NV NV - Steven Koecher, 30, Henderson, 13 Dec 2009 - #22

[fridaybaker]

Pretty much everything we’ve learned about SK would be compatible with this scenario. He was described as “a little naive”, or similar verbiage.
He was also hard up for funds, and the pharmacy business that BB was involved in could easily be described as being “technically not legal”, but not too problematic ethically, either: (Some people have left-over drugs; other people have a need for drugs but can’t get/afford a legal Rx, etc.)

 

[fridaybaker]

Sadly, I think Steven departed this earth a few minutes or hours after he was captured by security camera on Evening Lights, and his remains will not be found in this lifetime.

 

[lonewanderer]

I'll share my own theory with you all based on the evidence I am aware of, and how the book, "Abandoned In Henderson" lays out further evidence: BB was dismissed from his "closed door pharmacy" position, after allegations of theft surfaced. BB also was under a surveillance from a LE agency, for specific reasons. He decides to traffic SK to assist BB in operating his own illegal medication delivery enterprise. He could not deliver these meds himself, due to his watchers. SK was likely told, "its all legal" by BB. The trip to Wendover was a drop for BB. The trip to Henderson was most likely a drop or a collection effort. After knocking on the wrong door, SK redirects is travel to EL and meets up with MD. MD, who is already a paranoid, and out of his mind on meds from a debilitating car wreck in Oct. 2009, kills Steven, probably strangled him. MD was 6'2 200 lbs. and the time, an easy task for him. The connection between BB and MD is made at rock crawling events that BB helped organize. MD had a penchant for radio controlled rock crawling. If BB would simple request an immunity from prosecution, to help LE solve this case, it would likely be granted. He could finally free his conscience. It's just a theory, but its my theory.

What was the motivation for MD killing SK?

Was there something about the package that set MD into a frenzy? I am imagining something infuriating in the package, like an "f you" from BB.

What could have happened to make MD so angry that he killed SK?

 

[ekardh]

Is the "MD" you're referring to the person of interest who moved out of the neighborhood and whose home had the holes in the walls/signs of a struggle?

 

[Glovey]

Yes.

 

[Glovey]

Sadly, I think Steven departed this earth a few minutes or hours after he was captured by security camera on Evening Lights, and his remains will not be found in this lifetime.

IMHO, SK could very well be buried on the property on EL. Contact with the owner in approx. 2021 was met with resistance due to, in the owner's opinion, an impact on his property value. How pathetic. That property should be searched, at minimum, to exclude it as SK's burial place. C'mon Henderson pd, get a warrant!

 

[Cannelure]

Any thoughts on why Steven's cell phone kept pinging at different location for hours after he went missing?

 

[Glovey]

Any thoughts on why Steven's cell phone kept pinging at different location for hours after he went missing?

You could answer your own question by critically thinking of the plausible reasons. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.

 

[ChanceEncounterx]

There's no evidence anything violent happened.

 

[Glovey]

There's no evidence anything violent happened.

True, so far.

 

[cocomod]

There's no evidence anything violent happened.

True, but there is no evidence it didn’t. Quite honestly, there has been so little evidence at all.

 

[ChanceEncounterx]

True, but there is no evidence it didn’t. Quite honestly, there has been so little evidence at all.

We didn't even know Steven. The best possible evidence of anything we have are his mother's instincts which immediately was a strong inclination towards suicide. To me it fits as he could've been in a residential area looking for somewhere new to stay and held relevant papers in his hand. There had been a real estate agent working around there too at the time, so I presume he tried to pick an area suitable for jobs like working at the casinos etc..but I also believe he was running out of options fast and there is a possibility he chose to self destruct over going down a nefarious path. Not everyone can bring themselves to do risky criminal work. He also wasn't stupid he was university educated, and he wouldn't have been naive enough to f around with a drug delivery even IF he chose a drug run.

The "do you need money"? question could have been to what he thought was a potential landlord he wanted to pay a deposit to (not sure how as he was struggling with his bills as it was, but it could've been likely and more plausible in broad daylight) & weren't there a couple of tenants who moved out of an address there shortly after he disappeared, anyway? Maybe Steven did get the wrong house but it wasn't for drug stuff,

It seems a lot of people on this forum think he went x,y,z just like that.

 

[lonewanderer]

We didn't even know Steven. The best possible evidence of anything we have are his mother's instincts which immediately was a strong inclination towards suicide. To me it fits as he could've been in a residential area looking for somewhere new to stay and held relevant papers in his hand. There had been a real estate agent working around there too at the time, so I presume he tried to pick an area suitable for jobs like working at the casinos etc..but I also believe he was running out of options fast and there is a possibility he chose to self destruct over going down a nefarious path. Not everyone can bring themselves to do risky criminal work. He also wasn't stupid he was university educated, and he wouldn't have been naive enough to f around with a drug delivery even IF he chose a drug run.

The "do you need money"? question could have been to what he thought was a potential landlord he wanted to pay a deposit to (not sure how as he was struggling with his bills as it was, but it could've been likely and more plausible in broad daylight) & weren't there a couple of tenants who moved out of an address there shortly after he disappeared, anyway? Maybe Steven did get the wrong house but it wasn't for drug stuff,

It seems a lot of people on this forum think he went x,y,z just like that.

He may not have been naive, but he may have been desperate.

I have long speculated that he was delivering what he thought was business papers. I say this because it is true, Steven was not stupid but his moral compass may have prevented him from taking a package full of pills that were shaking and making noises.

In one of my theories, the contents of the envelope where something that set the recipient off, sending them into a blind rage. For example, literal Monopoly money, written “IOU” notes or pictures of the recipient in a compromising position attempting to blackmail them.

I’ve also wondered that cadence “need some money” what said with. Was it like a question? “(Hey, do you) need some money?” A statement? “(I am here to collect so I) need some money (from you)”.

 

[lonewanderer]

Its been a while since I listened to the case, but IIRC, Steven also went several other places before this, right? Like for delivery?

Was there a reason this one (appears to be) the last stop?

I can't shake the feeling Steven was sent to multiple drops and the last one was intentional, with the (possibly intended) outcome of Steven delivering to a figure that would react violently.

 

[fridaybaker]

I've never had the feeling that there was anything different about the last stop. I haven't read anything to indicate that. My thoughts have always been along the lines that BB was a bad actor, and associated with other bad actors. The whole "business" that he was involved in was unsavory (although I can easily see how it could be "sold" to Steven as nothing objectively morally/ethically wrong).

In trying to limit myself to what we know for sure or at least pretty well, I'm thinking that the last guy that SK visited either wanted what Sk was selling for free, rather than paying for it, or felt like SK was a danger to him (as a witness -something along those lines) or he was just having a bad, drugged out day, or something like that. I don't know, but this is where my mind is right now.

Also, I can certainly see how some of the folks involved in that "business" might be suspicious of SK, or at least feel that he was a danger to them: He was such a clean, cut, church-going, "returned-missionary", earnest guy. Someone close to him even described him as "a bit naive" or something along those lines. BB saw an easy mark to help him with his deliveries. Maybe someone else saw him differently.

 

[lonewanderer]

I've never had the feeling that there was anything different about the last stop. I haven't read anything to indicate that. My thoughts have always been along the lines that BB was a bad actor, and associated with other bad actors. The whole "business" that he was involved in was unsavory (although I can easily see how it could be "sold" to Steven as nothing objectively morally/ethically wrong).

In trying to limit myself to what we know for sure or at least pretty well, I'm thinking that the last guy that SK visited either wanted what Sk was selling for free, rather than paying for it, or felt like SK was a danger to him (as a witness -something along those lines) or he was just having a bad, drugged out day, or something like that. I don't know, but this is where my mind is right now.

Also, I can certainly see how some of the folks involved in that "business" might be suspicious of SK, or at least feel that he was a danger to them: He was such a clean, cut, church-going, "returned-missionary", earnest guy. Someone close to him even described him as "a bit naive" or something along those lines. BB saw an easy mark to help him with his deliveries. Maybe someone else saw him differently.

Maybe someone thought he was a cop?

 

[fridaybaker]

Interesting thought. Especially if that someone was already on edge or something, he might jump to conclusions. Certainly, likely looked unlike their usual compatriots.

 

[lonewanderer]

Interesting thought. Especially if that someone was already on edge or something, he might jump to conclusions. Certainly, likely looked unlike their usual compatriots.

Maybe not a fully blown cop but a narc, snitch, etc.

The whole thing could have felt VERY off with what seems like a Jehovah’s Witness (I know he was not, just saying) knocking at your door to conduct illegal activity.

 

[Ignorant_Bystander]

Thanks for the incredible work Glovey. Unfortunately without a confession, because the desert is so vast, its likely impossible to know where Stevens remains are, and I believe the sighting of him from the neighbour near MDs properties in Pahrump was incorrect, as the police report stated something like they (neighbour) recognized him, but can't remember where from. But it could be have been from the milk carton, or flyer, or on television.
The police should have tried to find video footage of any vehicles leaving that Evening Lights address that day, but there didnt see to be any urgency to the investigation
Another thing i mentioned before is, I wonder how the landlord made sure Steven didn't say a word of the purpose of his driving to anyone. Only thing I can think of is "I don't want my boss to know that I'm outsourcing my work" or something similar

 

[Ignorant_Bystander]

What was the motivation for MD killing SK?

Was there something about the package that set MD into a frenzy? I am imagining something infuriating in the package, like an "f you" from BB.

What could have happened to make MD so angry that he killed SK?

Its been speculated that Steven could have told MD that he went to the wrong house at first (on Savannah Springs), during the few minutes he was off camera right after he parked his car (about 6 minutes) either asking for money or saying I need money. since it's been told both ways, or he could have said both things (saying do you need the money to the house owner, and saying out loud to himself "I need money" when he walked across the road and then to Evening Lights). Anyhow, MD could have freaked out knowing that house owner could have got suspicious, watching Steven to see where he was going, or even calling the police, so he likely strangled him- he got one of his ex girlfriends into a chokehold before, apparently