the time of the murder. With no clear leads and no new evidence coming to light, the case eventually went cold.
Decades have passed, but the search for justice for Lisa Palmer has never ceased. Her family, particularly her daughter Krista and mother Barbara Gray, have continued to advocate for her case, hoping that one day the person responsible for her violent death will be held accountable. The Oklahoma City Police Department's cold case unit still considers the case open, urging anyone with information to come forward. The senseless act that took a young mother's life remains an unsolved mystery, a painful wound for a family still waiting for closure.
