A Phoenix man who admitted to fatally stabbing his wife in a Home Depot parking lot has been sentenced to nearly two decades in prison, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced Monday. Stephen Dennis, 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 37-year-old Aliccia Grant.
Court documents show that he was sentenced on Friday to 18 years behind bars. Prosecutors said the killing took place outside a Home Depot near Cactus Road and Cave Creek Road just after midnight on September 9, 2024. The couple had recently married but were reportedly discussing an annulment at the time of the attack.
Witnesses told investigators that a woman sitting inside a Toyota Prius screamed for help before being attacked. That woman was later identified as Grant. She had suffered multiple stab wounds while Dennis sat beside her in the passenger seat.
According to reports, Dennis exited the vehicle, argued with a bystander, then grabbed a bag from the car before running from the scene. Strangers quickly stepped in to try to assist the injured woman until police arrived. When Phoenix officers reached the parking lot, they began rendering aid. In her final moments, Grant identified Dennis as her attacker.
She was rushed to a nearby hospital but later died from her injuries. Hours after fleeing, Dennis phoned 911 to confess. He gave police his location, allowing officers to arrest him without incident. During questioning, he admitted to the stabbing and explained that the couple’s discussions of annulment had led to mounting tension between them.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell condemned the crime, emphasizing the betrayal at its core. “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,” Mitchell said in a statement.
Court records reveal that Dennis had married Grant only shortly before the fatal incident, making the case all the more shocking to family and community members. Prosecutors said the plea deal and sentencing ensured accountability while sparing Grant’s loved ones the pain of a lengthy trial.
Domestic violence advocates highlighted the case as a grim reminder of the dangers some victims face when trying to leave or change relationships. They urged those in unsafe situations to seek help from local support services. With sentencing now complete, Dennis will serve 18 years in state prison, closing a case that began with tragedy in a late-night parking lot.