The Unsolved Death Stephanie Wasilishin
Morbid
Forensics, Investigation Stall, and Family Reopening Efforts
Forensic reenactments and doubts about suicide, why prosecutors couldn’t charge, the case shelving, and the family’s renewed push and media efforts to reopen the investigation.
In the early morning hours of July 9, 1993, police in Sedona, Arizona received a dispatch call from 911 regarding a domestic violence related shooting at a home on Coffee Pot Drive. When they arrived at the home, officers found thirty-one-year-old Russell Peterson performing CPR on his longtime girlfriend, Stephanie Wasilishin, who was lying on the floor of the couple’s bedroom with a large hole in her neck from a .44 caliber bullet. Also present in the bedroom was the couple’s four-year-old daughter.
At first, Peterson told investigators that Stephanie had fired the gun at him in the living room, then retreated to the bedroom, where the two struggled over the gun, during which Stephanie was shot. Later, however, Peterson changed his story, telling detectives he couldn’t remember what happened, but he thought Stephanie shot herself. Further complicating matters was the couple’s daughter, who told detectives “Papa killed her.”
For decades, the Wasilishin family has sought justice for Stephanie, but that justice and the answers to their questions have remained elusive. With the passage of time, is it possible for investigators to close the case on Stephanie Wasilishin’s death, or has too much time passed for a resolution to present itself?
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Thank you to the Amazing Dave White (of BRING ME THE AXE PODCAST) for research and writing assistance!
References
Brooks, Scott. 1993. Miscellaneous offense report, Peterson/Wasilishin. Incident Report, Sedona, Arizona: Sedona Police Department.
Eland, Ron. 2020. Sedona Police Department adds more pieces to puzzle in 1993 death. July 27. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://www.redrocknews.com/2020/07/27/sedona-police-department-adds-more-pieces-to-puzzle-of-1993-death/.
—. 2020. Sedona Police Department returns to 1993 case. July 16. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://www.redrocknews.com/2020/07/16/sedona-police-department-returns-to-1993-case/.
Irish, Robert. 1993. Sedona Police Department Supplementary Report, case #93-4944. Supplementary Report, Sewdoa, Arizona: Sedona Police Department.
Keen, Dr. Philip. 1993. Report of Autopsy, Stephanie Wasilishin. Autopsy, Phoenix, Arizona: Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner.
Spokes, Walter. 1993. Russell Peters interview, 10-21-93. Interview transcript, Sedona, Arizona: Sedona Police Department.
Spokes, Walter. 1993.
Supplementary Report, case # 93-4944.
Incident report, Sedona, Arizona: Sedona Police Department.
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