Stephen Dennis, a 38-year-old Arizona man, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. The victim was his newlywed wife, 37-year-old Aliccia Grant. The incident occurred in Phoenix and was the result of a dispute over an annulment, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
The tragic event unfolded in the early hours of September 9, when police were called to a Home Depot in north Phoenix. Witnesses reported hearing a woman’s cries for help. Upon arrival, they discovered Grant in the driver’s seat of a red Toyota Prius, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Dennis, who was in the passenger seat, fled the scene after a brief altercation with a bystander.
First responders applied pressure to Grant’s wounds as she identified Dennis as her attacker in what prosecutors referred to as a “dying declaration.” Grant was rushed to the hospital, but doctors were unable to save her life.
In a surprising turn of events, Dennis himself called 911 shortly after the incident to confess that he had stabbed his wife. He also provided the police with the location of the murder weapon, which was subsequently recovered.
Dennis later revealed to authorities that the couple had recently wed and were in the midst of a disagreement about an annulment at the time of the stabbing. This information was confirmed by the prosecutors.
County Attorney Rachel Mitchell expressed her outrage over the crime, stating, “This wasn’t just a violent crime — it was an act of betrayal carried out by someone who should have been a source of safety, not fear.” She emphasized the cruelty of a murder occurring within a relationship that should be based on trust and vowed to continue holding violent domestic abusers accountable.
Grant, a mother of two, was remembered by friends for her “endlessly hopeful energy,” according to a GoFundMe page set up in her memory. The page described her as a self-made entrepreneur, cosmetologist, author, and model, and highlighted her story of perseverance and belief in herself.