Woman who killed parents at 18 denied commutation after decades behind bars

Francine Marie Stepp, who has served more than three decades in prison for the 1988 murders of her parents in Stillwater, was denied commutation after her case was reviewed by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board on Monday.

Stepp was previously denied commutation in 2003.

Serving a Life Sentence Since Age 18

Stepp, 55, is incarcerated at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in McLoud. She is serving two concurrent life sentences after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. At the time of the crime, she was 18 years old.

Details of the 1988 Murders

On June 8, 1988, Stepp and her friend, Cindy Wynn, planned and carried out the murders of Stepp's parents, Mark and Delores, in their Stillwater home. Wynn served as the lookout while Stepp shot and stabbed her parents. Prosecutors claimed Stepp killed her parents because they were overly strict and had forbidden her from seeing Wynn — a decision they say ultimately pushed the pair to carry out the murders.

Admitting Guilt and Facing the Consequences

Stepp admitted guilt and said she wanted to prevent any additional pain and suffering for her family. Wynn received a 10-year sentence and was discharged in 1999. Stepp has been unsuccessful in her attempts at parole since she began trying in 2003.

Excessive Sentence Claims

She asked the state to reconsider her punishment, Stepp claims it is excessive, citing several factors, including her age at the time of the crime. According to her commutation application, her childhood was marked by an abusive and sexually explicit environment, as well as her parents’ alcoholism. Detailing the abuse, Stepp wrote that her parents’ volatile relationship often involved her in their physical fights. She also claims that her parents subjected her to a sexually explicit environment, including forced strip searches for drugs and frequent trips to a nudist colony.

Education, Rehabilitation, and Work While Incarcerated

Stepp’s application included detailed information about her life since her incarceration. She has earned an associate degree in business and is working toward a bachelor’s degree. She is currently working in IT support for an energy company, with a pending job offer upon release. The application also lists several completed rehabilitation and personal development programs, including anger management, victim impact, and life skills training.

Prison Disciplinary History

Oklahoma Department of Corrections records show that Stepp has three total infractions on record, all of which are non-violent. Her last misconduct violation was in 1991.

Legal Support Through Project Commutation

Project Commutation is a legal and advocacy initiative that helps incarcerated individuals seek sentence reductions based on evidence of rehabilitation and mitigating factors, such as age or past trauma.

Her legal counsel, Morgan Hale of Project Commutation, said Stepp’s current sentence does not reflect the abuse she endured or the progress she has made since entering prison in 1988.

“This was a desperate act made by a teenaged Ms. Stepp when she felt trapped by her parents’ lifestyle and living,” Hale said. “Prior to the crime...Stepp did not exhibit any violent conduct, indicating this was an isolated incident made in the face of her parents’ abuse.

Support from Victims’ Family

Stepp is not eligible for parole until July 2027. Her application requested that the board consider a reduction in sentence based on her age at the time of the offense, her record of rehabilitation, and a mediation agreement with her mother’s sisters, who support a sentence not exceeding 45 years.