NV NV - Steven T. Koecher, 30, Henderson, 13 Dec 2009 - #16

[sbakker]

ETA: Thank God. The boy was found about 7pm tonight.

Previously on Websleuths:

'We have our own missing persons search going on right now: a 16-year-old autistic boy has been missing since last evening. I don't know why the search just started, but we knew nothing until the helicopters started flying overhead.

SL Tribune.

We've all searched our property, and the one vacant (unfinished) home in the neighborhood.

If he's not found tonight, I think we need a new WS thread. I'm always suspicious of a late "missing" report.

The white spot in the sky is one of the search helicopters circling overhead -- I hate to think of him up there:

I was going to dinner tonight about 6 p.m. and saw the helicopter also. Wondered what was going on.

 

[sbakker]

I saw a similar story from St George in the news last weekend; the squatters lived in the home for 9 months. AND, what appalled me, is that the neighbors suspected something hinky and did nothing. KSL-TV story.

I don't think the residents of SCA are any more observant (or have a laissez-faire attitude towards anything that doesn't directly affect them).....and we don't now how well they patrol the vacant homes.

Are you thinking that Steven may have been squatting in a home?
It'd be tough, with his car being taken away and all.
OR...are you thinking that he was led to a vacant home, full of criminal squatters?

I don't know what I am thinking. Maybe he was meeting someone about a rental? Or about a job? maybe what he was carrying was a newspaper, and was checking on a rental? he thought it was one anyways. Maybe when he met these people, they wanted whatever he had;they found out he had nothing, and......who knows. Just trying to give it some thought.

The people I know in St. George said the squatters did some real damage to the home.

 

[laytonian]

I don't know what I am thinking. Maybe he was meeting someone about a rental? Or about a job? maybe what he was carrying was a newspaper, and was checking on a rental? he thought it was one anyways. Maybe when he met these people, they wanted whatever he had;they found out he had nothing, and......who knows. Just trying to give it some thought.

The people I know in St. George said the squatters did some real damage to the home.

Yeah, they're not going to care.

I was surprised the neighbors didn't tell the realtor, though. Although the police claim they couldn't do anything (!), the realtor could tell the owner (the bank) -- and they could file suit.

Hmm...maybe you ARE onto something. He could have been carrying a newspaper's classified ads section in the portfolio.

 

[carbuff]

I don't know what I am thinking. Maybe he was meeting someone about a rental? Or about a job? maybe what he was carrying was a newspaper, and was checking on a rental? he thought it was one anyways. Maybe when he met these people, they wanted whatever he had;they found out he had nothing, and......who knows. Just trying to give it some thought.

The people I know in St. George said the squatters did some real damage to the home.

Yeah, the squatter-occupied housing around here is usually totally trashed. And there have been a couple of cases where LE has had to use SWAT teams with tear gas and riot gear to get them out. No armed standoffs so far, thank God.

 

[Sin City]

Yup. You can't fix an alternator on a Corvette for $40.

A young guy who told you he rented in SCA?
How did that entire thing start - did he approach you for the money, and
then give his life story as "renting in Anthem Sun City"?

Don't the HOA rules require all rentals be approved?

I must have been absent that day. Can you tell the whol thing?

We were traveling through Grants, NM, stopped at the McDs, and an older man approached my husband, because he noticed our NV plates. He stated he was on his way home to Henderson, and was trying to get his alternator fixed in Grants, NM. He stated he had $100 in his bank account, and needed $40 more to get it fixed. When I came from the restroom my husband asked me about loaning the man money. I asked the man why he couldn't use his ATM to access his money. He stated that he only had $100 in his account, and couldn't access his savings account, because Grants didn't have a branch of his bank. Cannot recall the bank's name.

I proceeded to ask him if he knew anything about SK's disappearance, and he stated that the folks of SCA have talked about it, and they think he ditched the car in SCA, and walked away.

He stated that he rented in SCA, and that unless one owns a person is treated as an outsider. He stated that a majority of owners are Jewish. Don't know where he was going with this.

While my husband was talking to him I was petting his small dog that was in his car...checking out the telephone #'s on the dog's tags. The man had the back of his corvette stuffed with belongings.

I did a little research, and he does have an address in the eastside of SCA. It is owned by another couple.

Who knows if this man was moving, or what. My husband states that he's going to go knock on his door in SCA. $40 isn't much, but it's just the principle of the matter.

My husband made a point of telling this man, "Don't screw us, because my wife is a stickler about this sort of thing. And, she'll find you." lol The man stated that he wasn't a bum, but just was in a bind.

The whole thing is seeming very hinky at this point.

 

[Sin City]

Squatters

We had to call LE twice in a past few months due to squatters in the empty house next door. LE told them not to come back, and stated we could board up the entrance. We did one entrance, but I keep finding the back door unlocked after we've locked it.

The real estate company hired by the banks don't do anything. We have three bank owned empty houses around ours, and we just keep checking them on a regular basis for break-ins.

 

[CONCRNED CTZN]

Squatters

We had to call LE twice in a past few months due to squatters in the empty house next door. LE told them not to come back, and stated we could board up the entrance. We did one entrance, but I keep finding the back door unlocked after we've locked it.

The real estate company hired by the banks don't do anything. We have three bank owned empty houses around ours, and we just keep checking them on a regular basis for break-ins.

Believe it or not it happens everywhere...even in Scottsdale, AZ, in neighborhoods with million dollar homes (mines not one of them by the way ;-)) Right now with all the homes the banks have, and no system in place to manage the large inventory, it's only getting worse. They'll figure it out as soon as the market turns around.

With that said...I don't think there was but one bank owned property in the neighborhood at the time. BUT there was the rental that did not include the casita if you rented it. I would love to see inside it.

 

[carbuff]

Believe it or not it happens everywhere...even in Scottsdale, AZ, in neighborhoods with million dollar homes (mines not one of them by the way ;-)) Right now with all the homes the banks have, and no system in place to manage the large inventory, it's only getting worse. They'll figure it out as soon as the market turns around.

With that said...I don't think there was but one bank owned property in the neighborhood at the time. BUT there was the rental that did not include the casita if you rented it. I would love to see inside it.

That's immediately on Evening Lights and Savannah Springs. If he had business in the neighborhood, he might have noticed something not right on Portsmouth Creek, or across the golf course at Hardin Ridge Road, or any of the other locations. Hundreds of homes within a few blocks.

Also, although the other houses list owners, that doesn't mean they were all occupied by the owner at the time. If they stand empty most of the year, somebody might well have broken in and been living there. Or somebody renting or subletting.

 

[laytonian]

Squatters

We had to call LE twice in a past few months due to squatters in the empty house next door. LE told them not to come back, and stated we could board up the entrance. We did one entrance, but I keep finding the back door unlocked after we've locked it.

The real estate company hired by the banks don't do anything. We have three bank owned empty houses around ours, and we just keep checking them on a regular basis for break-ins.

Ugh.

Lucky for us, there's only one -- and it's too incomplete for even a squatter to move into.

It's so overbuilt (a $750K home in a $$250-$300K neighbothood) that it's not going to be rational for anyone to invest what it would take, to complete it.

Unlucky for our neighborhood, it's deteriorating -- and last night, the temporary meter blew and took the power out at our daughter's home up the street.

 

[RubyRed]

Living Beneath the Streets of Las Vegas

Just seen during the CBS Evening News......worth taking a look.....

http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-18563_162-10004455.html?tag=mncol;lst;1

Living in the tunnels is quite the interesting read.

 

[laytonian]

That's immediately on Evening Lights and Savannah Springs. If he had business in the neighborhood, he might have noticed something not right on Portsmouth Creek, or across the golf course at Hardin Ridge Road, or any of the other locations. Hundreds of homes within a few blocks.

Also, although the other houses list owners, that doesn't mean they were all occupied by the owner at the time. If they stand empty most of the year, somebody might well have broken in and been living there. Or somebody renting or subletting.

If snowbirds owned the homes, wouldn't they be in the Vegas area in the winter?
I can't see spending half a year in Vegas, and choosing the hottest time of the year to be there.

For as long as I've followed this case, and crime in the immediate area, I've never seen one report of squatters in SCA.

 

[laytonian]

Lato: thanks for posting that with the link!. It'd been mentioned before, but you're the first to give real info we could get our teeth into!

I found Matthew O'Brien's website Beneath The Neon, and have contacted him.
I sent links to the family's FB page and the timeline.

Update:

I've already heard back from Matt. He didn't seem familiar with the case, but is going to look at the info I sent. I asked him to keep Steven "in mind"...just in case.

Thanks again, Lato.

 

[carbuff]

If snowbirds owned the homes, wouldn't they be in the Vegas area in the winter?
I can't see spending half a year in Vegas, and choosing the hottest time of the year to be there.

For as long as I've followed this case, and crime in the immediate area, I've never seen one report of squatters in SCA.

I'm sure the HOA is just rushing out to get stories like that into the news

It wouldn't have to be just snowbirds. I know a person who owns a condo in LV who only occupies it for about ten weeks out of the year, mostly long weekends, whenever he can get away. He goes for the casinos, not the weather. Somebody might have gone on an around the world cruise, or been in a hospital in Los Angeles, or staying with new grandkids for a couple of months. Those are the kinds of houses that are favored by phone scammers because they usually have services connected that can be pirated by someone who knows what they're doing. The phone company, for instance, doesn't usually turn the phone off physically if you're going to be away for three months; they just turn it off at the office. Someone with the proper tools can plug right into the line.

I don't think it's likely, but as with so many other things about Steven's case, I don't think it can be entirely eliminated, either.

 

[laytonian]

I'm sure the HOA is just rushing out to get stories like that into the news

It wouldn't have to be just snowbirds. I know a person who owns a condo in LV who only occupies it for about ten weeks out of the year, mostly long weekends, whenever he can get away. He goes for the casinos, not the weather. Somebody might have gone on an around the world cruise, or been in a hospital in Los Angeles, or staying with new grandkids for a couple of months. Those are the kinds of houses that are favored by phone scammers because they usually have services connected that can be pirated by someone who knows what they're doing. The phone company, for instance, doesn't usually turn the phone off physically if you're going to be away for three months; they just turn it off at the office. Someone with the proper tools can plug right into the line.

I don't think it's likely, but as with so many other things about Steven's case, I don't think it can be entirely eliminated, either.

I agree. I'm just looking for things that COULD BE eliminated... because that would narrow things down.

Back to squatters:
Let's say Steven found a house full of them.

How would he know they were squatting?
(If I were a stranger in the neighborhood, how would I know??)

Would squatters invite strangers to their squat-house by advertising?

Would squatters tell a stranger that they were squatting?

Would Steven tattle about squatters, when he was (basically) doing the same thing to his own landlord?

I dunno. I'm TRYING to find a linkage.

 

[sbakker]

I agree. I'm just looking for things that COULD BE eliminated... because that would narrow things down.

Back to squatters:
Let's say Steven found a house full of them.

How would he know they were squatting?
(If I were a stranger in the neighborhood, how would I know??)

Would squatters invite strangers to their squat-house by advertising?

Would squatters tell a stranger that they were squatting?

Would Steven tattle about squatters, when he was (basically) doing the same thing to his own landlord?

I dunno. I'm TRYING to find a linkage.

Okay, back to my poor sister. Bless her heart. Over a year ago, she moved from the Sugarhouse area, because the apartment was...lets just say-BAD. She looked for a new apartment,found one on Craigslist. She called about it, they sent pics. Hey it was really nice for 550.00 a month. They told her she could rent it, amd move in immediately after she sent in first month, last month, and deposit. Of course, she wanted to see it first. When she told them that-never heard from them again. Supriseingly, she saw it in the paper a few more times, and decided to report it.

There is a possibility (what isn't a possibility in this case!!) that steven was looking for a new place to live,saw a ad, met someone, and went to look at a rental. Or maybe the squatters were advertising a job, and thats where they told people to meet them? Used that for the makeshift home. SK got nervous, and left. maybe they followed him, thinking they may get money from him..still thinking about this. What do you all think?

 

[sbakker]

Interesting on the subject: http//www.ksl.com?nid=148&sid=11862066

This happened in St. George.

 

[carbuff]

Okay, back to my poor sister. Bless her heart. Over a year ago, she moved from the Sugarhouse area, because the apartment was...lets just say-BAD. She looked for a new apartment,found one on Craigslist. She called about it, they sent pics. Hey it was really nice for 550.00 a month. They told her she could rent it, amd move in immediately after she sent in first month, last month, and deposit. Of course, she wanted to see it first. When she told them that-never heard from them again. Supriseingly, she saw it in the paper a few more times, and decided to report it.

There is a possibility (what isn't a possibility in this case!!) that steven was looking for a new place to live,saw a ad, met someone, and went to look at a rental. Or maybe the squatters were advertising a job, and thats where they told people to meet them? Used that for the makeshift home. SK got nervous, and left. maybe they followed him, thinking they may get money from him..still thinking about this. What do you all think?

So they're making money renting apartments they don't own, or maybe don't exist? That's an interesting scam.

Around here, most of the "squatters" are short term illegal business usages, so the idea that they might have been interviewing people (planning to have them do dirty work and then not pay them, for instance) isn't too far out.

 

[laytonian]

We were traveling through Grants, NM, stopped at the McDs, and an older man approached my husband, because he noticed our NV plates. He stated he was on his way home to Henderson, and was trying to get his alternator fixed in Grants, NM. He stated he had $100 in his bank account, and needed $40 more to get it fixed. When I came from the restroom my husband asked me about loaning the man money. I asked the man why he couldn't use his ATM to access his money. He stated that he only had $100 in his account, and couldn't access his savings account, because Grants didn't have a branch of his bank. Cannot recall the bank's name.

I proceeded to ask him if he knew anything about SK's disappearance, and he stated that the folks of SCA have talked about it, and they think he ditched the car in SCA, and walked away.

He stated that he rented in SCA, and that unless one owns a person is treated as an outsider. He stated that a majority of owners are Jewish. Don't know where he was going with this.

While my husband was talking to him I was petting his small dog that was in his car...checking out the telephone #'s on the dog's tags. The man had the back of his corvette stuffed with belongings.

I did a little research, and he does have an address in the eastside of SCA. It is owned by another couple.

Who knows if this man was moving, or what. My husband states that he's going to go knock on his door in SCA. $40 isn't much, but it's just the principle of the matter.

My husband made a point of telling this man, "Don't screw us, because my wife is a stickler about this sort of thing. And, she'll find you." lol The man stated that he wasn't a bum, but just was in a bind.

The whole thing is seeming very hinky at this point.

People who need to borrow money like that, just end up owing more money after you lend them money. My SIL wanted to borrow $10,000 from us because she was in debt. I asked her how she could pay us back, when she'd be **another** $10,000 in debt. She didn't have an answer.

Next time, call me first I have a strong BS detector.

He was driving a Corvette, had $100 and needed $40 more to fix his car? You can't get that kind of repair on ANY car, for $140.

If he knew how much he needed to fix the car, he'd been to the shop already. So why was his car at McDonald's?

His excuse about not being able to use the ATM because it wasn't his own bank, is BS. You CAN use another bank's ATM....or go to the window and get a cash advance on your credit card. As long as your credit card is good, you can get the money.

He mentioned even numbers. "I have $100". "I need $40." (Funny how it's always multiples of $20s.)

I'll bet, if you'd stuck around, you'd have found him asking lots of people for $40. They ALWAYS have reasons why they can't get the money through legitimate means.

I think that address is actually outside the "Sun City" area of Anthem -- right? Steven disappeared on the very east edge of SCA.

 

[laytonian]

Okay, back to my poor sister. Bless her heart. Over a year ago, she moved from the Sugarhouse area, because the apartment was...lets just say-BAD. She looked for a new apartment,found one on Craigslist. She called about it, they sent pics. Hey it was really nice for 550.00 a month. They told her she could rent it, amd move in immediately after she sent in first month, last month, and deposit. Of course, she wanted to see it first. When she told them that-never heard from them again. Supriseingly, she saw it in the paper a few more times, and decided to report it.

There is a possibility (what isn't a possibility in this case!!) that steven was looking for a new place to live,saw a ad, met someone, and went to look at a rental. Or maybe the squatters were advertising a job, and thats where they told people to meet them? Used that for the makeshift home. SK got nervous, and left. maybe they followed him, thinking they may get money from him..still thinking about this. What do you all think?

I think there should have been a trace in the LV newspapers (or likely, those "free ad" things like Big Nickel here). I don't know if those resources were ever checked -- and by the time we were on the trail, it was too late unless a local wanted to go through tons of archives and check out every phone number. (Impossible.)

 

[laytonian]

So they're making money renting apartments they don't own, or maybe don't exist? That's an interesting scam.

Yup. They're just trying to get people to fork over their credit card numbers for "up front rent and deposit".

I don't know anyone who'd fall for that, but some obviously do. sbakker's sister was savvy. If it didn't work, they wouldn't keep doing it.

I swear, the more those scams are publicized, the more people try to do it.

sbakker learned her sister was savvy and honest, despite her problems.