NV NV - Steven T. Koecher, 30, Henderson, 13 Dec 2009 - # 2
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Ask and ye shall receive. This is the best I could do from home, where my software is a little outdated. Hope it helps.
One thought: If the person on the video is Steven, then I think he's lost weight since this photo was taken.
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jbirddinky
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Wow! That's great work.
Of course, we don't have permission (yet) to use that picture, but that's exactly how I've pictured him looking.
I think this first picture is much older than the rest; he looks younger, and thinner.
In this second picture, and the brightened 'boating' image, he's a bit heavier (like someone who's 5'10" and 180 pounds). I can't tell weight from the video, because of the fish-eye camera effects.
(grrrr....I can't figure out how to get the images side-by-side)
Maybe KC Naegle can confirm this for us, or throw darts at me. And give us permission to use the "brightened" picture from her FB page....IF it's realistic.
This one's from 2008 -- if I saw this guy, I wouldn't recognize him as the guy in the top, open-collar picture.
Of course, we don't have permission (yet) to use that picture, but that's exactly how I've pictured him looking.
I think this first picture is much older than the rest; he looks younger, and thinner.
In this second picture, and the brightened 'boating' image, he's a bit heavier (like someone who's 5'10" and 180 pounds). I can't tell weight from the video, because of the fish-eye camera effects.
(grrrr....I can't figure out how to get the images side-by-side)
Maybe KC Naegle can confirm this for us, or throw darts at me. And give us permission to use the "brightened" picture from her FB page....IF it's realistic.
This one's from 2008 -- if I saw this guy, I wouldn't recognize him as the guy in the top, open-collar picture.
One of the flyers on the FB has several different photos of Steven. I showed that one to the folks at IHOP yesterday - along with the official flyer. I think it's better to have more than one pic to show people. They did ask if he had lost weight since those pics were taken. Course, I didn't know, but if he's been on the streets for a month, I figured it was pretty likely.
IF THE IHOP GUY IS STEVEN, I don't think he has been on the streets for one month. Without going into unnecessary detail, I think what happened was that he met up with someone on purpose and they had whatever plans for the future. Something went terribly awry and Steven either left or was kicked out of the household.
Feeling he had no place to go, he is wandering with the portfolio thing being his entire worldy possession, hence that is why he is clinging to it.
IF THIS IS HIM, he is in an extremely fragile mental state right now.
Feeling he had no place to go, he is wandering with the portfolio thing being his entire worldy possession, hence that is why he is clinging to it.
IF THIS IS HIM, he is in an extremely fragile mental state right now.
Especially if he's been living on iced tea!
Good to know that there's different views out there.
I feel totally helpless....and then think of 150,000 people in Haiti, forever missing. Wow, life. We're lucky to be here.
If it's Steven, he's added some possessions since he walked away from the car: a suit jacket and baseball cap. But the precious "case"....it's (to me) the most interesting part.
The MOST disappointing part?
There's only been ONE mention of Steven in the St George newspaper since he disappeared....on Dec 24th.
Naegle said he often wore a ball cap. Also, I mentioned the possibility that he returned to his car after what we've seen on the video for his jacket. Or possibly he found one somewhere after turning that corner?
There is a Goodwill store very near to the IHOP. Could have got those things there for little $$$$.
The Deseret Industries at 4655 E Flamingo Rd, might be closer (and cheaper!) than your Goodwill stores are....and even if he was stressed, he might feel comfortable shopping at the LDS thrift store.
That'd also be a good place for a missing persons poster.
First of all, Fairy1. . .that's a Hell of a job going around carrying Steven's pic hoping someone will recognize him. As I have mentioned before, I too live in Vegas, not far from where Steven disappeared. I am familiar with that IHOP since I used to live on E. Tropicana near Boulder Highway. In fact, I am sure at some time in the last ten years I was in that restaurant. I am also familiar with the homeless camp not far from there.
Having said that, I am not really heartened by this development. If it's true, then we are still asked to believe that Steven lost his mind on Evening Lights, even though just hours before that he talked pretty coherently with a friend of his. Rationally drove his car to that neighborhood, seemed to be walking with purpose, clean dressed, fiddling with something his hands, and then totally forgot why he was there. Then, he somehow got himself out of that neighborhood (with no one seeing him), and made it to E. Flamingo. And at the same time found other clothes to wear. It's all a bit of stretch.
I realize there is the case of Kacie Aleece who disappeared from Washington state and was found in NYC. Something mental happened to her, obviously. But in that case, her family and authorities were not even that worried because they had evidence that she was still alive. In addition, she had had a history of disappearing and forgetting where she was. Eventually, and thankfully, she was found alive. To me, though, her facts are exactly the opposite of what we have in Steven's case. No bank activity. No phone activity. No evidence of any kind that he is still alive. No history of forgetting where he is. In fact, he seemed to show up at people's places unannounced, right?
I think we all have to remember that asking somebody to identify somebody he/she saw a week ago is tough, especially when IHOP has customers coming in at all times of day and night. Between them seeing this homeless guy and Fairy1 going in there-a week-all of the employees have seen probably 500 white guys matching Steven's general description. Now, if he was a midget. . .or if he was six ten. . .or if he was in a wheelchair, that would be different. If I am hanging at my local Starbuck's and I notice an attractive woman that comes in and sits by me, I may remember her later in the day if someone shows me a picture. But, if it's a week later and somebody shows me a picture of her with a different hairstyle, with a tan, a different outfit on, etc. . .maybe. . .MAYBE I recognize her.
I'm not saying this to be negative, I admire anyone's courage to do what Fairy1 is doing. But, before someone wastes their gas all over LV, we need to take a harder look at the facts. And dangling evidence:
-his computer. Was it totally wiped? No info on it at all? Would Steven know how to do that? If not, somebody did it. Find that person. And as I have been told, information on a computer is NEVER TOTALLY erased.
-his cellphone. No suspicioius calls on it at all? Really? How about on payphones near where he lived in St. George? Near his church? Near where he shopped? Did he ever borrow somebody else's cellphone? How about phones at his church? Any strange calls from and to them?
-I would like to hear about ANY trips that he made to Vegas in the past and did any of those trips take him toward Sun City Anthem.
-I would like to know if Steven has any outstanding warrants. . .even something has harmless as a parking ticket or speeding ticket. . .it might tell us where he has been without any other people knowing.
Those are just some things off the top of my head. Now, if that guy at IHOP comes back in and says his name is Steven. THEN, you will have my attention. Maybe the manager or waitress can try to get that out of the homeless guy. But if he says his name is Bob and he grew up in Las Vegas and went to Cimarron High School. Then, I am sure he is not Steven. But keep up the courageous, insightful work, Fairy1
Having said that, I am not really heartened by this development. If it's true, then we are still asked to believe that Steven lost his mind on Evening Lights, even though just hours before that he talked pretty coherently with a friend of his. Rationally drove his car to that neighborhood, seemed to be walking with purpose, clean dressed, fiddling with something his hands, and then totally forgot why he was there. Then, he somehow got himself out of that neighborhood (with no one seeing him), and made it to E. Flamingo. And at the same time found other clothes to wear. It's all a bit of stretch.
I realize there is the case of Kacie Aleece who disappeared from Washington state and was found in NYC. Something mental happened to her, obviously. But in that case, her family and authorities were not even that worried because they had evidence that she was still alive. In addition, she had had a history of disappearing and forgetting where she was. Eventually, and thankfully, she was found alive. To me, though, her facts are exactly the opposite of what we have in Steven's case. No bank activity. No phone activity. No evidence of any kind that he is still alive. No history of forgetting where he is. In fact, he seemed to show up at people's places unannounced, right?
I think we all have to remember that asking somebody to identify somebody he/she saw a week ago is tough, especially when IHOP has customers coming in at all times of day and night. Between them seeing this homeless guy and Fairy1 going in there-a week-all of the employees have seen probably 500 white guys matching Steven's general description. Now, if he was a midget. . .or if he was six ten. . .or if he was in a wheelchair, that would be different. If I am hanging at my local Starbuck's and I notice an attractive woman that comes in and sits by me, I may remember her later in the day if someone shows me a picture. But, if it's a week later and somebody shows me a picture of her with a different hairstyle, with a tan, a different outfit on, etc. . .maybe. . .MAYBE I recognize her.
I'm not saying this to be negative, I admire anyone's courage to do what Fairy1 is doing. But, before someone wastes their gas all over LV, we need to take a harder look at the facts. And dangling evidence:
-his computer. Was it totally wiped? No info on it at all? Would Steven know how to do that? If not, somebody did it. Find that person. And as I have been told, information on a computer is NEVER TOTALLY erased.
-his cellphone. No suspicioius calls on it at all? Really? How about on payphones near where he lived in St. George? Near his church? Near where he shopped? Did he ever borrow somebody else's cellphone? How about phones at his church? Any strange calls from and to them?
-I would like to hear about ANY trips that he made to Vegas in the past and did any of those trips take him toward Sun City Anthem.
-I would like to know if Steven has any outstanding warrants. . .even something has harmless as a parking ticket or speeding ticket. . .it might tell us where he has been without any other people knowing.
Those are just some things off the top of my head. Now, if that guy at IHOP comes back in and says his name is Steven. THEN, you will have my attention. Maybe the manager or waitress can try to get that out of the homeless guy. But if he says his name is Bob and he grew up in Las Vegas and went to Cimarron High School. Then, I am sure he is not Steven. But keep up the courageous, insightful work, Fairy1
http://homes.point2.com/Neighborhoo...y/Henderson/Sun-City-Anthem-Demographics.aspx
Found this link. Car thefts OFF the chart. . .2.77 times the national average. Rapes. . .way above national average. Even though people in Las Vegas consider this area to be safe. Granted, with a median income of $91,000, cars are going to be nicer and thus are going to be stolen more. But, I was shocked by that number. Could have Steven been in on a car theft? Would explain why no one saw him leave. Maybe it was insurance fraud.
Back. . .WAY BACK. . .before I lived in Las Vegas. . .I knew guys who committed insurance fraud by stealing cars from people who wanted their car stolen. In other words. . .owner can't make payment, can't sell it for market value, finds someone that will steal car and dismantle it then sell it for the parts, owner makes a claim to insurance company, insurance pays out market price which is higher than owner can get from a private buyer. Both guys win. . .thief makes money off parts, owner makes money from insurance company. Insurance company, of course, loses.
With car theft so high there, and especially in these times, could not some of these thefts be insurance fraud? Lots of upside down people in Sun City Anthem due to how much their houses used to be worth to what they are worth now. Lots of desperate people. They need the cash. Steven is looking to make a few bucks. Finds someone online or somebody while he is Vegas (It's easy. . .a friend of mine's cousin found a cocaine dealer in town between the time he got off the plane to when he pulled up to Mandalay Bay. . .10 minutes) that says he can help Steven make a couple bucks.
Steven is told to show up at this house at this time. Car will have keys in it. Drive it here. . .that's why there are no directions in car because the Evening Lights address and the other address are on the same piece of paper. Seems to make sense. He drives the car somewhere. Maybe he has second thoughts. Maybe they stiff him the money. And they get rid of him.
To me, it's a much more plausible scenario than amensia, wanting to leave his life, etc. It satisfies a lot of the questions. . .driving to places without being announced, no directions in his car, leaving without being noticed, needed the money, it's a crime but not so outrageous as others like drug running. . .illegal immigrant trafficking, etc. It also fits in the demographic of that neighborhood. And the thing is. . .the car would not need to be owned by someone on that street. Someone could have just left it there by someone else so nobody living in that neighborhood would truthfully know anything about it. Hmmmm. . .I wonder.
Found this link. Car thefts OFF the chart. . .2.77 times the national average. Rapes. . .way above national average. Even though people in Las Vegas consider this area to be safe. Granted, with a median income of $91,000, cars are going to be nicer and thus are going to be stolen more. But, I was shocked by that number. Could have Steven been in on a car theft? Would explain why no one saw him leave. Maybe it was insurance fraud.
Back. . .WAY BACK. . .before I lived in Las Vegas. . .I knew guys who committed insurance fraud by stealing cars from people who wanted their car stolen. In other words. . .owner can't make payment, can't sell it for market value, finds someone that will steal car and dismantle it then sell it for the parts, owner makes a claim to insurance company, insurance pays out market price which is higher than owner can get from a private buyer. Both guys win. . .thief makes money off parts, owner makes money from insurance company. Insurance company, of course, loses.
With car theft so high there, and especially in these times, could not some of these thefts be insurance fraud? Lots of upside down people in Sun City Anthem due to how much their houses used to be worth to what they are worth now. Lots of desperate people. They need the cash. Steven is looking to make a few bucks. Finds someone online or somebody while he is Vegas (It's easy. . .a friend of mine's cousin found a cocaine dealer in town between the time he got off the plane to when he pulled up to Mandalay Bay. . .10 minutes) that says he can help Steven make a couple bucks.
Steven is told to show up at this house at this time. Car will have keys in it. Drive it here. . .that's why there are no directions in car because the Evening Lights address and the other address are on the same piece of paper. Seems to make sense. He drives the car somewhere. Maybe he has second thoughts. Maybe they stiff him the money. And they get rid of him.
To me, it's a much more plausible scenario than amensia, wanting to leave his life, etc. It satisfies a lot of the questions. . .driving to places without being announced, no directions in his car, leaving without being noticed, needed the money, it's a crime but not so outrageous as others like drug running. . .illegal immigrant trafficking, etc. It also fits in the demographic of that neighborhood. And the thing is. . .the car would not need to be owned by someone on that street. Someone could have just left it there by someone else so nobody living in that neighborhood would truthfully know anything about it. Hmmmm. . .I wonder.
I'm the first to admit that the numerous IHOP sightings may be nothing more than mistaken identity. Steven is a pretty average looking guy and would probably not stand out to anyone under normal circumstances.
No, he's not a midget, but the IHOP fellow is in a notably fragile mental state. He also only drinks iced tea and sleeps on the counter. These are outstanding characteristics, IMO. Things that may cause people to take notice when they normally wouldn't give it a second thought.
I don't believe I mentioned that the waitress who last saw this fellow on the graveyard shift a week ago had not been on the graveyard shift since. It was her last time working that shift, but we don't know if that was the last graveyard shift during which this fellow was there. Hopefully, the folks that I spoke to yesterday have had an opportunity to ask other co-workers if they've seen him more recently.
Mental illness is a tricky thing. There are many varieties and many different ways that an episode could be triggered. I'm certainly no expert, but I would venture to say a good number of the homeless people in LV and elsewhere are suffering from some type of mental illness. How often they visit an IHOP in the middle of the night is anyone's guess.
I do hope this is a good lead on Steven and that his family is able to find him and get him home. Do I think it's the only possibility? No. I'm still working on other theories as we all wait to hear any news from Naegle.
No, he's not a midget, but the IHOP fellow is in a notably fragile mental state. He also only drinks iced tea and sleeps on the counter. These are outstanding characteristics, IMO. Things that may cause people to take notice when they normally wouldn't give it a second thought.
I don't believe I mentioned that the waitress who last saw this fellow on the graveyard shift a week ago had not been on the graveyard shift since. It was her last time working that shift, but we don't know if that was the last graveyard shift during which this fellow was there. Hopefully, the folks that I spoke to yesterday have had an opportunity to ask other co-workers if they've seen him more recently.
Mental illness is a tricky thing. There are many varieties and many different ways that an episode could be triggered. I'm certainly no expert, but I would venture to say a good number of the homeless people in LV and elsewhere are suffering from some type of mental illness. How often they visit an IHOP in the middle of the night is anyone's guess.
I do hope this is a good lead on Steven and that his family is able to find him and get him home. Do I think it's the only possibility? No. I'm still working on other theories as we all wait to hear any news from Naegle.
raying:I don't see this as insurance fraud as Steven has no home at which to collect a check.
I go back and forth on that theory.
I'd think it more likely he decided to sell the car to someone, than to rip off his insurance.
For:
He owed money on the car.
He was in debt.
Against:
He had unused, available money from his mother.
He had unused, available money from his grandmother (uncashed check, given between July 2 and Sep 5).
What would he do without the car?
It's not an especially valuable car, or one that's often customized.
It's not on Nevada's 2008 most-stolen vehicle list, which means "most common are most often stolen".
How did he plan to get back to St George?
Why even go there to do it? Cars are stolen in St George, too.
Was the car even insured against being stolen....or just liability?
We're missing a BIG piece of evidence that's (frankly) a game-changer. We are not privy to that information...so frankly, I'm starting to feel like others here: spinning my wheels and feeling used/useless.
Not to mention the car was still sitting there, what, four days after he put it there. In an HOA community where it could have been towed away at any time.
Maybe I didn't make myself clear. Maybe he was stealing SOMEONE ELSE'S car. He wasn't leaving his car there to be stolen. He wanted to make a few quick bucks stealing somebody else's car through insurance fraud. Yes, he left his car there but maybe that's why he didn't park right on the street. He parked his own car like it was owned by someone else in the neighborhood.
Having known some of the guys who used to do this. . .this was like 16 years ago. . .they were really mild-mannered guys who you would NEVER have thought would steal cars. But, they did. They weren't your usual "stereotypical" car thief: They just didn't happen upon a car.
In their case, everything was already pre-arranged: where the car would be, where the keys would be, what time to steal the car, etc. Could have Steven gotten into something like this where he was a novice car thief who was helping people collect money from insurance companies for their supposedly "stolen" car?
The other reason I bring this up is that even though Sun City Anthem is WAY above the national average. . .you can only find a few stories of cars being stolen in Henderson, period. . .and I mean ALL of Henderson. To me, that's a little strange. I even ran a search on Google about just overall "crime" in Sun City and the only thing I could find that stood out was the guy who cut down about 500 trees because he wanted a better view of the city. (And for those of you that don't live here, that is a PERFECT Sun City story. That is what that community is really like. . .a bunch of people who just want a nice view.) That's what make Steven's disappearance so strange.
I am just trying to match something that jives between Steven. . .his actions, his money situation, his demeanor, his personality, etc. . .and where he disappeared from. There is a connection. We just have not found it yet.
Having known some of the guys who used to do this. . .this was like 16 years ago. . .they were really mild-mannered guys who you would NEVER have thought would steal cars. But, they did. They weren't your usual "stereotypical" car thief: They just didn't happen upon a car.
In their case, everything was already pre-arranged: where the car would be, where the keys would be, what time to steal the car, etc. Could have Steven gotten into something like this where he was a novice car thief who was helping people collect money from insurance companies for their supposedly "stolen" car?
The other reason I bring this up is that even though Sun City Anthem is WAY above the national average. . .you can only find a few stories of cars being stolen in Henderson, period. . .and I mean ALL of Henderson. To me, that's a little strange. I even ran a search on Google about just overall "crime" in Sun City and the only thing I could find that stood out was the guy who cut down about 500 trees because he wanted a better view of the city. (And for those of you that don't live here, that is a PERFECT Sun City story. That is what that community is really like. . .a bunch of people who just want a nice view.) That's what make Steven's disappearance so strange.
I am just trying to match something that jives between Steven. . .his actions, his money situation, his demeanor, his personality, etc. . .and where he disappeared from. There is a connection. We just have not found it yet.
OK, I get ya.
Zip code 89052 is all of Henderson, with Sun City/Anthem (the foothills) having a lower crime rate than "the flats".
Now we have a guy imported from two hours away, who is linked to the abandoned car found nearby. A stolen car and a missing person, all on the same day, within a block or two.
The reason you have someone else steal your car, is that they disappear WITH the car. You have no contact with hired thief, because you left the money under the floormat. No money, no theft. You'd have to "off" the guy, right there in the neighborhood.
THEN, because he left his car there, he has to come back and get it.
I dunno.
Unless it's more acceptable for him to be a car thief than to drink iced tea,
this would require a mental snap, too.
I don't believe he's wandering, amnesiac. He could be hiding, ashamed, or just embarrassed to reappear. I'd like to think that.
BUT....do the Henderson Police put all reported crimes online? <b>Wait! Just found it -- creating a post right now.)
Ours does, which is how I found out my neighbor's car had been reported stolen from inside their own garage. (When this is all over, I'll put everyone's brain's together on it.)
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I understood your post and it sounds like one plausible scenario.
Wonder if there have been any vehicles reported stolen in that neighborhood around the time Steven went missing?
Although I think it's slim...it still may be something to run by LE.
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