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Man Stabbed to Death by Girlfriend's Mother, Cops Say

By Becky Schlikerman | January 8, 2013 12:49am
 Terrance Steele, 32, was allegedly killed by his girlfriend's mother April 9 in his Humboldt Park home, authorities said. Here, Steele is pictured with his 1-year-old daughter, Tyra.
Terrance Steele, 32, was allegedly killed by his girlfriend's mother April 9 in his Humboldt Park home, authorities said. Here, Steele is pictured with his 1-year-old daughter, Tyra.
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EAST GARFIELD PARK —  A convicted murderer was stabbed to death by his girlfriend's mother in East Garfield Park during a fight, authorities said.

Terrance Steele, 32, began fighting with his girlfriend at his home on the 3600 block of West Franklin Boulevard on April 9.

The suspect, Sharon Burton, 56, watched from a window as Steele allegedly pushed her daughter to the ground as they argued over her Link card.

Steele allegedly wanted to cash out the card and use the money to recover vehicles that had been impounded. But the woman wanted to use the money to buy food for her children, according to court documents.

Burton then saw Steele, who had been convicted of a 2000 murder, “smack” and push her daughter to the ground, according to court records.

So she “gave Terrance a poke with a pocket knife in the chest,” her lawyer said. Steele died that day.

“Any mother witnessing her daughter being slapped, shook, and pushed to the ground by someone they… were aware was capable of murder would be protective,” Burton’s lawyer said in court papers.

Steele had an extensive criminal history, which included convictions for murder and drugs. He had also been charged with attempted murder and domestic battery, though both charges which were later dropped, according to court records.

Steele's girlfriend, Martina McKay, 26, declined to discuss the argument or the case against her mother, simply saying, “He wasn’t mean or bad. It was just a bad situation.”

She lit up when she talked about Steele, 32, whose name she has tattooed on her neck with a small heart. He had her name tattooed on his neck.

She said the father of three was a “loving father.”

Steele had been working as a janitor and was doing construction, said McKay.

She said she loved his smile and called him “the life of the party.”