Cause of death released for Tacoma woman allegedly killed by her son
A Tacoma woman whose son is charged in her murder died from multiple sharp-force injuries due to a stabbing, according to the Piece County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Mary Jane Stephens, 64, was killed on April 18 near the 1200 block of North Pearl Street. Her manner of death has been listed as a homicide, the office wrote in an updated news release Tuesday.
Stephens’ son, Ronald Thomas Stephens, 36, has been charged with first-degree murder. He is accused of suggesting his mother’s death was a suicide to police the day after he allegedly killed her. A not guilty plea has been entered on his behalf.
Ronald Stephens was the one to report to 911 at 8:52 a.m. that he found his mother’s body after he woke up to take his 6-year-old niece to school. Mary Jane Stephens was pronounced dead at 9:11 a.m. after Tacoma police and fire personnel went to the apartment.
During Ronald Stephens’ arraignment in April, deputy prosecuting attorney Dalton Smith argued the attack on Mary Jane Stephens might have been planned for some time.
Ronald Stephens is being held at the Pierce County Jail on a $1.5 million bail. His trial is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 19.
