IN - Bone Fragments Found in Wheatfield Backyard Fire Pit After Police Get Report of 2 Children Having Been Killed 1 October 2024

[tlcya]

On Sept. 20, police in Jasper County received a tip about an individual who, according to the tipster, had allegedly confessed to killing two children and burning their bodies in a backyard fire pit of a Wheatfield, Ind., home, the local sheriff’s office said in a statement.
[snip]
the reportedly deceased children are estimated to be between the ages of 0 and 6 years old, but could not confirm further.
Bone Fragments Found in Backyard After Reports of 2 Children Killed and Buried in Fire Pit

Joint statement from Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson and the Jasper County Coroner Andy Boersma

On the morning of September 20, 2024, the Jasper County Sheriff's Office received a report that an individual had allegedly confessed to acquaintances about killing two of their undocumented children and burning their bodies in a backyard fire pit at their residence in Wheatfield, Indiana. Detectives from the Jasper County Sheriff's Office immediately launched an investigation into the matter. That same day, detectives located the suspect(s) at a hotel in Newton County and conducted interviews. Although the suspect(s) denied any involvement, their cellular devices were seized as evidence, and additional information was uncovered.

Following this new evidence, detectives sought out the suspect(s) again. When confronted with the new findings, the suspect(s) continued to deny knowledge of the incident. At this point, the undocumented child who was in their care was taken into protective custody by the Indiana Department of Child Services.

In the morning of September 30, 2024, the Jasper County Sheriff's detectives, alongside personnel of the Jasper County Coroner’s Office, Indiana State Police, Wheatfield Police Department, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, conducted a search of the property in Wheatfield with the assistance of two cadaver dogs. With the cooperation of the landowner and the current residents, the search began, and the cadaver dogs alerted to three separate locations on the property. A preliminary search at these locations uncovered partial bone fragments.

On October 1, 2024, the bone fragments were transported to a specialist, in Indianapolis, for analysis to determine if they were from an infant or an animal. Further investigation of the property is pending the results of this analysis.

If anyone has information that they feel may be relevant to this investigation, please contact the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at (219) 866-7334 and ask to speak with one of our Detectives.
Jasper County Sheriff's Office - Indiana | Rensselaer IN

law enforcement agencies searched a home in the 4200 block of Old Orchard Lane in Wheatfield with two cadaver dogs assisting. The current residents and the homeowner cooperated with the search, the sheriff's office said.
Bone fragments found in Wheatfield, Indiana backyard after reports someone killed, cremated children

UPDATE: On Oct. 2 the Jasper County Sheriff confirmed the children were "undocumented, home birth type situation." That means the children were never documented with local government with a birth certificate, social security number, etc.
Alleged confession to murdering undocumented children leads to bone fragments found in Indiana

 

[Clearsky]

Bone Fragments Found in Backyard After Reports of 2 Children Killed and Buried in Fire Pit

Nobody has been arrested in connection with the discovery.

people.com

Police in Indiana say they recovered bone fragments from a backyard after receiving reports that two children had been killed and their bodies had been burned in a fire pit.

 

[tlcya]

The father allegedly made the confession to acquaintances that he killed two of his “undocumented” children, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said in their Tuesday, Oct. 1, statement.

Wallace clarifies with PEOPLE the “undocumented” status of the children is not linked to immigration; the children are categorized as such because there are no records of them in the state system.
Bone Fragments Found in Backyard After Reports of 2 Children Killed and Buried in Fire Pit

so both presumed dead children were possibly home births without any medical care or doctor visits or anything that could put them on the radar? The father allegedly confessed to a third party who tipped police. Where is the mother of these children? both were reportedly between 0 and 6, so possibly killed as infants?

So many questions here. I look forward to charges against this father and the mother if appropriate. The circumstances of the children being undocumented makes me wonder if the mother was a victim of another variety IYKWIM

 

[sds71]

@angelaganote :

I just spoke to the Jasper County sheriff who confirms two people have been arrested in connection with a case we told you about earlier this week involving possible bone fragments found of children. Steven Valle and Samantha Sebella are being held on suspicion of murder. The prosecutor is making a charging decision as we speak. It could come today or possibly Monday. As soon as we get a news release or more specifics, I’ll post.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1842286128419774578

 

[tlcya]

A MOST WELCOME UPDATE!! thanks @sds71

ETA, I got an error when trying to open the tweet/X link but found this article

Sheriff Patrick Williamson confirmed to FOX59/CBS4 News that Steve Valle, 31, of Wheatfield and Samantha Sebella, 25, of DeMotte were booked into Jasper County Jail on Oct. 3 and are being held on suspicion of murder.
https://cbs4indy.com/indiana-news/s...spicion-of-murder-after-bones-dug-up-in-yard/

 

[meanmaryjean]

My sister lives in Wheatfield and it is VERY rural, in fact she cannot even get internet where she lives except by satellite. This is horrifying.

 

[tlcya]

Samantha Sebella's FB page not much to see but a couple of pictures. a young child is featured in one

Steven Valle's FB page 1 clearly these folks cleaned up their social media prior to their arrests IMO

Steven Valle's old FB page from 2012

Sebella and Valle are allegedly the couple at the center of the allegations and lived at the Old Orchard Lane home until being ordered to vacate on July 1
[snip]
Partial bone fragments were found and taken to a specialist in Indianapolis to determine if they were infant or animal bones.
https://cbs4indy.com/indiana-news/s...spicion-of-murder-after-bones-dug-up-in-yard/

 

[tlcya]

here is the eviction case info

 

[tlcya]

Steven Valle has a LOT of cases in Jasper county
although some listed belong to a man with same name but differing middle initial, possibly a relative.

Samantha Sebella only has two cases in Jasper county, one is the eviction, the other underage alcohol consumption.

Their current cases involving these remains have not been uploaded to the court site yet.

 

[notafighter]

It is baffling to me how some people are still able to isolate themselves to the point their own children are not known to authorities. I know how rural folks can be wary about government but in this day and age a child going completely off the grid is pretty unheard of. These poor children, heaven knows what kind of suffering they endured during their lives.

 

[sds71]

Angela Ganote
@angelaganote

Official charges:Steven N. Valle- Murder (Level 1 Felony)- Neglect of a Dependent Causing Death (Level 1 Felony)- Abuse of a Corpse (Level 6 Felony)- Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony)- Failure to Report a Dead Body (Class A Misdemeanor)

Samantha J. Sebella- Murder (Level 1 Felony)- Neglect of a Dependent Causing Death (Level 1 Felony)- Abuse of a Corpse (Level 6 Felony)- Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony)- Failure to Report a Dead Body (Class A Misdemeanor)

https://fox59.com/indiana-news/sheriff-says-jasper-county-pair-held-on-suspicion-of-murder-after-bones-dug-up-in-yard/

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1843150906520387636

 

[tlcya]

so in total, this couple has had at least 3 children, none of whom were documented. No birth certificates, no social security numbers, no prenatal care whatsoever, all home deliveries (allegedly when Valle was conveniently not there) two of which were allegedly born mysteriously already dead. Not buying one word of it. not a word Valle has said to explain it.

Babies born already deceased do not require killing. He told others he killed them. She texted him that he had killed them on several occasions. I have so many questions but the main being HOW DID THE CURRENT LIVING CHILD STAY ALIVE? HOW OLD IS THIS STILL LIVING CHILD?? WHAT HAS S/HE SEEN IN THEIR LIFETIME?

 

[powerpuff]

According to locals, the alleged bones were found in a fire pit where they regularly burned trash so fire damage is likely to be extensive.

 

[powerpuff]

I find it really strange that, allegedly, Valle waited 3-5 years after burying the undocumented children to dig them back up to burn the bodies (According to a news site).
Was he trying to cover his tracks? Did he tell someone else and was worried they would tell the police? Was he trying to erase evidence left on the bones? Were the newborns actually deceased when he found them?
https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/national/article293562569.html

 

[powerpuff]

HOW DID THE CURRENT LIVING CHILD STAY ALIVE? HOW OLD IS THIS STILL LIVING CHILD?? WHAT HAS S/HE SEEN IN THEIR LIFETIME?

I believe there were witnesses who saw the child, and the only reason s/he is alive is because the neighbors got nosey. The child is allegedly the third-born, due to the first and second being the victims. Which means s/he would not be alive to witness this horror.
https://fox59.com/news/docs-jasper-...drowned-children-before-burning-their-bodies/

 

[LadyL]

I find it really strange that, allegedly, Valle waited 3-5 years after burying the undocumented children to dig them back up to burn the bodies (According to a news site).
Was he trying to cover his tracks? Did he tell someone else and was worried they would tell the police? Was he trying to erase evidence left on the bones? Were the newborns actually deceased when he found them?
https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/national/article293562569.html

I can't see that article due to a paywall but in this one, it says 'burned the bodies in a backyard fire pit before burying the remains.'

https://fox59.com/indiana-news/sheriff-says-jasper-county-pair-held-on-suspicion-of-murder-after-bones-dug-up-in-yard/

 

[ChatteringBirds]

These people sound so dysfunctional and evil it's amazing there is a living child, IMO. I hope that child will be adopted into a loving home.

 

[tlcya]

I believe there were witnesses who saw the child, and the only reason s/he is alive is because the neighbors got nosey. The child is allegedly the third-born, due to the first and second being the victims. Which means s/he would not be alive to witness this horror.
https://fox59.com/news/docs-jasper-...drowned-children-before-burning-their-bodies/

thank you for that clarification. It makes sense s/he didn't fall victim as the older siblings did because - witnesses. Even undocumented, people knew the child existed so - not killed. Given the allegations against the parents, I still have to wonder what that child's life looked like with them. I hope it improves greatly with the parents incarceration.

One thing that confuses me about this case. The apparent trouble these two adults went to to make sure all their children were undocumented. Usually when a parent has disappeared a child, they were a documented one, that the parents could then commit welfare fraud and continue to collect benefits while not worrying about actually having to parent the child(ren) involved in receiving those benefits. I am curious why this couple opted to never have prenatal care, establishing a reason to collect benefits. Neither parent ever seems to have even pretended they were preparing for a baby's arrival. It is as if they never intended those children to live. MOO It is not what we typically see.

 

[Occam's Zebra]

IMHO it's not that much trouble to keep a child undocumented - they are in a super rural area. Homebirth with no midwife. No medical visits. No school.

What would be more difficult is keeping the existence of a child secret, such that family/neighbors/friends don't notice when the child is not around anymore.