NV NV - Steven T. Koecher, 30, Henderson, 13 Dec 2009 - #20

[sophieness]

I know! I know the name doesn't mean anything at all but it still sounds weird...I feel terrible saying that.

 

[fridaybaker]

Some thoughts, which are likely way off base, but still keep coming back to me: SK checked a book out of the library about pioneers (who had lived in the local area, I believe) and his family has indicated that he was quite interested in history and would even visit local graves. LDS, of course, has some of that already "built in" to a person in the form of journaling, baptism and genealogical research. His family has stated that they think the Ruby Valley trip was about, paraphrasing here, "something to do with his time while he doesn't have a regular job".

Given the above, is it impossible to think that his long driving was just something along these lines -looking up old families, maybe even ones he found in that library book? Considering that there are mainly seniors living in the Anthem neighborhood, could he have been tracking down someone with ties to a pioneer family that he was interested in or just for some general historical information? (Don't laugh --I have a family member who does this all the time. He'll even go to other countries and knock on doors, visit cemetaries, etc.!)

Then, he met up somewhere along the way with someone who hit him over the head for his wallet or some other such random crime (Don't laugh here, either. I don't about LV, but in Chicago this happens all the time. If the wallet turns out not to have anything in it, so be it. It's tossed on the ground and the next old lady, mother pushing a stroller, unaware (insert any person you can think of here) is targeted. I recently heard about a healthy, white male, who just happened to be a US District Attorney, targeted for his wallet, then held captive and, eventually, released.

There just don't seem to be many facts that point to suicide or voluntary disappearance or foul play or anything else, but there are also things that point to all of them. So, perhaps his prior activities aren't related to his disappearance. Some questions are -why he bought a family-sized jar of peanut butter just before his disappearance (but before his last phone call with his father, where he became irritated -last straw? -that's when he decides to leave?) Maybe. Why not, seemingly, pack anything at all before disappearing? Why is there not a trace or shred of actual evidence that he planned either suicide or walking away? Speaking of suicide -how did he do it?

Or, considering that he probably wouldn't miss church for something nonessential, maybe Ruby Valley was exactly what his family said, but Anthem was a job he'd found. Then, victim of random foul play.

Although I don't know the exact statistics for any crime situation, let's say that there's a one in 50 million chance that you'll get bonked on the head for your wallet if you're a healthy, white male. That's one healthy, white male who got bonked on the head for his wallet. Was it Steven? -Sometime after he went to an appointment about a job, or doing some research on his avocation, studying history and pioneers?

I guess one niggling question I have as well: It sounds like the Bishop "promised" SK a job after Christmas. What kind of a job can someone just promise like that? Janitorial or some other menial job? I'd love to know what it was, because if it were anything at all above the level of passing out flyers or such, why on earth would he leave? Enjoy Christmas, start job in January. Sounds like a deal I'd love, myself!

Sorry if this is disjointed. I probably should have written it where I could edit better and then copied it in. Hope it makes sense.

 

[OldSteve]

Some thoughts........

Regarding your "Some thoughts"

I keep coming back to a random robbery too.... I can also imagine the perps becoming mad at not getting anything, and then doing him in....

But in those kind so robberies, the body would have been found.. that's what bugs me about this case - why hasn't he been found... generally the "no body, no crime" happens when the killer is connected to the victim in some way...

 

[fridaybaker]

I don't think I've seen this addressed recently, but please pardon my oversight if it has been: Do we know when the last time was that LE and the PI have discussed their efforts in this case and exactly where it stands? I guess I'd love to know if either are leaning one way or the other and anything, anything at all which could be considered a new development -any plans to follow a certain theory -anything? Also, I mentioned the PI -is there a PI still working the case?

OldSteve, I guess that's part of the conundrum, isn't it? Every theory has either a few small holes or one, big, gaping hole! Although, in consideration of the random robbery, I've always wondered why the search effort was in the dessert when often victims are disposed of in plastic bags in dumpsters. I guess that part of the problem here is that LE didn't start treating it like foul play until quite a while after he went missing and that probably precludes searching such locations.

And, if not random robbery, would he have walked away? I believe that many people do such things but it's difficult to see for me in this case. Walked away from his family forever? No contact, no way to earn a living (unless he'd saved his past-due rent money to purchase fake IK), but still, no work that could be traced to a SS#? It would seem to me to take either a tremendous anger at his family or a tremendous lack of concern. No "anonymous" note sent from some "anonymous" location to let them know he's okay -just decided to live somewhere else? Although, perhaps he thinks that it would be easier for them if they thought he was dead. There sure isn't any evidence of any planning, though. I guess we're back at square one. A

ny my last question, which I may have asked before: How many suicides are there where they don't find the body???

 

[sophieness]

I don't think I've seen this addressed recently, but please pardon my oversight if it has been: Do we know when the last time was that LE and the PI have discussed their efforts in this case and exactly where it stands? I guess I'd love to know if either are leaning one way or the other and anything, anything at all which could be considered a new development -any plans to follow a certain theory -anything? Also, I mentioned the PI -is there a PI still working the case?

OldSteve, I guess that's part of the conundrum, isn't it? Every theory has either a few small holes or one, big, gaping hole! Although, in consideration of the random robbery, I've always wondered why the search effort was in the dessert when often victims are disposed of in plastic bags in dumpsters. I guess that part of the problem here is that LE didn't start treating it like foul play until quite a while after he went missing and that probably precludes searching such locations.

And, if not random robbery, would he have walked away? I believe that many people do such things but it's difficult to see for me in this case. Walked away from his family forever? No contact, no way to earn a living (unless he'd saved his past-due rent money to purchase fake IK), but still, no work that could be traced to a SS#? It would seem to me to take either a tremendous anger at his family or a tremendous lack of concern. No "anonymous" note sent from some "anonymous" location to let them know he's okay -just decided to live somewhere else? Although, perhaps he thinks that it would be easier for them if they thought he was dead. There sure isn't any evidence of any planning, though. I guess we're back at square one. A

ny my last question, which I may have asked before: How many suicides are there where they don't find the body???

there's got to be some...however impossible to calculate bc then we don't know if they are suicides unless a note was left.

re: dumpsters, manholes, landfills: I agree it is too bad these were not able to be searched as well. however there's always a lack of resources and I think for a missing person's case with no body, a lot WAS tried, prob more than most missing young male cases. at some point LE steps back and says well we don't know if a crime was committed and we have to conserve our resources a bit. I personally don't think the ruby valley trip was for genealogy (too much on his mind) but it could have been the panicked wandering of someone who tried to clear his head. my suspicion however is that there's a lot more to that trip that we do not know about, and the family on the ranch were not the only people he went up there to meet.

 

[fridaybaker]

Sophieness-can you tell me how to quote? I see the quote button on the bottom right of your post but when I click on it it transfers the whole post to the reply box. What if I just want to quote a line or two? Do you mind telling me how?

Your last line said that you think that there's a lot more to the Ruby Valley trip that we don't know about and that he went to meet someone else. Why do you think that? I see that there's so much that we don't know and I can't see anything that would indicate that, specifically.

This is a hard case!

 

[OldSteve]

sniped:

OldSteve, I guess that's part of the conundrum, isn't it? Every theory has either a few small holes or one, big, gaping hole! Although, in consideration of the random robbery, I've always wondered why the search effort was in the dessert when often victims are disposed of in plastic bags in dumpsters. I guess that part of the problem here is that LE didn't start treating it like foul play until quite a while after he went missing and that probably precludes searching such locations.

Don't know what I was thinking, but you are sadly right in what you said above. It makes the most sense.

 

[sophieness]

Sophieness-can you tell me how to quote? I see the quote button on the bottom right of your post but when I click on it it transfers the whole post to the reply box. What if I just want to quote a line or two? Do you mind telling me how?

Your last line said that you think that there's a lot more to the Ruby Valley trip that we don't know about and that he went to meet someone else. Why do you think that? I see that there's so much that we don't know and I can't see anything that would indicate that, specifically.

This is a hard case!

I think you just have to delete what you don't want there, although I could be wrong. the only reason I think there was more to the RV trip is bc I find it odd that he would go up there to drop in for lunch with someone unexpectedly, and I think most trips to clear one's head....I can see four, five, even 8 hours round trip, but this trip was longer than that I believe. so I think there was another reason, we don't know about. he didn't have a lot of money, so I think it would be very strange to spend it on such a long trip without a good reason.

 

[sbakker]

I think you just have to delete what you don't want there, although I could be wrong. the only reason I think there was more to the RV trip is bc I find it odd that he would go up there to drop in for lunch with someone unexpectedly, and I think most trips to clear one's head....I can see four, five, even 8 hours round trip, but this trip was longer than that I believe. so I think there was another reason, we don't know about. he didn't have a lot of money, so I think it would be very strange to spend it on such a long trip without a good reason.

I also believe there was another reason Steven was In RV. When you do not have much money, how can you afford to run over there? Was he delivering things for his boss at the window store? Was he seeing about a job?
Somebody has to know something! But if he was delivering things for someone he knew, well they surely aren't going to tell anyone about it...

 

[sbakker]

Sorry, did NOT mean to give anyone a "THUMBS DOWN". Still computor illeterate.

 

[Sin City]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/mar/15/hendersons-museum-plan-assumes-rebound/

Henderson’s museum plan assumes rebound

I read this article in the Sun March 15th, and the first thing I thought was maybe 'something' will be found in connection with SK. That is, when this land is actually cleared by construction equipment. It's a terrible thought, but it is somewhat in the area of the last cell tower hit....US 95 between Sunset & Russell Roads is where this museum is planning to be built.

I'm just grasping for anything.....next thing you all know I'll be making stuff up. lol Just for you newbies to this thread....I'm not a troll. I'm just at a loss, and rarely post anymore. I do keep coming back for any updates though.

 

[Sin City]

Sorry, did NOT mean to give anyone a "THUMBS DOWN". Still computor illeterate.

Didn't even notice. No worries. It's kinda funny, as I would be highly shocked if you actually behaved in the manner of giving someone a 'thumbs down." lol

 

[Fairy1]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/mar/15/hendersons-museum-plan-assumes-rebound/

Henderson’s museum plan assumes rebound

I read this article in the Sun March 15th, and the first thing I thought was maybe 'something' will be found in connection with SK. That is, when this land is actually cleared by construction equipment. It's a terrible thought, but it is somewhat in the area of the last cell tower hit....US 95 between Sunset & Russell Roads is where this museum is planning to be built.

I'm just grasping for anything.....next thing you all know I'll be making stuff up. lol Just for you newbies to this thread....I'm not a troll. I'm just at a loss, and rarely post anymore. I do keep coming back for any updates though.

Hiya SC! I agree. That area is right where Steven's cell last pinged. Ya never know what might be unearthed...

 

[Sin City]

to those curious about the business mentioned earlier in this thread which was called, I believe it would be the one mentioned on this page under the heading: employment: http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/articles/2006/02/20/news/onthemove.txt

it has been mentioned on WS before. but I find it very interesting.

I finally took at look at this....it is very interesting. I do wonder, if SK's family checked his computer or records for any contact info regarding this company in his records?

 

[sophieness]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/mar/15/hendersons-museum-plan-assumes-rebound/

Henderson’s museum plan assumes rebound

I read this article in the Sun March 15th, and the first thing I thought was maybe 'something' will be found in connection with SK. That is, when this land is actually cleared by construction equipment. It's a terrible thought, but it is somewhat in the area of the last cell tower hit....US 95 between Sunset & Russell Roads is where this museum is planning to be built.

I'm just grasping for anything.....next thing you all know I'll be making stuff up. lol Just for you newbies to this thread....I'm not a troll. I'm just at a loss, and rarely post anymore. I do keep coming back for any updates though.

I agree...you never know...I am surprised they didn't do a thorough search of that area. it would have been easier than searching out in miles and miles of desert...

 

[sophieness]

I finally took at look at this....it is very interesting. I do wonder, if SK's family checked his computer or records for any contact info regarding this company in his records?

they didn't find anything linking him to that area. although, you never know what he might have done at library computers, or who he might have run into that could have requested to meet him at one of those houses.

 

[fridaybaker]

Does anyone here know if EVERY single avenue of employment advertising which would cover the area of SCA and its surroundings, dated around the time of SK's disapearance, was scoured for anything to which SK might have responded? I'm not local so I'm not sure of what all of the newspapers and the like are, but I'm thinking that a list of everything with any possible advert should be made and searched for all employment adverts at the time. Unfortunately, things like Craigslist probably wouldn't be available at this late date, but I'm sure that's one that would have been checked.

On the business noted in the "On the Move" section of the LV Business journal or whatever it is, it sounds like it just opened. -Maybe was functioning there before, just not formally incorporated or something?

Also, does Laytonian and KCN ever check in here anymore?

 

[Lady LEO]

there's got to be some...however impossible to calculate bc then we don't know if they are suicides unless a note was left.

re: dumpsters, manholes, landfills: I agree it is too bad these were not able to be searched as well. however there's always a lack of resources and I think for a missing person's case with no body, a lot WAS tried, prob more than most missing young male cases. at some point LE steps back and says well we don't know if a crime was committed and we have to conserve our resources a bit. I personally don't think the ruby valley trip was for genealogy (too much on his mind) but it could have been the panicked wandering of someone who tried to clear his head. my suspicion however is that there's a lot more to that trip that we do not know about, and the family on the ranch were not the only people he went up there to meet.

I think you're entirely correct to question the RV trip. Everything about it is odd.

What would cause someone to leave in the late evening hours/early morning hours on a weekday, in the middle of winter, to drive 13 hours round trip, to arrive unannounced at someone's house? Stay two hours while having lunch and then drive home. Add to the mystery that he didn't initiate contact with his family though he was in the area and when he spoke to his sister there's no mention that he commented on the fact that he was traveling on his return journey.

If we could start brainstorming what would prompt any of us to drive 13 hrs round trip spontaneously on a weekday, not telling anyone of our plans or contacting family that we would be near as we travelled, our departure occurred inexplicably in the dead of night, to go visit the family of someone we dated occasionally a year ago....answers to these questions might start to give us a glimpse into his motivations or thoughts.

Any ideas?

 

[webrocket]

I think you're entirely correct to question the RV trip. Everything about it is odd.

What would cause someone to leave in the late evening hours/early morning hours on a weekday, in the middle of winter, to drive 13 hours round trip, to arrive unannounced at someone's house? Stay two hours while having lunch and then drive home. Add to the mystery that he didn't initiate contact with his family though he was in the area and when he spoke to his sister there's no mention that he commented on the fact that he was traveling on his return journey.

If we could start brainstorming what would prompt any of us to drive 13 hrs round trip spontaneously on a weekday, not telling anyone of our plans or contacting family that we would be near as we travelled, our departure occurred inexplicably in the dead of night, to go visit the family of someone we dated occasionally a year ago....answers to these questions might start to give us a glimpse into his motivations or thoughts.

Any ideas?

he did not want to sit home in the days before his intended departure.

 

[sophieness]

I think you're entirely correct to question the RV trip. Everything about it is odd.

What would cause someone to leave in the late evening hours/early morning hours on a weekday, in the middle of winter, to drive 13 hours round trip, to arrive unannounced at someone's house? Stay two hours while having lunch and then drive home. Add to the mystery that he didn't initiate contact with his family though he was in the area and when he spoke to his sister there's no mention that he commented on the fact that he was traveling on his return journey.

If we could start brainstorming what would prompt any of us to drive 13 hrs round trip spontaneously on a weekday, not telling anyone of our plans or contacting family that we would be near as we travelled, our departure occurred inexplicably in the dead of night, to go visit the family of someone we dated occasionally a year ago....answers to these questions might start to give us a glimpse into his motivations or thoughts.

Any ideas?

1) maybe he really did want to go on to sacramento for whatever reason but turned back
2) for the people who believe he may have a new identity, maybe he was having a paperwork transaction
3) maybe it really was that he realized he made the mistake of his life with his relationship w their daughter and was hoping to see her or that she would contact him afterwards
4) maybe he wanted to ask for a job/place to stay on that ranch or one nearby, but changed his mind (embarrassed) or was told no. or was told he could get free room/board in exchange for some kind of work so was checking on that in the area and it didn't work out, or maybe it did and he was planning to return?? his mom said he sounded upbeat the next day. is there anyone in overlook village who owns land up there? don't know if we could find this out.
5) maybe he wanted to harm himself in a very out of the way area but changed his mind for that day
6)maybe he had some kind of a business/financial contact in that area
6a) maybe he gave someone a ride to that area (for money?)
6b) maybe he gave someone a ride back from that area
6c) maybe someone said, I will give you so much money, if you pick up this package from my uncle, whoever. maybe not drugs but guns? and he was told it was something like an heirloom, something they couldn't trust in the mail, who knows. or the opposite, to drive up and deliver this package to so and so. I know they used drug dogs on the car but could be something else?

so many different options!! ugh

my instinct leads me towards 4 or 6...but I really don't know...doesn't sound like the people from his stops in that area were ever thoroughly questioned. for the people who believe he is alive...who knows...maybe it is 4 and he is still up there and alive today, working on a nearby ranch. that's not what I believe though, sadly.