NV NV - Steven T. Koecher, 30, Henderson, 13 Dec 2009 - #10

[laytonian]

I just remembered something . . . Remember way back in the beginning, when Naegle was posting often, we asked if she was witholding anything from us? She said that there was only one thing she was holding back that had nothing to do with his disappearance, something that was "just Steven."

I wonder if now that so much time has passed, and the family is leaning toward the idea that Steven is not coming home, she would be willing to disclose this bit of info to help us? Laytonian, are you still on good terms with her?

Yes - we just haven't had any questions for her, so we've just exchanged chitchat.

The big secret was the passport.

The family didn't want to immediately disclose that the passport was missing, thinking that maybe if it had been used, the user wouldn't know he was being traced.

Of course, it was later found in mid-February among his belongings.

 

[laytonian]

If Steven was even a day late paying a payday loan the company would have been calling him constantly. Some even call a day or two before to remind one that a payment is due. SK's family would have seen a payday loan's telephone number in his cell phone records, if this was the case. However, this is something his family hasn't mentioned to us.

Yes, and they probably wouldn't reveal it, because IF there is such a call, it would be one of those "known" entities.

Payday loan stores don't break legs; they just add interest and fees (they don't want you to pay quickly because they don't make as much money).

They take you to court, they garnish wages.

 

[laytonian]

I've been wondering if SK was waiting for his tax return, and this was how he was planning to catch up on past due rent?

The plan, as we understand it, was that he'd be caught up "in January". That's pretty early to file and receive your refund back.
Being an independent contractor for TH, he'd have received a 1099 and should have been submitting quarterly estimated tax payments.
We don't know his arrangement with matchbin.com. It was a sales position, and could have been commission only, not salary.

ETA:
I forgot to post this link that I found interesting -- BUT I doubt it's related to this case. Wrong direction.
Salt Lake Tribune, Apr 14, 2010

 

[laytonian]

I just had a chat with my husband regarding Rever Golf Club, as he is an avid golfer. Sunday is the most active day for golf courses. Revere is a public course. Neither of us noticed any walking paths on the course. Usually if there is a walking path on courses there is a line of trees or hedges between the cart path, and walking path. Revere seems to only have cart paths.

My husband, and his friends notice people if they are walking on a course without cart or clubs. They have seen people walking along the edges of courses hunting for stray golf balls, and one time a drunk wandering around.

With this said I wonder if the PI could ask the manager at Revere to allow him to contact the players that played on Sunday, Dec 13th, if they noticed anyone wandering around the course? They would be helping find a missing person, so why would the players be inconvenienced?

I'd hope that one of Steven's "missing" flyers was hung in the locker room, months ago.

When I've reserved tee times for my husband (as of last summer), all I've ever had to give was his name and the number in his party. At least here, public and private courses, I'm not aware of them asking for the names of everyone who's going to golf.

I'm not even sure how long they keep the logs, because they're kinda like restaurant reservations: once you're seated, your name is crossed off.

I guess they could subpoena all the credit card records for Dec 13th and 14th.

 

[ms_writer]

Yes - we just haven't had any questions for her, so we've just exchanged chitchat.

The big secret was the passport.

The family didn't want to immediately disclose that the passport was missing, thinking that maybe if it had been used, the user wouldn't know he was being traced.

Of course, it was later found in mid-February among his belongings.

Oh! I thought that there were two different things: the question we were asking that she wasn't answering (passport), and the "just Steven" factoid.

I may go back and re-read the early thread. Thanks!

 

[laytonian]

The PI has posted an interesting comment on the FB page:
Help Us Find Steven FB page

He's talked to people who were not previously contacted

 

[laytonian]

Oh! I thought that there were two different things: the question we were asking that she wasn't answering (passport), and the "just Steven" factoid.

I may go back and re-read the early thread. Thanks!

I know what you're saying, but she later confirmed that it was the passport.

Her statements about it are collected on one of the Q&A pages:
Jan 20th

Remember the fairly-long conversation about the State Department, how to report a passport missing, etc?
I think she was trying to mention that there was something she was holding back, without leaving a hint about what it was.

If you're new here and haven't read the Q&As, there's about 4 pages of them - linked at the bottom of the timeline page. Several of us worked to collect info that had been posted, especially statements from the family. The QA-answered page lists everything Naegle (Steven's cousin) has passed on, with me as go-between. Nothing has been edited.

 

[sarx]

The PI has posted an interesting comment on the FB page:
Help Us Find Steven FB page

He's talked to people who were not previously contacted

There were people in the subdivision that hadn't been talked to up until now? 4 months later? And it was the PI, not LE that finally did this? Wow.

 

[Malini2001]

There were people in the subdivision that hadn't been talked to up until now? 4 months later? And it was the PI, not LE that finally did this? Wow.

This says a lot about the investigation, doesn't it? Sad...

 

[Lato]

The PI has posted an interesting comment on the FB page:
Help Us Find Steven FB page

He's talked to people who were not previously contacted

I love that he is in the neighborhood and that he knows the questions to ask.
With his background, I would bet he can determine how honest the answers might be.

He looks like someone with a mission.

 

[RubyRed]

There were people in the subdivision that hadn't been talked to up until now? 4 months later? And it was the PI, not LE that finally did this? Wow.

This says a lot about the investigation, doesn't it? Sad...

I am surprised, they did not take Steven's case seriously, then.

 

[laytonian]

I am surprised, they did not take Steven's case seriously, then.

I've always said that video was more harmful than helpful.

Without it, LE might have thought the car was dumped there.

But as long as people are convinced it's Steven on the video, then it looks exactly like a purposeful disappearance -- and there's no crime against that.

 

[RubyRed]

Yet, if everybody was not talked to, there very well could have been a connection, that was missed.

 

[Lato]

I don't think that walking purposefully equals leaving this world. I would have been gone
twice this morning.

If I were LE, the car left there for four days, a person walking in the neighborhood and that person never being seen again equals a real problem. Someone or something made them decide that this was not a serious case.

The offer of the $10,000 reward plus a PI who is working the neighborhood should be putting pressure on the Henderson PD...just my opinion.

 

[sarx]

I would have thought that clearing every single person in that subdivision and especially up the streets where he went would have been the first thing that would have been done. "Did you know or have an appt. with this man (show picture)?". How can you eliminate anything if you haven't completely cleared anything either?

 

[believe09]

Just to play devils advocate, and because I am law enforcement focused-he disappeared around the holidays when many of those folks were likely visiting loved ones, perhaps even out of town....I have had relatives come from that part of the country and spend 6 weeks (God Bless) at a time with me, so there is no question in my mind that folks were missed.

 

[RubyRed]

I would have thought that clearing every single person in that subdivision and especially up the streets where he went would have been the first thing that would have been done. "Did you know or have an appt. with this man (show picture)?". How can you eliminate anything if you haven't completely cleared anything either?

I know it is ridiculous. Missing men just do not get the same attention, in my opinion.

 

[believe09]

We know LE has seen the hard drive, the cell phone records and even Stevens library records. We know they have investigated every siting, had a scent dog at the initial scene and canvassed the neighborhood.

If they are not running at every lead and do not think there is evidence of foul play, they must think he walked away from his life. This may give them little incentive to run back and check everyone off the list that they missed in the neighborhood....just a thought.

So the Koechers are taking all of the appropriate steps by hiring someone to make sure everything has been covered.

 

[laytonian]

I would have thought that clearing every single person in that subdivision and especially up the streets where he went would have been the first thing that would have been done. "Did you know or have an appt. with this man (show picture)?".

Do you think they'd say "yes" if asked?

How can you eliminate anything if you haven't completely cleared anything either?

There's a problem: "clearing" everyone who lives at, or visits, each of the 200+ homes in the Overlook Village subdivision.

There's only one entrance/exit (Laurel Heights) to that entire neighborhood. His destination could have been anywhere.

(See "neighborhood" page link at the bottom of the timeline page, as well as the satellite map -- all put together to help people "see" the area we've been looking at for four months)

 

[RubyRed]

Just to play devils advocate, and because I am law enforcement focused-he disappeared around the holidays when many of those folks were likely visiting loved ones, perhaps even out of town....I have had relatives come from that part of the country and spend 6 weeks (God Bless) at a time with me, so there is no question in my mind that folks were missed.

I can see LE not having all the resources to do this, yet there was another PI before this one. What did they do? zero, zilch, nada, nothing.