Victim's Daughter Calls Tulsa Homicide Senseless

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A suspected meth addict is in jail after Tulsa police say he killed a man in a senseless crime.

When Stephen Stewart came home Sunday night, he saw someone stealing his work truck. When he tried to stop the thief, he was hit and killed.

7/12/2009  Related story: TPD: Tulsa Man Run Over & Killed By Delivery Truck

On one hand, you have a beloved 64-year-old father and grandfather who worked hard all his life, never drank or did drugs or got into trouble.

On the other, you have a man who has been in and out of prison since he was 18-years-old for crimes in three counties.

To the victim's family, it seems so unfair.

7/13/2009  Related Story: Tulsa Homicide Victim Identified

Stephen Stewart was a father to three girls and three boys and a proud grandfather of 14 kids that family says he thought the world of.

He was an outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt and was a huge Dolly Parton fan. His family says he was a gentle man who was always there for them.

"He always had a smile on his face, was always laughing, he loved to tell jokes and loved to tell stories," said Michele Kelly, Stephen Stewart's daughter.

Stephen worked for Metro Builders Supply as a deliveryman for 34 years and when he came home from a friend's house Sunday evening, he saw a thief drive off in his work truck.

Stephen chased the thief about a block, pulled in front of him with his personal truck and hopped out.

Police say that's when the thief hit Stephen, pinning him between the two trucks.

"I kept thinking, we're gonna wake up and this is going to be over, for that man to steal my dad's truck, to kill my dad over a truck, it's senseless," said Michele Kelly.

William Parris has 11 different mug shots with the Department of Corrections, the most recent one was taken in 2007 when he was released. He has convictions in three counties.

"I'm so angry this piece of trash would kill my father and leave him like he was nobody. But, he was somebody. He was a father, grandfather, cousin, nephew, friend, he was everything to us," said Michele Kelly.

Police caught Parris after he tried to steal two additional cars to make his getaway, but both times, was chased away by the owners. Police say they found meth in his pocket.

The News On 6 talked with one of the women who found Parris trying to steal her car. She says when her husband confronted Parris, he threw a flashlight at him, but her husband ducked and wasn't hit.

She found Parris' wallet in her car with his ID and also, the keys to the Metro Builder's truck.