Deadly Influence: The Social Media Murders is investigating the disappearance and murder of social media influencer and makeup artist Stephanie Parze, who was killed and dumped by the side of the road near her home in Freehold, New Jersey.
The police suspect the killer was her on-again, off-again boyfriend John Ozbilgen. The cops declared Ozbilgen a person of interest in the case, and he was already facing charges of domestic abuse and possession of child pornography.
However, he hung himself in his parents’ basement before the cops charged him with murder.
The 25-year-Parze was last seen alive on October 30, 2019, before she returned to her home after a night out with relatives. She was reported missing after failing to turn up for work the following day.
Parze’s father, Ed Parze, later recalled that he was initially convinced Ozbilgen had done something to his daughter. He explained, “I didn’t like this person from the day I met him. There wasn’t ever any eye contact with this guy. He was in and out. I even said to my daughter, ‘I’m not liking this. You’ve got to be careful with him.’ He was strange. I had a gut feeling from day one. … I just said, ‘It’s him.’”
The investigators learned that Ozbilgen had sent multiple abusive text messages to Parze on the night she disappeared. In an interview, Ozbilgen said he had spent the night with her but claimed she’d been alive and well when he left.
John Ozbilgen was facing charges when Stephanie Parze disappeared
Ozbilgen was already facing domestic abuse charges filed by three women, including Parze. He was accused of choking at least one of the women during sex and during arguments.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelOn November 8, he was arrested on charges of child pornography after the police allegedly found incriminating images on his phone. He spent eleven days in jail.
On November 22, Ozbilgen killed himself. He left a couple of suicide notes, which the police say incriminated him in the murder. He wrote about digging himself a “deep hole” and told his parents everything they would hear was true except the stuff about child pornography.
He also wrote, “I can’t do life in prison.”
In January 2020, two teenagers found Parze’s body on the side of a busy highway in Old Bridge, NJ, approximately 10 to 15 miles from Freehold. The teenagers easily spotted the remains.
Prosecutors allege John Ozbilgen killed Stephanie Parze
The following day, Monmouth Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced that Ozbilgen was responsible for the death.
The suspect’s parents, Hakan and Cynthia Ozbilgen have faced allegations that they may have deleted incriminating messages from their son’s phone.
Hakan Ozbilgen insists his son is innocent and accused the prosecution of persecuting his son. He even claimed they were responsible for his son’s death.
Parze’s family has since set up The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation, an organization that strives to help victims of domestic and sexual abuse.
Deadly Influence: The Social Media Murders airs Mondays at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery.