Pregnant 20-Year-Old Found Dead – Double Murder?

Oklahoma agents say a 20-year-old pregnant woman was killed, and her boyfriend now faces two first-degree murder charges.

Story Highlights

Investigators say scene evidence showed the boyfriend assaulted the victim before her death.
Officers found the 20-year-old with injuries consistent with homicide during a welfare check.
Authorities arrested the accused nearby and booked him on two murder counts, including for the unborn child.
Oklahoma law treats an unborn child as a “human being” for homicide, enabling the second count.

What Investigators Reported After The Welfare Check

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents and local police responded to a welfare check in Heavener on October 26, 2026. Officers found 20-year-old Stephanie Strock dead with injuries investigators described as consistent with homicide. Authorities said evidence at the scene showed her boyfriend, Austin Morrison, was with her that evening and physically assaulted her before she died. Agents identified Morrison as a suspect and began searching the area as the investigation moved forward.

Investigators later determined Strock was pregnant at the time of her death. Officers reported finding Morrison walking near the West Avenue D residence after identifying him as a suspect. Police took him into custody and booked him into the LeFlore County Jail. He now faces two counts of first-degree murder, one for Strock and one for her unborn child. Authorities had not released a cause of death or a stated motive as of the latest reports.

Family Account Of A Final Phone Call

Strock’s brother, John Woods, gave a detailed account to local media about her final phone call. Woods said his sister called him crying and said Morrison had hit her and that she was bleeding from the mouth. He said he then heard a door open, heard Morrison enter, and heard another strike before the call ended. This family account lines up with what investigators say they found at the home that night, according to the reporting.

Strock’s family also said she had planned to leave the relationship the night she died, a detail advocates say can mark a very dangerous time in abusive situations. The family’s statements have added urgency and public attention to the case as authorities prepare for court proceedings. Those interviewed stressed the risks many women face when trying to exit violent relationships during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth.

Why Oklahoma Filed Two Homicide Counts

Oklahoma law defines homicide as the killing of one human being by another and specifies that “human being” includes an unborn child, as defined in the state’s health statutes. This legal framing allows prosecutors to bring a second count when a pregnant victim is killed. Courts in Oklahoma have long recognized that an unborn child can be a homicide victim under this statute, which shapes how cases like this are charged statewide.

Oklahoma man charged with double murder after his pregnant girlfriend is found dead, police say https://t.co/74DNQjKIlE

— Pastor Ladena Bough (@LadenaBough) October 30, 2026

Public-health research shows that many homicides tied to pregnancy involve intimate partners. National reviews report that most pregnancy-associated homicides for which the attacker is known involve domestic violence. Advocates say that risk can spike when a partner tries to leave. While each case turns on its own facts, the reported relationship and timing in this case fit those known danger patterns described in the research literature.

What Comes Next In The Case

Prosecutors will present evidence to support the two first-degree murder charges, and the defense will test that evidence in court. Authorities have said the investigation is ongoing. As of the latest reports, officials had not released a full cause or manner of death or detailed forensic findings. Court filings, autopsy results, and any recorded calls or digital records could clarify the timeline, the mechanism of death, and the evidence linking the accused to the fatal injuries.