Man gets decades in prison for killing Edmond mother
In the more than three years since her sister was fatally stabbed in a random attack in Oklahoma City, Mary Freedle said she’s been living a “new normal.”
“The first year was brutal,” Freedle told an Oklahoma County judge during a sentencing Monday in the murder case. “There’s no way to convey our loss.”
Beside Freedle was a collage of photographs of her sister, Elizabeth Nelson, 34, of Edmond.
A few feet away stood Steven John Rivera, who pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree murder in the deadly 2014 stabbing of Nelson.
In accordance with a plea agreement, Rivera, 32, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Rivera has been treated in the past for mental illness, court records show.
As part of the plea deal, Rivera will undergo mental health treatment during his incarceration.
The case was delayed multiple times due to questions regarding Rivera’s mental competency. Had the case gone to trial, defense attorneys planned to contend Rivera was insane at the time of the attack.
Rivera has been in the Oklahoma County jail since the attack. He will get credit for time served in jail, according to the plea agreement.
He did not address the victim’s family during the sentencing.
“We are left saddened with the loss of Beth,” Freedle said looking at other relatives seated in the courtroom. “Beth was a beautiful person.”
Nelson also is survived by her two sons, now both teenagers, Freedle said.
“They have lost a giant piece of their whole life,” the sister said. The sons did not attend the sentencing.
Nelson was an office manager for a security company in Norman, according to an obituary.
“She loved life and loved the family sport of BMX. Her love will be missed by so many that loved her, but she will always remain in our hearts forever,” her obituary said.
The attack
About 8 p.m. April 6, 2014, Nelson was in the 100 block of NW 27 to pick up a friend, Allen Galbreath, then 47. After they both were inside Nelson’s vehicle, Rivera knocked on the driver’s side window, according to prosecutors.
When Nelson rolled the window down, Rivera reached inside the vehicle and stabbed her as many
as eight times, prosecutors said. Galbreath got out of the vehicle to confront the attacker and suffered stab wounds that were not lifethreatening, authorities reported. Nelson died at a hospital, police reported.
An off-duty Choctaw police officer in the area witnessed part of the attack and stepped in to detain Rivera until Oklahoma City police could arrive.
Rivera also pleaded guilty to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for stabbing Galbreath.
Oklahoma House of Representatives
District 46 (Unexpired term) Darin Chambers, Republican
Jacob Rosecrants, Democrat
Oklahoma Senate
District 37 Republican primary Brian M. Jackson Grady Grant Brian O’Hara Phil Nollan Rick Hardesty Nicole Nixon R. Jay McAtee
Oklahoma County
County Sheriff
P.D. Taylor, Republican Michael H. Hanson, Democrat
Ed Grimes, Independent
City of Oklahoma City
• Ordinance No. 25,750: A new quarter-cent sales tax, effective Jan. 1, 2018.
• Ordinance No. 25,751: A temporary, 1-cent sales tax to begin Jan. 1, 2018, and expiring April 1, 2020, to fund capital improvement projects.
• Proposition 1: A $490.56 million bond issue for street construction and repair projects.
• Proposition 2: A $26.795 million bond issue for bridge construction, repair and rehabilitation projects.
• Proposition 3: A $27.585 million bond issue for the construction, repair and maintenance of traffic control equipment.
• Proposition 4: A $60 million bond issue for economic and community development, including job creation programs.
• Proposition 5: A $137.72 million bond issue for construction, expansion and improvement of city parks.
• Proposition 6: A $23.91 million bond issue for the construction of a new
library and remodeling, equipping and improvements at existing libraries.
• Proposition 7: A $20.185 million bond issue for renovations, furnishings and improvements at buildings in the Civic Center Complex.
• Proposition 8: A $20.395 million bond issue for upgrades to the city’s transit system, including the purchase of buses and improvements to bus stops.
• Proposition 9: A $13.085 million bond issue for expanding, renovating and improving the city’s Central Maintenance Facilities Complex at SW 15 and S Portland Avenue.
• Proposition 10: A $62.17 million bond issue for improving and equipping the city’s drainage control system.
• Proposition 11: An $8.865 million bond issue for repairs, renovations and improvements at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
• Proposition 12: A $30.84 million bond issue for the construction of a new Police Training Center, to be a part of a new combined Police-Fire Training Center.
• Proposition 13: A $45.35 million bond issue for the construction of a new Fire Training Center, to be a part of a new combined Police-Fire Training Center.
Canadian County
Yukon Public Schools
• Proposition 1: A $43.68 million bond issue to fund the construction of a new elementary/ intermediate school and other purchases, including classroom technology, security upgrades and roof maintenance across the district.
• Proposition 2:A $1 million bond issue to buy transportation equipment.