Missing Woman Found Shot Dead, Buried in Clandestine Grave

A Florida woman who went missing last month after visiting her son and and grandbaby in Texas was found dead this week in Oklahoma.

Stephanie Loftin was reported missing on December 6, 2023, in Lamar County, Texas, according to KXII. A rental car in her name was found in Stephens County, Oklahoma, on December 14.

According to a GoFundMe, Loftin left her son’s home in Paris, Texas, to travel to an airport and fly home to Florida. She never made it to the airport.

Love County, Oklahoma, Sheriff Andy Cumberledge said Loftin’s body was found buried in shallow grave on Monday, KXII said.

“Through extensive investigation Stephens and Love County Deputies were able to connect Lofton and the abandoned vehicle to a suspect, Michael Gonzalez,” Cumberledge said.

Cumberledge said Gonzalez, Loftin’s estranged boyfriend, shot and killed her overnight on December 3 and bured her body in western Love County.

Gonzalez then fled to California, where he was arrested by Los Angeles police, Cumberledge said. He has since been extradited to Oklahoma, where he faces a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in Stephens County and first degree murder in Love County.

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[Featured image: Stephanie Loftin/GoFundMe]