Photo courtesy of Texas Dept of Criminal Justice
On October 8, 2008, Robinson, Texas, became the scene of a shocking crime. Joyce Sturdivant, 65, called authorities that evening, claiming she came home to find her husband, Joe Sturdivant, dead. Joe, aged 68, was found in their bedroom, lying in a pool of blood with multiple gunshot wounds to his head and back.
Joyce reported that she arrived home around 5:30 p.m. to an unusually quiet house. When she entered the bedroom, she discovered the gruesome scene and called the Robinson Police Department. At first glance, it appeared to be a tragic and violent home invasion, but as investigators dug deeper, the case took an unexpected turn.
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The couple had spent many years running an automatic transmission repair shop together in Waco. On the surface, they seemed to live a quiet and normal life. However, what unfolded in the investigation revealed a far more sinister reality.
The Investigation
A McLennan County Grand Jury returned a two-count capital murder indictment against Joyce Sturdivant, accusing her of orchestrating her husband’s murder. The indictment alleged that in the month leading up to Joe’s death, Joyce had hired two hitmen to kill him. According to court documents, she offered them a combination of cash, jewelry, and a promise of life insurance benefits as payment.
The two men, Carlos Garcia and Chris Taylor, initially agreed to the arrangement but later backed out, refusing to carry out the killing. This left Joyce to take matters into her own hands.
According to the indictment, on the morning of October 8, Joyce used a firearm to kill her husband as he lay in their bed. Investigators allege that financial gain was her motive, with the promise of a life insurance payout in which she was the beneficiary.
After the murder, Joyce called police to report that someone had shot her husband. However, inconsistencies in her story, combined with evidence collected during the investigation, pointed back to her as the primary suspect.
Legal Proceedings
Special Prosecutor Guy Cox of Waco was appointed to handle the case after District Attorney Abel Reyna recused himself due to past connections with one of the witnesses. Joyce was arrested at the couple’s transmission shop in south Waco shortly after the indictment.
She was charged with capital murder and held on a $1 million bond. If convicted, she faced either the death penalty or life imprisonment. Records related to the investigation, aside from the indictment, were sealed, leaving much of the case shrouded in mystery.
Joyce was represented by the law firm Moody and Darling, and financial records filed with the court confirmed her legal arrangements. Meanwhile, crime scene investigators combed through the couple’s 15-acre property, searching for evidence. At one point, they conducted a shoulder-to-shoulder walkthrough of the semi-rural land. However, details of what they found were never made public.
The Legacy of the Case
Despite the indictment and arrest, many questions surrounding Joe Sturdivant’s murder remain unanswered. With sealed records and limited information available, the true extent of the planning and motive behind the crime is still unclear.
The case of Joyce and Joe Sturdivant serves as a grim reminder of how even long-term partnerships can hide dark secrets. What appeared to be a quiet life shared by a hardworking couple ended in a devastating act of betrayal and violence that shocked the Robinson community.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
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