North Canadian River Murder Arrest Made In Stephanie Denson Slade Case

Stephanie Denson Slade 

North Canadian River Murder Arrest Made Months After Woman Found Near Jones

A North Canadian River murder arrest has been made months after the body of 36-year-old Stephanie Denson Slade was discovered in the river near Jones, with investigators saying surveillance cameras and phone records helped build the case against her boyfriend.

James Derell Thompson was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center Friday and now faces charges of first-degree murder and desecration of a human corpse. His bond was set at $10 million. An arrest is an allegation, not a conviction. Thompson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

North Canadian River Murder Arrest Follows Months-Long Investigation

Fishermen discovered Denson Slade's body in the North Canadian River near the Choctaw Bypass and Hogback Road in May.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office initially treated the death as suspicious while investigators waited for additional evidence and findings from the medical examiner.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is responsible for investigating violent, sudden and unexpected deaths in Oklahoma, and the agency ultimately determined Denson Slade had been stabbed and her throat cut, ruling her death a homicide.

Denson Slade's family had reported concerns after they did not hear from her around Mother's Day. Relatives described her as a loving mother devoted to her three children and said her failure to contact family was unusual.

Investigators Say Cameras Helped Build Murder Case

Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III said investigators developed evidence placing Thompson near the crime scene around the time of Denson Slade's death.

Investigators used Flock license plate cameras, security video and phone records to reconstruct Thompson's movements. Johnson said video evidence captured Thompson's vehicle and expressed confidence that the evidence would play a significant role in the prosecution.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office handles criminal investigations across the county and spent months gathering evidence before presenting the case against Thompson.

Johnson said investigators also visited businesses and other locations to collect additional evidence, emphasizing the importance of building a detailed timeline rather than rushing the investigation.

Thompson Faces Murder And Corpse Desecration Charges

Investigators identified Thompson as Denson Slade's boyfriend. Johnson said her family told investigators she had been afraid both to remain with Thompson and to leave him.

Thompson now faces first-degree murder and desecration of a human corpse charges. Oklahoma law maintained by the Oklahoma State Courts Network establishes first-degree murder as one of the state's most serious criminal offenses, carrying the possibility of life imprisonment, life without parole or the death penalty depending on the circumstances of the case.

Authorities said prosecutors could ultimately consider seeking the death penalty, but that decision has not been announced.

Thompson remains in custody on the $10 million bond as the criminal case moves forward.

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