James Derell Thompson faces first-degree murder and corpse-desecration charges after investigators linked him to Stephanie Denson’s death.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — The boyfriend of an Oklahoma mother whose body was found in the North Canadian River in May has been arrested and accused of killing her, authorities said. James Derell Thompson faces charges of first-degree murder and desecration of a human corpse in the death of Stephanie Denson.
The arrest marks a major development in a case that began when two fishermen discovered Denson’s remains in the river near Jones on May 19. The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office later identified her and began investigating how she died and how her body ended up in the water. Authorities eventually classified her death as a homicide and identified Thompson, her boyfriend, as a suspect.
The sheriff’s office described Denson as 38 years old in its announcement of the arrest. Earlier news reports also referred to her as Stephanie Denson Slade. Her body was found near the Choctaw Bypass and Hogback Road area east of Jones, according to reports from the early stages of the investigation.
Investigators spent nearly three months gathering evidence before Thompson’s arrest. Court records and reports about the investigation indicate authorities reviewed surveillance video and other evidence while reconstructing Denson’s movements and the circumstances surrounding her death. Investigators also used camera footage as they worked to establish a timeline.
The investigation extended beyond the place where Denson’s body was recovered. Court records cited in reports about the arrest indicate investigators believe the homicide occurred in Logan County. Her remains were later found in the North Canadian River in Oklahoma County, making the location where she was discovered only one part of the broader investigation.
Authorities have not publicly established every detail of what they allege happened before Denson’s death. The first-degree murder charge accuses Thompson of causing her death, while the separate desecration charge concerns the alleged treatment of her body afterward. The allegations against Thompson have not been proven in court, and the criminal case remains pending.
Denson’s death had drawn attention from relatives and the community as investigators worked for weeks without announcing an arrest. Family members previously described her as a mother, and reports said her disappearance caused concern among those close to her before authorities confirmed that the remains recovered from the river were hers.
The case changed from a suspicious-death investigation to a homicide investigation as additional evidence was developed. The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office publicly announced in late July that investigators believed Denson had been killed, more than two months after fishermen found her body. Authorities did not immediately announce an arrest at that stage.
Thompson is now being held as the criminal case moves into the court system. Investigators have not publicly released all of the evidence underlying the murder allegation, and additional details could emerge through court filings and future hearings. Thompson is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted.
Author note: Last updated August 18, 2026.