Stewart was a student at Texas A&M University at the time of her disappearance; she was a freshman studying civil and chemical engineering. She was home for spring break when she vanished from Houston, Texas on March 15, 2007. Stewart was last seen between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. at the apartment of her ex-boyfriend, Timothy Wayne Shepherd, located off of F.M. 1960 on Red Oak Drive. A photograph of Shepherd is posted below this case summary. He initially said they got into an argument and Stewart walked out of his apartment angrily, carrying a cellular phone. Stewart has never been heard from again.

Shepherd later changed his story a short time later and confessed to Stewart's murder. He said he had strangled her in an argument, put her body in a plastic tote bag and left it in a dumpster. Authorities believe she was dismembered and the body parts burned before being disposed of. Shepherd led police to the dumpster where he said he left Stewart's body, but it had already been emptied and no evidence could be recovered. He was charged with Stewart's murder a few days after she went missing. Shepherd and Stewart had a volatile relationship with many arguments and she was reportedly afraid of him. Stewart's loved ones describe Shepherd as jealous, possessive and controlling of her, and they believe he physically abused her. Physical evidence of murder was found in Shepherd's apartment, including 20 or 30 pieces of bone, ammonia, bleach and odor eliminator.

At his fall 2008 trial, Shepherd's attorneys argued that prosecutors couldn't prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty of killing Stewart. In October 2008, Shepherd was convicted of murder. He faces up to life in prison at sentencing.

Stewart's remains have never been located, but foul play is suspected in her case due to the circumstances involved.

Above: Timothy Wayne Shepherd