Cold Case Files: Mystery of 1977 Sequoyah County murder one of the numerous cases in OSBI files

On June 13, 1977, the body of 20-year-old Jo Ellen Mills Stevens was discovered under a bridge approximately seven miles west of Sallisaw, Oklahoma.

Last seen in the Muldrow area, authorities estimate she had been deceased for three to four days prior to the discovery, placing her likely time of death between June 9 and June 10, 1977.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) continues to seek answers in this decades-old case.

Stevens was identified through dental records, a standard practice in the 1970s when DNA technology was not yet available.

Stevens was buried at Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith after her death. Her only daughter, Theresa, passed away in December of 2013 at the age of 39.

 The lack of available information online about her case contrasts with the extensive coverage of other contemporary investigations, hinting that it may not have drawn the same level of scrutiny or resources initially.

However, the OSBI’s continued interest implies that suspects may have been considered over the years, though none have been publicly confirmed.

The OSBI, tasked with handling major criminal investigations across Oklahoma, including homicides and cold cases, is leading the effort to solve Stevens’ case. Now classified as a cold case, the agency is appealing to the public for any information that could shed light on the circumstances surrounding her death.

Individuals with knowledge of Stevens or events in the Muldrow and Sallisaw areas during that time are especially urged to come forward.