OSBI: 11-Year-Old Was Dead For Days Before Mother Called Police

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

NOBLE, Oklahoma – The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of an 11-year-old girl as a suspicious death.

Stephanie Wilcoxson's mother, Janice, reported her death the Wednesday before Christmas Eve. However, investigators say the girl had been dead prior to police being notified. They believe her mother was living in the home the entire time.

"The girl had been dead inside the home for several days before the mother called authorities," said OSBI spokesperson Jessica Brown.

According to the police report, the mother said Stephanie committed suicide, but the report also described the mother as mentally ill.

There were no visible signs of trauma on the 11-year-old, and OSBI is waiting on an autopsy and toxicology report from the medical examiner before proceeding with their investigation.

"We questioned the mother that night quite extensively as to what led up to the death and what was happening at the time," Brown said. "At this point we're not sure if it is accidental, homicide, suicide, or natural. However, it is suspicious because of the age of the victim and the circumstances."

Tragedy is something the Wilcoxson family has dealt with. Her father, Darrell, committed suicide in 2005.

"They've had a hard time since the father passed," said neighbor Josh Kirkland said. "They've kind of kept away from everybody."

Stephanie Wilcoxson was a sixth-grader at Curtis Inge Middle School in Noble. Stephanie had attended Noble schools since kindergarten. District leaders are still deciding if extra counselors will be on hand when school starts back up in January.

More on News9.com: OSBI Investigates Death of 11-Year-Old Noble Girl