An Arizona man will spend nearly two decades in prison after admitting to stabbing his wife to death during a fight over their short-lived marriage.
The Crime
Stephen Dennis, 38, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of his wife, Aliccia Grant, 37, in Phoenix.
According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the attack happened in the early morning hours of Sept. 9, outside a Home Depot in north Phoenix. Witnesses reported hearing a woman screaming for help and found Grant in the driver’s seat of a red Toyota Prius, bleeding from multiple stab wounds.
Dennis was seen exiting the vehicle, grabbing a bag, and fleeing the scene after arguing with a bystander.
Victim Identified Her Attacker
As officers arrived and tried to control the bleeding, prosecutors say Grant made a dying declaration, telling police Dennis was the one who attacked her.
She was rushed to the hospital but later pronounced dead.
Not long after, Dennis called 911 himself, admitting he had stabbed his wife and directing officers to the murder weapon.
A Fight Over Marriage
Investigators learned that the couple had only recently married and were arguing about an annulment at the time of the stabbing.
County Attorney Rachel Mitchell called the case an act of deep betrayal:
“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.”
Sentencing
Dennis was sentenced to 18 years in prison after entering his guilty plea.
Remembering Aliccia Grant
Grant, a mother of two children, was remembered by friends and family as a woman full of ambition and positivity. A GoFundMe page described her as an entrepreneur, cosmetologist, author, and model who lived with “endlessly hopeful energy.”
“Aliccia saw no dream as too big. She chased hers with open eyes and a full heart,” the tribute read.
What began as a marital dispute ended in tragedy, leaving two children without their mother and a community grieving the loss of a woman remembered for her resilience and determination. The case highlights the devastating consequences of domestic violence, and prosecutors vow to continue pursuing justice in such cases.
