Accused Murderer Remains Behind Bars
Local Woman Arrested in Murder Case
WACO (March 17, 2011)--A prominent Waco businesswoman remained behind bars Thursday after her arrest Wednesday afternoon on warrants charging capital murder and attempted capital murder in the Oct. 8, 2008 shooting death of her husband Joe Sturdivant, 68, the owner of Sturdivant's Automatic Transmission Service.
Officers took Joyce Sturdivant into custody at around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the business.
Her bond was set at $1 million.
"She wanted this guy dead for a while." special prosecutor Guy Cox said Wednesday night, hours after a McLennan County Grand Jury indicted Joyce Sturdivant on the two charges.
Cox said Thursday Robinson police had more than enough evidence to indict Joyce Sturdivant, but said the case languished for nearly two-and-a-half years.
When Abel Reyna succeeded longtime District Attorney John Segrest, he assigned Cox to the case and six weeks later, Sturdivant was indicted.
Cox says police gave him a detailed PowerPoint presentation with evidence proving Joe Sturdivat's death could not have been a result of a break-in.
“In my 34 years of practicing law, this is one of the finest cases I've ever seen investigated,’ Cox said Thursday.
Friend Fred Deleon, who owns a business across the street from the transmission shop, doesn’t believe the accusations, however.
"I don't believe for one minute that she has any involvement in what's going on,” he said Thursday.
Other friends with whom News 10 talked Thursday said Joyce Sturdivant never had a problem with money and question claims she killed her husband in order to collect his life insurance.
Joyce Sturdivant called police just after 5:20 p.m. on Oct. 8, 2008 to report she had found her husband lying in a pool of blood at the couple's residence in the 3100 block of Highway 77 South in Robinson.
He had been shot in the head and back while asleep in his bed, police said.
The Sturdivants had six dogs that Cox described as “very aggressive and very vocal.”
“We think if someone came into the house, two of the dogs were in the house and they would have gotten Mr. Sturdivant up. He never woke up. He was shot in bed,” Cox said.
In September 2007, the Sturdivant's were attacked and robbed inside their home off South Robinson Drive.
No arrests were made in the robbery and at one point early in the murder investigation. It appeared that burglary or robbery might have been the motive for the deadly shooting.
Sturdivant's wife told police that when she returned home a few days after her husband's death, she discovered a diamond-incrusted butterfly brooch was missing.
Cox, however, rejected robbery as a motive for the killing.
"We know that she hired some people to kill her husband." Cox said.
Cox said the two men, including one from Waco, accepted payment from Sturdivant about a month before the October murder, but never acted on her request.
Police weren’t talking much about the investigation.
"There has been much speculation by friends and family regarding this case," Chief of Police Rusty Smith said.
"As much as the Robinson Police Department would like to give specific answers to their questions, Joyce Sturdivant has her right to a trial and any discussion about what occurred is not judicious at this time," he said.
Donna Webb has known Joyce for at least 40 years.
"She loved Joe, she really loved Joe." Donna Webb said, shaking her head at the day's developments.
"She couldn't...I can't...No." Webb said.
Reached by phone Wednesday night, Jason Darling, Sturdivant's attorney said he was a "little surprised" that his client had been indicted.
He said Sturdivant, "wasn't expecting" the indictment or the arrest.
The Sturdivant Family has owned and operated Sturdivant's Automatic Transmission, located near South 18th Street and Clay Avenue since the late 1960s.
In addition to being a business owner, Joe Sturdivant was also an avid stock car racer, frequently competing on the local race circuit.
