Sheriff's Department aids in murder case

According to a news release by Stephens County undersheriff Rick Lang, on Dec. 14, 2023 Stephens County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a missing person, Stephanie Loftin from Lamar County, Texas. Deputy Patrick Norton located Loftin’s vehicle at an abandoned property in Stephens County. Lt. Tim Vann began investigating events surrounding the vehicle at that time.

In cooperation with the Texas Department of Public Safety CID Agent Paul Hoffman (formerly of Stephens County Sheriff’s Office) Lt. Vann developed a suspect, Michael Gonzalez. Lt Vann led the investigation surrounding Loftin’s disappearance.

Gonzalez soon fled to Los Angeles to avoid prosecution. On Jan. 8 a warrant of arrest was issued for Gonzalez. Gonzalez was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and was transported back to Stephens County Jail by Lt. Vann and Deputy Jordan Jones.

On Jan. 15, 2024, Lt. Tim Vann, Lt. Matt Brown and Deputy Ron Pruitt of the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office along with Deputies from the Love County Sheriff’s Office and Anthropologists from the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office, recovered a body from a clandestine grave in Love County, Oklahoma. The body has been identified as Stephanie Loftin.

Michael Gonzalez will be charged in Love County with first degree murder.

Assistance was received during this investigation from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Gainesville Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the United States Secret Service, Love County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, Frisco Police Department, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Florida.

Without Lt. Tim Vann’s diligence and expertise in following the evidence this victim would not have been found and justice would have been lost.