Found Deceased KS - Savannah Schneider, 23, Wichita, 31 May 2020, Visually Impaired

[fred&edna]

This hits me. A few points:
•I’m visually impaired, so this also scares me to death. The VI often have to lean on others to get directions if we get lost or finding goods in a store. I live only with my dog, who isn’t a Service (Seeing Eye) Dog. This is important: did Savannah have a Service Dog? Did she use a straight cane (for blind/VI)? I use a cane. I don’t remember any mention of those, but I could’ve missed it. It bothers me because if neither were with her...HOW did she know where she was and how did she walk without tripping/falling/getting injured? Without either, I wonder if she’s bruised on her legs from running into things, or fell and got injured, perhaps hitting her head. I’ve banged my head so hard on open cabinets, signs atop racks in stores, etc. to the point of almost knocking myself out. A straight cane can’t prevent that, unfortunately. Without my cane, I’ve slammed into glass doors/windows because I didn’t know they were there. Severely VI people know if we go anywhere at all without a Service Dog, straight cane or someone that can physically guide us, we can get in a bad way easily. If she didn’t have any of those, it’s likely that someone guided her with ill intent to wherever she may have ended up. So, who could that be, y’all? Some VI people are able to use their cane to defend themselves (mine has a very heavy big ball on the bottom). Did she have one? Was it still there if she did?

This bothers me so much. RIP sweet Savannah.

JMO (Edit by me bc I cant spell...ugh.)

Having some experience working with low vision individuals, I've wondered similar questions but haven't seen any answers. Actually, the fact she was visually impaired suggests this wasn't self harm - particularly with the details we have of her disappearance, but that's just my opinion.

'So glad you posted your concerns @StarEyes

 

[Rosiebones]

This hits me. A few points:

I’m visually impaired, so this also scares me to death. The VI often have to lean on others to get directions if we get lost or finding goods in a store. I live only with my dog, who isn’t a Service (Seeing Eye) Dog. This is important: did Savannah have a Service Dog? Did she use a straight cane (for blind/VI)? I use a cane. I don’t remember any mention of those, but I could’ve missed it. It bothers me because if neither were with her...HOW did she know where she was and how did she walk without tripping/falling/getting injured? Without either, I wonder if she’s bruised on her legs from running into things, or fell and got injured, perhaps hitting her head. I’ve banged my head so hard on open cabinets, signs atop racks in stores, etc. to the point of almost knocking myself out. A straight cane can’t prevent that, unfortunately. Without my cane, I’ve slammed into glass doors/windows because I didn’t know they were there. Severely VI people know if we go anywhere at all without a Service Dog, straight cane or someone that can physically guide us, we can get in a bad way easily. If she didn’t have any of those, it’s likely that someone guided her with ill intent to wherever she may have ended up. So, who could that be, y’all? Some VI people are able to use their cane to defend themselves (mine has a very heavy big ball on the bottom). Did she have one? Was it still there if she did?

This bothers me so much. RIP sweet Savannah.

JMO (Edit by me bc I cant spell...ugh.)

Insightful comments. I am strongly feeling that she was not picked up by a Lyft driver or at least not dropped off in the area she was found by a legitimate Lyft driver. A driver would have realized she was visually impaired and would not have let her out by the side of that road and driven off. The area didn't have a street address so what would she have said to the driver to have convinced him to stop and let her out there? Makes no sense to me.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

One possibility I have been wondering about: What if Savannah asked someone to help her end her life?

 

[Laughing]

This hits me. A few points:

I’m visually impaired, so this also scares me to death. The VI often have to lean on others to get directions if we get lost or finding goods in a store.

This bothers me so much. RIP sweet Savannah.

JMO (Edit by me bc I cant spell...ugh.)

Somewhat OT: @StarEyes , if we notice a person with a cane in public, is there an appropriate way to offer help?

I'm thinking of a situation with heavy traffic, sidewalk repair, closed store aisle, escalator not working, something unpredictable that could be a hazard for an otherwise highly competent person.

TY, Laughing

 

[StarEyes]

Somewhat OT: @StarEyes , if we notice a person with a cane in public, is there an appropriate way to offer help?

I'm thinking of a situation with heavy traffic, sidewalk repair, closed store aisle, escalator not working, something unpredictable that could be a hazard for an otherwise highly competent person.

TY, Laughing

That’s a tricky one. With a Service Dog, it’s unlikely that they wouldn’t pick up just about anything, and lead the owner safely around it. With a cane, different story. If you see something pretty obvious, and know the cane might not detect it, you can say something like, “Excuse me. I’m not trying to be intrusive or an ableist, as I know you get along well, but there’s a large sign sticking out that’s up higher, and I wanted to be sure you didn’t hit it, as I know your cane wouldn’t detect it.” , “Excuse me, there are several chunks out of the sidewalk ahead. I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t mention it. While I know your cane will possibly detect that, I just wanted to warn you.” One time, about 5 strangers started yelling to me about a very steep set of stairs coming up. They thought I was walking too fast to catch myself in time. It’s embarrassing to have that attention on me, plus slightly aggravating, but I thanked them and told them I am aware, but appreciate the concern. Our canes ARE our eyes, but they simply can not detect everything. If I was walking around in an isolated random area, I’d appreciate someone just making sure I’m ok. It’s frustrating. Canes also aren’t perfect. I was glancing towards a pigeon while walking on an old cobblestone sidewalk. My cane missed a divot in the sidewalk, and I went down like a sack of rocks. I broke my foot. So, it’s very easy to get injured, even with a cane.

*What if Savannah wanted out of the vehicle because the person made her uncomfortable? She’d have a harder time navigating getting out at a random place like the railroad tracks, especially if she’s unfamiliar with it.

*What if she had an argument with the person, and they made her get out wherever they stopped?
That could’ve left her lost, confused, upset, etc.

*Did she leave her phone behind?
•There are apps that will help a vision impaired person navigate safely. Most of the time, it has to be an area that’s more often travelled. It can work with maps, though, but it’s not perfect. She’d need her phone for that.

I just wish she were still alive. I know we all do. All of this is JMO and experience.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

1 hr 1 min ago
Updated: 43 mins ago
written by KAKE News
“WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Wichita police say there are no new updates in their investigation into the death of Savannah Schneider, a 23-year-old woman whose body was found about two weeks after she disappeared.

When asked if there was any new information in the case including cause and manner of death, police spokesperson Charley Davidson said Tuesday that there is no update and this time and investigators are still waiting on toxicology results.

[Savannah's] body was among some trees near the railroad tracks between 87th and 79th streets off Meridian.

Police have said that Savannah, who was visually impaired, was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo, near 13th and Maize. But a neighbor's security camera footage showed her sitting on her doorstep at around 5:00 the next morning, Then a van, determined to be a Lyft ride share, pulled into her driveway, picked her up and drove away.

[SBM]” (BBM)
Investigation into Savannah Schneider's death continues

 

[Laughing]

Lyft van driver has some 'splainin' to do....

Thank you, @StarEyes!

JMHO YMMV LRR

 

[fred&edna]

Lyft van driver has some 'splainin' to do....

Thank you, @StarEyes!

JMHO YMMV LRR

'Sure seems like someone should be explaining something! I suppose it's still possible she could have chosen to go to this location and ingest something harmful (or had someone give her something harmful at her request) but... I'm still not convinced. Perplexing case.

 

[insearchoflight]

Lyft van driver has some 'splainin' to do....

Thank you, @StarEyes!

JMHO YMMV LRR

I would think (hope) by now they’ve identified that Lyft driver and he/she has been questioned.

 

[azure]

I definitely think it would be illegal for a Lyft driver to refuse to drop someone off somewhere because they are visually impaired...

 

[fred&edna]

I definitely think it would be illegal for a Lyft driver to refuse to drop someone off somewhere because they are visually impaired...

ITA. 'Never considered that being illegal.

 

[StarEyes]

I definitely think it would be illegal for a Lyft driver to refuse to drop someone off somewhere because they are visually impaired...

I think so, too. However, you’d think they’d sort of tell her what’s around, in a caring sort of way. And, maybe they did. Who knows. This is so frustrating!
JMO

 

[DAMages]

Grateful for the insight that @StarEyes is offering! The conversation reminds me of the documentary made about the death of Holly Bartlett, which really focused on her strength and capacity, making it harder to believe her death was a total accident.

Holly Bartlett’s unlikely journey

What Happened to Holly Bartlett | Accessible Media Inc.

 

[fred&edna]

Grateful for the insight that @StarEyes is offering! The conversation reminds me of the documentary made about the death of Holly Bartlett, which really focused on her strength and capacity, making it harder to believe her death was a total accident.

Holly Bartlett’s unlikely journey

What Happened to Holly Bartlett | Accessible Media Inc.

I thought of that case, also. I recommended the podcast about her case previously on a WS thread. Holly was a remarkable young woman.

 

[StarEyes]

Grateful for the insight that @StarEyes is offering! The conversation reminds me of the documentary made about the death of Holly Bartlett, which really focused on her strength and capacity, making it harder to believe her death was a total accident.

Holly Bartlett’s unlikely journey

What Happened to Holly Bartlett | Accessible Media Inc.

WOW! Thank you so much for that article. I find the results of the police investigation to be lazy, at best. As a partially blind person, with increasing vision loss, I can hear things I’d never heard before, smell things I’d never before. If there’s water below the bridge, no way she’d have ended up there from being drunk. No way. How sad, and scary.

I’ve been thinking about where Savannah ended up. I’m caught between of either she got lost and had an accident, or she ended up there from a nefarious person. I wish we had more info. IF she went there on purpose, she’d have been there several times previously. She’d have known where the tree line was. If she’d wanted to end her life, maybe the place held significance to her. If it’s a nefarious person, who? Did she give specific location as to dropping her off near there? Could someone have told her to inconspicuously meet him/her at that exact location?

THE other thing that bugs me is 5am. Why would she be up that early to leave in a Lyft? That seems an odd time to meet someone. As a blind person myself, I can’t see her going to meet someone WITHOUT HER PHONE, that early in the morning, and feeling safe. Or did they ever FIND her phone? Does anyone know? I can’t find that info. So....what on Earth could she have been doing that would put her there willingly? With that train of thought, self harm makes more sense. I truly can’t decide. It scares me half to death knowing we vision impaired people ARE sometimes preyed upon because we’re easier targets. I hope we have a better understanding when the toxicology reports come back.
ALL JMO

EBM because I can’t spell. Ugh.

 

[fred&edna]

WOW! Thank you so much for that article. I find the results of the police investigation to be lazy, at best. As a partially blind person, with increasing vision loss, I can hear things I’d never heard before, smell things I’d never before. If there’s water below the bridge, no way she’d have ended up there from being drunk. No way. How sad, and scary.

I’ve been thinking about where Savannah ended up. I’m caught between of either she got lost and had an accident, or she ended up there from a nefarious person. I wish we had more info. IF she went there on purpose, she’d have been there several times previously. She’d have known where the tree line was. If she’d wanted to end her life, maybe the place held significance to her. If it’s a nefarious person, who? Did she give specific location as to dropping her off near there? Could someone have told her to inconspicuously meet him/her at that exact location?

THE other thing that bugs me is 5am. Why would she be up that early to leave in a Lyft? That seems an odd time to meet someone. As a blind person myself, I can’t see her going to meet someone WITHOUT HER PHONE, that early in the morning, and feeling safe. Or did they ever FIND her phone? Does anyone know? I can’t find that info. So....what on Earth could she have been doing that would put her there willingly? With that train of thought, self harm makes more sense. I truly can’t decide. It scares me half to death knowing we vision impaired people ARE sometimes preyed upon because we’re easier targets. I hope we have a better understanding when the toxicology reports come back.
ALL JMO

EBM because I can’t spell. Ugh.

While murder is a horrible thought, I somehow haven't wanted to believe Savannah was in such a state of despair. However, it is true, with no obvious injuries, self-harm is most likely result in Savannah's death.

 

[fred&edna]

While murder is a horrible thought, I somehow haven't wanted to believe Savannah was in such a state of despair. However, it is true, with no obvious injuries, self-harm is most likely result in Savannah's death.

Replying to myself Most puzzling aspect, IF the investigation outcome is suicide... why leave home?

 

[Megnut]

Why leave her dog????? That is my greatest question. Was she CERTAIN someone would find her dog in time? Did she walk with her friend EVERY day, so she knew the friend would tend to her dog? Did she go away so her friend wouldn't be the one to find her? Did she have an rx for antidepressants and ODed? Left early, so it would be long before the friend arrived? Did she leave her door unlocked?

Or.... was she meeting someone at that location, someone she trusted enough. 5am, before maybe that person had to go to work?

Such a sad, sad story....

 

[evilwise]

A lot of the facts of this case are hazy but it does sound like she walked dogs with that neighbor every day - and very very early too, apparently since the neighbor said she had called to take the walk and been told Savannah was "waiting for someone" who picked her up at 5am. Also Savannah just left her overnight bag that her friend are used to seeing her take everywhere. She may have taken her phone which seems likely if the report of her Facebook being reactivated 5 days after she went missing is true.

Everyone should really watch the news story that has the initial anonymous interviews with her neighbor and friends. Their tone really nudged me in the direction of foul play.

 

[Elle*Bee]

No updates?