Delaware Man Arrested for 1996 Murder of Girlfriend Discovered in Florida Canal

A suspect in the nearly 30-year-old unsolved murder of Doris A. Korell has been apprehended in Delaware, marking a significant breakthrough in the long-dormant case. Stephen L. Ford, 72, was arrested on August 16 near his residence in Georgetown, Delaware, and has since been extradited to Florida to face charges of second-degree murder with a weapon.

Delaware man arrested

The body of Doris A. Korell, aged 45, was found in a drainage canal in Florida on December 15, 1996, but remained unidentified for a year. A medical examination revealed that she had suffered 83 stab wounds and had trauma on her neck and face, as stated in a news release from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

The initial investigation into Korell's death faced significant challenges due to a lack of physical evidence and leads, leading the case to go cold. Furthermore, at the time, detectives in Manatee County were unaware that police in St. Petersburg had been searching for Korell after she allegedly had a fight with Ford, her boyfriend. Ford allegedly told Korell's daughter that she had gone shopping after their argument, and Korell's vehicle was later found at a local mall, which Ford allegedly parked and cleaned before abandoning.

Ford's apprehension finally came to fruition on August 16, 2023, in Delaware, following the issuance of a warrant for his arrest. He was subsequently extradited to Florida and booked into the Manatee County Jail on August 30. As of now, no information on Ford's attorney is available.

Ford's Troubling Behavior

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office revealed that during the initial investigation, Ford exhibited concerning behavior, including an alleged suicide attempt and disturbing statements. He purportedly wrote a suicide note directed at his two sons, expressing his desire to be with Korell if she was indeed deceased. Additionally, he allegedly made a statement to detectives, implying that if he had killed her, he deserved the death penalty. Despite these unsettling actions and statements, Ford denied any involvement in Korell's disappearance or death and subsequently relocated to Delaware.

Reopening the Case

In 2017, the case was reopened, leading to the unearthing of new information. According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, acquaintances of Korell disclosed that she had expressed fear of Stephen Ford and that the couple had been experiencing domestic and financial troubles. Cold case detectives also noted Ford's behavior during the initial investigation as indicative of a clear pattern of consciousness of guilt, further substantiating the possibility of his involvement in Korell's murder.

Prominent Figures Comment on the Case

Following Ford's arrest, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody made a statement to the press, acknowledging the complexity of cold cases and emphasizing the pursuit of justice for Doris Korell. She acknowledged that for years, the case had lain dormant, but with recent developments, there was renewed hope for finding the truth and holding the perpetrator accountable.