NEW: Stepfather held in deaf woman's December slaying

From: San Antonio Express, TX - 17 Jan 2003

By Manny Gonzales
Express-News Staff Writer

Police arrested a 43-year-old Universal City man today on allegations he strangled his pregnant, deaf stepdaughter in December.

Duane Cortez Wilson, a civilian employee at Randolph AFB, was arrested at his place of employment and is expected to face murder charges in the death of 28-year-old Trishawn Fifer.

Fifer was found dead Dec. 26 at her home in the 10100 block of Terra Oak Street. Initially, authorities said they did not suspect foul play, but the Bexar County medical examiner's officer determined through an autopsy that she had been strangled.

Fifer's two daughters, ages 2 and 4, were found at home alone with their dead mother by a neighbor who spotted the youngest one crying on the sidewalk in front of Fifer's home.

The woman's husband, Nathaniel Fifer, was still at work when authorities arrived.

Fifer, a stay-at-home mom, was six months pregnant.

mrgonzales@express-news.net

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