Kansas Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Brutal Murder of Ex-Girlfriend
Kansas residents were left horrified by a shocking case involving the brutal murder of 64-year-old J. Ewing’s ex-girlfriend, 58-year-old D. Stephens. Judge B. Watson delivered a life sentence to Ewing, ensuring he will remain incarcerated for his crimes, which included first-degree felony murder and second-degree reckless murder.
The tragic incident unfolded on April 27, 2021, at around 5:30 p.m., when emergency responders arrived at a mobile home park following a call about an unresponsive woman.
Deputies discovered Stephens’ lifeless body inside a trailer, displaying severe blunt force injuries to her face, torso, and arms. The grisly scene was further marred by dogs eating parts of her body, with medical personnel noting extensive facial disfigurement.
Ewing, identified as the victim’s ex-boyfriend, was present at the scene when deputies arrived and was promptly taken into custody. Investigators later uncovered disturbing evidence detailing the violent events leading to Stephens’ death.
Footage from her home security system showed Ewing attacking her, dragging her by the hair into the trailer, and striking her multiple times with an ax retrieved from inside. During the assault, Ewing was heard shouting, “I will kill you,” according to court documents.
The couple’s relationship had been marked by a history of domestic violence, with law enforcement responding to 44 incidents at their residence between April 2020 and April 2021.
Prosecutors revealed that just days before the murder, Ewing was arrested on felony drug charges and blamed Stephens for his legal troubles. While in custody, he reportedly told another inmate about his intent to kill Stephens upon his release, even threatening to “cut her head clean off.”
Ewing’s trial in February resulted in convictions for additional crimes, including aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, criminal threat of violence, and tampering with evidence.
Judge Watson ordered these sentences to run consecutively, totaling an additional 344 months, thereby guaranteeing Ewing would never regain freedom.
In a public statement, the District Attorney’s office expressed a sense of closure for the community while mourning the tragic loss of life.
Stephens’ murder serves as a grim reminder of the devastating toll of domestic violence and underscores the urgent need for intervention and awareness to prevent such tragedies.