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

[carterkatt]

The only reason I can think of (from my perspective) is that he hoped to rekindle the romance. Just hoped she'd be there???

 

[sophieness]

ok...what if he got involved with a loan shark or someone who offered him some kind of delivery job who worked at one of the casino companies in wendover? the wendover peppermill casino company also owns the rainbow club in henderson, nevada. the company that owns the nugget in wendover also owns the hacienda hotel in boulder city, nevada. just a thought. I wonder if any employees of these two companies lives in overlook village. maybe they were dishonest with steven and he was going to go confront them, or maybe he didn't have money to pay them back. if they were involved with illegal loan sharking or deliveries, they could have told steven to not make phone calls to them, they would set up their meeting arrangements in person, etc.

 

[Lady LEO]

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.

Let's run with #1 for a minute. If we believe that SK wasn't just making conversation when he told AM's family that he was going to Sacramento and that he really intended to, this could change some scenarios.

The trip to RV certainly appears impulsive and spontaneous in nature. Knowing that he would drive 13 hours and leave at an odd hour without letting anyone know or packing anything of importance to take with him, let's apply that same behavior to the following days.

If we look at where his last cell phone pings were registered, they are right next to Hwy 93. Follow 93 north and it turns into Hwy 95 which has several junctions heading west that go directly to Sacramento.

Then, let's take a step back and look at his previous cell phone pings. The one that occurred Saturday a.m. at Overton could have been on outbound trip to Henderson with the evening ping at Mesquite being the return trip. The neighbor said he saw SK arrive home at 10pm and leave 30 mins after. What if that is when he got his toiletry bag, pillow, blanket, etc and then returned to Henderson, perhaps staying with someone in the SCA neighborhood after he had already spent the day in Henderson.

If he was staying with someone in Henderson or in SCA, SK would have already been in Henderson when the Sunday a.m. call happened and he stated that he could go back to St. G if needed, but that wasn't in his plans for the day. He might have been with people who were staying with a family member who lived in SCA, but were traveling back to Sacramento within the next day or so and he intended to travel with them. Remember, the time frame of this incident occurred during college semester break and right between two holidays.

When the second call from his church member happened, SK stated he couldn't attend. It could be that the departure time for Sacaramento was approaching. If he had already stayed Saturday night in the SCA neighborhood, he would have been familiar with it and may have parked his vehicle in the driveway of his traveling companions which is why he wasn't seen on camera before. When the time to depart was approaching, that's when he might have moved his vehicle to the cul-de-sac. When watching him on the surveillance video, he didn't look as though he was searching for an unknown address or location. His head was down and he appeared comfortable with his surroundings.

Maybe SK planned on only being gone for a day or two and given his impulsive spontaneous trip in the days prior, and that could be why he didn't pack or take more essential items. If one of the family members was in college in Henderson, but were Sacramento natives, and were staying in campus housing or nearby apartments, leaving his vehicle there may not have seemed as safe compared to parking it in the SCA neighborhood where someone known to the individual might have been residing and could keep an eye on it.

Then, SK and his unknown companions started off for Sacramento in their car the following day, bright and early and he checked his voicemail before he lost his signal. And, given that he didn't like the cold weather, he may have looked at this as an opportunity to do some job searching in Sacramento which may be why he was carrying a folder that may have contained his resume.

That would explain why no one in the SCA neighborhood seems to know much about anything. The search for SK may actually be somewhere along Hwy 95 towards Sacramento or Sacramento proper. It would also provide some explaination as to why no one has come forward if his traveling companions are actually residents of Sacramento, where this disappearance might not have made the news.

In reviewing all the prior threads, there's been no talk about SK possibly experiencing an unexpected medical situation that resulted in his passing and his companions, for whatever reason, failed to report it to the authorities and instead, improperly disposed of his body. I've encountered a situation exactly like this twice in my profession when otherwise upstanding law abiding citizens can panic and improperly dispose of a body even though they didn't cause the person's death and didn't do anything wrong or have anything to hide.

What are everyone's thoughts?

 

[SassyBenton]

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.

Probably just a coincidence, but it is strange that this is a HR company and Steven was looking for work.

 

[Lady LEO]

The only reason I can think of (from my perspective) is that he hoped to rekindle the romance. Just hoped she'd be there???

This is plausible. Motives usually fall within 3 simplified categories: Pleasure, Treasure, or Power. I believe that the trip to RV was based upon the first, which is the most likely when cast against the 3 possibilities.

I doubt he went to RV on a whim believing that he could find employment, so I don't believe that money aka Treasure was the actual reason. He would not gain any influence or power by going to RV.

Where SK's focus was on employment and finding a wife, RV didn't hold strong employment prospects and it was in a cold environment in December. SK moved specifically to get away from the cold winters. The other focus that SK had was to find a wife. Love, or the search for it, can certainly prompt people to do spontaneous things, stir emotions, and make a 6 hr journey in hopes of finding love more understandable.

The trip to RV for romantic interests may also explain the reason that he didn't tell anyone or stop in and see his family. The time and expediture would have been called into question, maybe even criticized, difficult to justify, and perhaps embarassing if he was not well received.

Whereas if SK was job hunting, his actions would be applauded for expanding his search area, he would have been commended for showing such initiative, and he may have been more inclined to contact family or disclose this journey because it wouldn't have been scrutinized as harshly for the time and expenditure. Also, why make a 6.5 hr drive, remain 2hrs for lunch, if you were traveling to RV for employment prospects. His usage of time isn't strongly suggestive of an employment search.

Another reason that the people I have asked as to what would motivate them to do a drive under these circumstances, the common reply is "closure."
SK may have thought he was going to be leaving for a period of time, either temporarily or permanently and felt that he needed to see AM personally before he left.

For now, when I use the term leaving, I am not including or excluding suicide. There isn't enough evidence to support either conclusion.

 

[carterkatt]

This is plausible. Motives usually fall within 3 simplified categories: Pleasure, Treasure, or Power. I believe that the trip to RV was based upon the first, which is the most likely when cast against the 3 possibilities.

I doubt he went to RV on a whim believing that he could find employment, so I don't believe that money aka Treasure was the actual reason. He would not gain any influence or power by going to RV.

Where SK's focus was on employment and finding a wife, RV didn't hold strong employment prospects and it was in a cold environment in December. SK moved specifically to get away from the cold winters. The other focus that SK had was to find a wife. Love, or the search for it, can certainly prompt people to do spontaneous things, stir emotions, and make a 6 hr journey in hopes of finding love more understandable.

The trip to RV for romantic interests may also explain the reason that he didn't tell anyone or stop in and see his family. The time and expediture would have been called into question, maybe even criticized, difficult to justify, and perhaps embarassing if he was not well received.

Whereas if SK was job hunting, his actions would be applauded for expanding his search area, he would have been commended for showing such initiative, and he may have been more inclined to contact family or disclose this journey because it wouldn't have been scrutinized as harshly for the time and expenditure. Also, why make a 6.5 hr drive, remain 2hrs for lunch, if you were traveling to RV for employment prospects. His usage of time isn't strongly suggestive of an employment search.

Another reason that the people I have asked as to what would motivate them to do a drive under these circumstances, the common reply is "closure."
SK may have thought he was going to be leaving for a period of time, either temporarily or permanently and felt that he needed to see AM personally before he left.

For now, when I use the term leaving, I am not including or excluding suicide. There isn't enough evidence to support either conclusion.

Excellent post, Lady LEO... very well thought-out. Makes sense....

 

[carterkatt]

Just for the sake of gathering info.... any LDS here.. or those with knowledge... What are the specific LDS beliefs on suicide?

I know Steven had a very strong faith. Do you think even if he was very depressed and down, he would consider that? I want to know more about the LDS views on suicide.

(I do NOT want to look at that as an option... but feel I need more info to try to look at the whole picture.)

TIA

 

[SassyBenton]

http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=vrW223Yq6Ik

I found this by accident today when I was reading the current WS thread on the McStay family. 11 comment down, posted about 2 months regarding Steven. Probably someone just talking out their a** but still weird.

 

[laytonian]

http://www.youtube.com/all_comments?v=vrW223Yq6Ik

I found this by accident today when I was reading the current WS thread on the McStay family. 11 comment down, posted about 2 months regarding Steven. Probably someone just talking out their a** but still weird.

Oh, that's where it went, huh?

Instantly recognizable to most here (and elsewhere), I'm sure.

 

[SassyBenton]

Oh, that's where it went, huh?

Instantly recognizable to most here (and elsewhere), I'm sure.

Oh, is this someone who was banned from this thread/WS? The person's comments are pretty, um, extreme?

 

[laytonian]

Just for the sake of gathering info.... any LDS here.. or those with knowledge... What are the specific LDS beliefs on suicide?

I know Steven had a very strong faith. Do you think even if he was very depressed and down, he would consider that? I want to know more about the LDS views on suicide.

(I do NOT want to look at that as an option... but feel I need more info to try to look at the whole picture.)

TIA

I'm not LDS, but live in Utah among the LDS.

I have known several strongly-religious LDS men, throughout the years, who've committed suicide. One was a just-graduated schoolmate, three were neighbors, and two were coworkers. None were over 35.

 

[laytonian]

Probably just a coincidence, but it is strange that this is a HR company and Steven was looking for work.

Competency Management (CLICK HERE) isn't an HR company.

They're corporate consultants, providing seminars at the corporate level.

Based in Grosse Pointe Michigan; owner might have the Henderson address as a second home and take advantage of the Nevada corporate tax laws?

 

[RTC]

Do we know if he was on any perscription drugs such as xanax, lofoft etc...

 

[RTC]

I meant zoloft

 

[Fairy1]

I meant zoloft

IIRC, he had been taking something holistic at one time. That was mentioned by his friend gsmith. I'm going to have to go back and check if he said what it was for. I do recall he didn't know the name of it.

 

[sophieness]

interesting article: http://www.8newsnow.com/story/11004...g-cartel?clienttype=printable&redirected=true

although no record of koecher buying a gun...

"Drug cartel members aren't buying the guns themselves, they're recruiting desperate citizens who need money." thought maybe he was transporting a gun/guns? it's a wild thought, I know. in the one in a thousand (or more) chance that is what happened, he may not have known what he was transporting.


http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/138734[/url]

"There are accounts of Mexican drug cartel surrogate terrorist´s invading the U.S. by crossing the porous international border and killing Americans in Dallas Texas, Atlanta Georgia, New York City, Phoenix Arizona, Las Vegas Nevada, and is believed to have reached Shelby County Alabama where five people were found murdered gangland style by Mexican nationals.

Many Americans were kidnapped in the U.S. and taken to Mexico where they were murdered. Still other Americans were abducted and slain in Mexico while visiting, others where shot gangland style in country. Dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped, or held hostage, or killed by their captors in Mexico and many cases remain unsolved. Moreover, new cases of disappearances and kidnap-for-ransom and Americans being killed continue to be reported."

 

[Fairy1]

interesting article: http://www.8newsnow.com/story/11004...g-cartel?clienttype=printable&redirected=true

although no record of koecher buying a gun...

"Drug cartel members aren't buying the guns themselves, they're recruiting desperate citizens who need money." thought maybe he was transporting a gun/guns? it's a wild thought, I know. in the one in a thousand (or more) chance that is what happened, he may not have known what he was transporting.

It's not that wild. But, IMO, he would not have done something along these lines willingly or knowingly. If he was doing something like this, the question remains, what happened to him???

 

[sophieness]

I thought maybe he said, what's in that crate anyway, and they said mind your own business and he pressed the issue? said what the heck is going on here? maybe someone killed him bc they didn't think he'd keep his mouth shut?

 

[Lady LEO]

Fairy1 and Laytonian (or anyone who may know or have access to this information)--

In a prior post, there was mention of having received an education about cell towers. Could you please tell me the average or approximate range of the cell phone towers that SK's phone pinged off of?

 

[Fairy1]

Fairy1 and Laytonian (or anyone who may know or have access to this information)--

In a prior post, there was mention of having received an education about cell towers. Could you please tell me the average or approximate range of the cell phone towers that SK's phone pinged off of?

There is a map of the pings with a legend of when they occurred on the timeline. You can find the timeline link in laytonian's signature line. If you haven't already seen it, it can probably answer a lot of other questions you may have!