Florida: In a significant breakthrough, detectives arrested 72-year-old Stephen Ford in Delaware for the 1996 stabbing and murder of his girlfriend, Doris Korell. The cold case had baffled authorities for over two decades, but a new investigation by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office led to Ford’s arrest on August 16, 2024. He was extradited to Florida on August 30, where he faces second-degree murder charges with a weapon.
Discovery of the Body and Initial Investigation
On December 15, 1996, deputies were called to a drainage canal along U.S. 41 North in Palmetto, Florida, where they discovered a body face-down in the water. The female victim, later identified as 45-year-old Doris Korell, had suffered 83 stab wounds to her neck and face. According to the local medical examiner, Korell had no water in her lungs, indicating she had already died before being placed in the canal. There were no signs of sexual assault.
It wasn’t until seven months later, in May 1997, that authorities identified the body using dental records. Around the same time, the St. Petersburg Police Department had been searching for Korell, who was reported missing by her daughter on December 11, 1996. Korell’s boyfriend, Stephen Ford, had contacted her daughter, asking if she had seen her mother, and told authorities that the couple had argued before Korell “uncharacteristically” left to go shopping on December 9, 1996, and never returned.
Suspicious Behavior and Evidence Against Ford
Ford’s behavior in the days following Korell’s disappearance raised red flags for investigators. On December 18, 1996, Korell’s car was found in a mall parking lot with no signs of struggle. Detectives alleged that Ford had wiped down the vehicle before abandoning it. Just one day after her disappearance, Ford rented a storage unit and placed Korell’s jewelry and personal belongings inside, stating that he did not want her daughter to have them.
When questioned by detectives, Ford denied involvement in Korell’s disappearance but made an ominous statement, saying, “If I killed her, I should get the death penalty.” Authorities searched his residence and noted a smell of decomposition, new stains on the bedding, and a suicide note in which Ford expressed a desire to be with Doris if she were dead. On December 24, 1996, detectives returned to Ford’s home and found him in a failed suicide attempt, having ingested bleach. Further suspicions arose when Ford’s ex-girlfriend provided a letter he had written in October 1996, where he expressed his desire to be rid of Korell. Despite these disturbing findings, the case went cold due to insufficient evidence. Around that time, Ford relocated to Delaware.
Breakthrough in 2024 and Ford’s Arrest
The case was reopened in 2017 by the Manatee County Cold Case Unit. During the investigation, detectives uncovered that Korell had confided in friends that she “feared Stephen Ford” and that they had been experiencing financial and domestic issues. In July 2024, new DNA testing on some of Korell’s remains provided crucial evidence. Detectives allege Ford showed a “clear pattern of consciousness of guilt” through his actions and statements, including attempts to mislead law enforcement and his failed suicide attempt.
On August 16, 2024, Ford was arrested in Georgetown, Delaware, where he had been living. He was later extradited to Florida and booked into the Manatee County Jail. Upon his arrest, Ford reportedly said, “My past has come up to haunt me,” acknowledging the resurfacing of the cold case.
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