In a shocking turn of events, Timothy Stephenson, a seemingly successful man living in a suburb east of San Francisco, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for a murder he committed over two decades ago in Kansas City. The crime, which had remained unsolved for years, finally caught up with him, leading to his arrest on murder charges in December.
Stephenson’s dark past came to light when new information surfaced, leading to his estranged husband, Joseph Ginejko, revealing that Stephenson had confessed to him about the murder back in 2014. The victim, Randall Oliphant, was shot twice in Stephenson’s Kansas City home in 1998 and his body was later found in rural Missouri. Despite Stephenson’s initial denial of the crime to investigators in 1998, new evidence and revelations from Ginejko ultimately led to his conviction.
After a decade of keeping the secret, Ginejko decided to come forward and provide authorities with key details that had never been publicly revealed before. In an undercover sting operation in April 2021, Ginejko confronted Stephenson about the murder, leading to his eventual admission of guilt.
Stephenson’s once perfect life has now crumbled, with his marriage ending in divorce and legal battles over custody of his twin daughters. The 16-year sentence, which includes recognition of time served, serves as a reminder of the consequences of long-buried secrets and the importance of seeking justice, no matter how much time has passed.