Earlier today, the Love County Sheriff’s Office provided an update in the slaying of Stephanie Lofton. According to a social media post from LCSO, investigators and the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office recovered the body of Stephanie Lofton who had been killed and buried in a clandestine grave in Love County early last month.

The discovery comes following an extensive investigation after Lofton was reported missing in Lamar County, Texas on December 6, 2023. A rental vehicle registered to Lofton was found abandoned in Stephens County on December 14. Stephens and Love County Deputies say they were able to connect the abandoned vehicle to Lofton and suspect Michael Gonzalez.

Detectives say the victim had been shot and killed by her estranged boyfriend who buried her in Love County sometime between the night of December 3 and the morning of December 4. The suspect reportedly fled to California to try to evade law enforcement.

After an arrest warrant was issued, Gonzalez was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department. He has been extradited back to Oklahoma where he is facing charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 1st Degree Murder.