Snapped on Oxygen: Where is Joyce Sturdivant now?

The murder investigation of 68-year-old Robinson resident Joe Sturdivant led authorities to his long-term wife, Joyce Sturdivant. She was then arrested for first-degree murder charges. Joe was shot to death with a gun, and he bled himself to death on his bed in October 2008.

As an informant and a hitman came forward to reveal Joyce's plans to kill Joe, she was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison at the Carole Young Medical Facility, where she is currently serving her sentence. Episode 8 of Snapped season 23 showcases the murder of Cody Johnson, as it airs on July 29, 2024, at 7 pm EST on Oxygen. The official synopsis reads,

"The death of a Texas racecar champion leads detectives down a winding road of suspects and reveals deep, dark family secrets hidden for decades."

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How was Joyce Sturdivant arrested?

The former racecar champion, Joe Sturdivant, was found shot to death in his Robinson residence on October 8, 2008. Joe's wife of over 40 years, Joyce, allegedly found the front door locked from the inside when she called 911. The authorities who arrived at the scene went in through the garage and found the 68-year-old on his bed with multiple gunshot wounds.

Joe Sturdivant had been lying in the pool of his own blood while the residence was in a disheveled state. Even though the kitchen drawers and sliding doors were open, there were no signs of forced entry. Authorities at the scene ruled out robbery or home invasion but failed to find a suspect as Joe's loved ones assured them he had no enemies. Joe and Joyce were known to share a loving relationship as well.

Joe Sturdivant was killed inside his home (Image via Unsplash)

As the investigators looked into Joyce's life more closely, they found discrepancies in the accounts of the business the couple ran together - Sturdivant's Transmissions. Joyce Sturdivant was allegedly siphoning money out of their business while the court documents stated that an informant, Glendell Tate, came forward to tell the police that Deborah Dieterich had approached him for a murder-for-hire plot for Joe.

She was an employee at TPS Parts, a company that supplied spare auto parts to other dealers such as Sturdivant Transmission. Deborah Dieterich had offered $20,000 worth of jewelry for the murder. The investigation revealed that Joyce had initially approached Ali Abdula Muhammad, a family friend, to cause harm to Joe as he had allegedly been torturing and beating Joyce.

Muhammad entrusted Chris Chatman with the job, but he failed to carry out the plans. Moreover, witnesses claimed that Joyce had been on the lookout for a hitman to have Joe Sturdivant killed.

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Where is Joyce Sturdivant now?

Joyce Sturdivant pleaded not guilty to the charges of first-degree felony offenses of murder and attempted capital murder. While she maintained her innocence, the jury found her guilty of all the charges in 2011. Joyce Sturdivant (65) was held at the McLennan County Jail on a $1 million bond, per NBCDFW News.

During Joyce's trial, Chris Chatman's testimony convinced the jury to convict her. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison with an additional 15 years for the charges of attempted capital murder.

Joyce Sturdivant was incarcerated at the Carole Young Medical Facility in Texas City, Texas, and will be eligible for parole in 2026, per the Texas Department of Corrections.

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Watch the details of Joe Sturdivant's murder as the Snapped episode re-airs on Oxygen on Monday, July 29, 2024.