On January 17, 1986, 19-year-old Lisa Joann Palmer was murdered inside her home in Oklahoma City. More than three decades later, the person responsible has never been identified or brought to justice.
Lisa was a young wife and mother. She was also caring for her 18-month-old half brother that afternoon. Her youngest child was home as well, making the circumstances surrounding her death even more heartbreaking.
The Last Hours of Lisa Palmer
Lisa was last known to be alive at around 12:30 p.m., when her mother came to the house and dropped off Lisa’s younger half brother.
At some point afterward, something went terribly wrong.
Later that evening, Lisa’s husband, Donnie, returned home from work and discovered that his wife had been killed.
One of the most disturbing details of the case involved Lisa’s toddler-aged half brother. When she was found, the little boy had been lying across her legs, apparently trying to wake her. He was only 18 months old and could not possibly understand what had happened to his sister.
Investigators determined that Lisa had been strangled.
There were signs that a struggle had taken place inside the home, but investigators reportedly found no obvious evidence that someone had forced their way inside.
There was also no indication that Lisa had been sexually assaulted, and robbery did not appear to be the motive.
That left investigators with one of the most difficult questions in the case: Why was Lisa killed?
A Murder Without an Apparent Motive
The circumstances offered few clear answers.
Lisa was apparently killed inside her own home, yet there was no obvious sign of forced entry. Nothing appeared to have been stolen, and there was no reported sexual assault.
The lack of an apparent motive made the murder especially difficult to understand.
Approximately two years after Lisa’s death, authorities said they had identified a possible suspect. However, investigators reportedly did not have enough evidence to make an arrest or bring charges.
The person’s identity was never publicly released.
Donnie Palmer’s Alibi
Lisa’s husband, Donnie, was not considered a suspect in the case.
According to the information available about the investigation, he had an ironclad alibi for the time surrounding Lisa’s murder.
After Lisa’s death, Donnie eventually left the area and attempted to rebuild his life while raising their two young children without their mother.
Lisa’s children were only six months and four years old when she was killed.
They grew up without the chance to see their mother raise them, and without an explanation for why her life was taken.
Decades Without Answers
Lisa Palmer’s murder remains unsolved.
Years have passed since that January afternoon in 1986, but the questions surrounding her death remain.
Who entered Lisa’s home?
Why did they attack her?
And most importantly, why has the person responsible never been held accountable?
For Lisa’s family, the passage of time has not erased the loss. Her children were still babies when their mother was taken from them, and they have spent their lives carrying the consequences of a crime that has never been solved.
Lisa was only 19 years old.
She was a wife, a mother, a daughter and a sister. Her life ended inside her own home, and more than three decades later, her family still deserves answers.
If You Have Information
Anyone with information regarding the murder of Lisa Joann Palmer is asked to contact the Cold Case Unit of the Oklahoma City Police Department at (405) 297-1127.
Even after all these years, information that once seemed insignificant could potentially help investigators understand what happened to Lisa and finally identify the person responsible for her death.
This story is based on publicly available information and reported facts. It has been independently written and presented for informational purposes. Images, if any, belong to their respective owners.