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

[OldSteve]

sniped:

I strongly believe that the reasons for his disappearance were financial at their root. whether suicide, or whether he got mixed up with something or someone dangerous to make money.

In the end you've summed it up well, IMO....
At this point in time, I don't think there is much that can be done in figuring out the mystery until something new is found - such as a body, or someone coming forward.

 

[Weygand]

I don't see mormonism as religion one has to change their name or identity to escape from. he lived down in a relatively private place, if he wanted to drift away from the church he could have done it relatively easily without his family knowing. instead, we have someone who made church activities a priority all the way up until the week he went missing. and just a few days before went to ward temple night. why would he do that? it doesn't make sense to me. everything about him, says that the LDS religion was important to him.

I strongly believe that the reasons for his disappearance were financial at their root. whether suicide, or whether he got mixed up with something or someone dangerous to make money. he'd never given indication of ambivalance towards the LDS religion that I know of. and as someone who comes from a family with a long history of seasonal affective disorder, I can see him wanting to move to a place with sunnier and warmer winters. I think steven had a history of depression, which he had trouble admitting to and his family had trouble seeing because it may represent a "flaw" they didn't want to admit. I think he felt overly dependent on his parents as well (he was living with them again and approaching 30) so his move to st. george was to try to prove his independence. when he felt like he was failing there, it must have been devastating to him.

That could very well be as well, but honestly it becomes further difficult to reconcile his evinced faith because unless you're just sleeping in church the bible has multitudes of themes revolving around tests of faith and the measure to which the reliance on faith in God as your salvation through difficult times (do the Mormons not at least know and teach the lessons of Job??) is no less than paramount.

See I think in his travels to Brazil he saw enough to understand, assuming there wasn't some empathy filter active like a mental illness, truly, no matter how sad your lot in life is, there's always some poor sad sack who would trade you in an instant; that's why I don't see him eating a pistol. No matter how *bad* life was for him in Utah, he had witnessed true suffering and poverty.

But there are just as many reasons to believe as you do.....the poverty he saw in Brazil could have been the proverbial lit match to the fuse of depression. Some of the jumpers in a documentary called The Bridge who are filmed jumping off the GG Bridge look like they could be in the same boat SK was at the time of his vanishing.....regular people on the outside but a smoldering tinderbox on the inside.

 

[Lady LEO]

Just wanted to say I'm glad to see the newbies breathing new breath into SK's case. Your all doing a fantasic job with your thoughts, discussions and theories. Interesting. Stay with it...and thank you.

Lady Leo....It's nice to see someone else who finds truths within FSA. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of communication to go by or many posts of the key players to get a base for deceptions; but agree AN was holding back some info per her post--and doesn't necessarily mean she was doing so to throw infomation.

Holly Blue--

You're a saving grace :great: FSA has helped me professionally everyday, with every criminal I encounter. Since I was trained in it and I've been studying under one of the nationally recognized experts in FSA, I see it as being one of the most valuable investigative tools available. By using it I have been able to demonstrate that two people were innocent, who were actually convicted of crimes, and based in part on the FSA, these people were exonerated when their case was appealed.

I wish that we could get the AN, her family, SK's family, and friends together for a round table and have them each submit written information. People don't realize how much they actually remember and can leak through in their verbal or written statements. FSA doesn't strictly detect deception, but it also point us in the right direction of where to make further inquiries. When a trail has gone cold, it can heat right back up when we use FSA.

Thank you for chiming in and it is so good to know that someone here is also aware of and/or trained in FSA:woohoo:

 

[Weygand]

Holly Blue--

You're a saving grace :great: FSA has helped me professionally everyday, with every criminal I encounter. Since I was trained in it and I've been studying under one of the nationally recognized experts in FSA, I see it as being one of the most valuable investigative tools available. By using it I have been able to demonstrate that two people were innocent, who were actually convicted of crimes, and based in part on the FSA, these people were exonerated when their case was appealed.

I wish that we could get the AN, her family, SK's family, and friends together for a round table and have them each submit written information. People don't realize how much they actually remember and can leak through in their verbal or written statements. FSA doesn't strictly detect deception, but it also point us in the right direction of where to make further inquiries. When a trail has gone cold, it can heat right back up when we use FSA.

Thank you for chiming in and it is so good to know that someone here is also aware of and/or trained in FSA:woohoo:

So why haven't the police done that?

 

[hollyblue]

Holly Blue--

You're a saving grace :great: FSA has helped me professionally everyday, with every criminal I encounter. Since I was trained in it and I've been studying under one of the nationally recognized experts in FSA, I see it as being one of the most valuable investigative tools available. By using it I have been able to demonstrate that two people were innocent, who were actually convicted of crimes, and based in part on the FSA, these people were exonerated when their case was appealed.

I wish that we could get the AN, her family, SK's family, and friends together for a round table and have them each submit written information. People don't realize how much they actually remember and can leak through in their verbal or written statements. FSA doesn't strictly detect deception, but it also point us in the right direction of where to make further inquiries. When a trail has gone cold, it can heat right back up when we use FSA.

Thank you for chiming in and it is so good to know that someone here is also aware of and/or trained in FSA:woohoo:

I can think of one that I wish would look into SK's case and bring it up for discussion.

 

[sophieness]

That could very well be as well, but honestly it becomes further difficult to reconcile his evinced faith because unless you're just sleeping in church the bible has multitudes of themes revolving around tests of faith and the measure to which the reliance on faith in God as your salvation through difficult times (do the Mormons not at least know and teach the lessons of Job??) is no less than paramount.

See I think in his travels to Brazil he saw enough to understand, assuming there wasn't some empathy filter active like a mental illness, truly, no matter how sad your lot in life is, there's always some poor sad sack who would trade you in an instant; that's why I don't see him eating a pistol. No matter how *bad* life was for him in Utah, he had witnessed true suffering and poverty.

But there are just as many reasons to believe as you do.....the poverty he saw in Brazil could have been the proverbial lit match to the fuse of depression. Some of the jumpers in a documentary called The Bridge who are filmed jumping off the GG Bridge look like they could be in the same boat SK was at the time of his vanishing.....regular people on the outside but a smoldering tinderbox on the inside.

http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suiciderates/en/

suicide is several times more common in the united states than in brazil. depression is based on many things, but it isn't based on logic. there are many well off, successful people who do it, and there are many many poor people who would never consider it. I don't necessarily believe that steven committed suicide. but I don't think I would be shocked....whereas the deception of coming up with a new life, when there are no signs in his acquaintences, financial records, known email accounts, etc., no family of his own or felonies to run from, and no known addictions to run towards...that would be kinda shocking to me.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/0...-live-may-be-bad-news-for-suicidal/25558.html

this article says that the "happier" of a place you live in, the more likely you may be to commit suicide. bc the people around you are happy, and you are not, and that makes you that much more miserable. whereas if you live in a miserable place, you can chalk your unhappiness up to that, instead of seeing yourself as defective.

ALTHOUGH, when I read this article about people who might be susceptible to run off and join a cult, while I find this an even less likely option, it does sound a lot like steven.
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/265-who-joins-cults-and-why
I believe he made a comment about people at a job being too "worldly"? that sounds like he might be prone to an ascetic state of mind.

for people who believe it is a possibility, there are a few cults based in the sacramento area:

http://www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=8

http://www.topix.com/forum/sacramento/TUEEMF6G1OFDD9HU1

http://www.rickross.com/reference/fof/fof15.html

if interested in others, this site has a long list: http://www.rickross.com/sg_alpha.html

 

[Jobu]

Does anyone know how much it generally costs to get set up with new ID -I guess what we'd call "fake ID"? I mean in the "real world" vs. TV, which is generally where I get most of my ideas about such things. (On TV, by the way, it must be really easy and really cheap because everyone seem to do it!)

Depends what year he did it. I know in the late 90's for AZ you only needed a birth cert and an SS card to get a license with your pic. My sisters BF from Australia came to stay for a summer in 96 or so and I lent him my B cert and SS and he worked a summer under my name. We both had Drivers Licenses with the same name and different pictures.

I would imagine it is not as easy these days... actually it doesn't look much harder after just researching. Here is what I found.


SOURCE http://www.uvu.edu/campusconnection/idcards/utahid.html

being this is a government site I assume the 10% copyright rule doesn't apply.


UTAH
Looks like you need 1 primary and 1 secondary

For a first-time driver license, learner permit or ID card an applicant must provide two identifying documents. One of the documents must be a primary document (listed below) while the other document must be a social security card. All documents must be original or copies certified by the issuing agency (Hospital record / certificate not acceptable.) Non-English documents must be accompanied by a certified translation of the document. The original and the translation are considered one document for identification purposes.

Primary Document ListDocuments from this list must include birth date.)

* Certification of Naturalization (N550)
* Certificate of Citizenship (N560)
* Delayed Birth Certificate (from Vital Records)
* Driver License issued in the United States
* Foreign Birth Certificate with Notarized Translation
* Foreign Passport with visa
* I-94 Card of INS I-551 Card
* Indian Blood Certificate
* Matricular Consular ID (Utah issued only)
* Resident Alien Card
* U.S. Birth Certificate (hospital document or souvenir birth certificate are not acceptable)
* U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad
* U.S. Passport
* U.S. Military ID Card or DD-214


The division considers a state issued birth certificate (Hospital certificate, non-certified copies or miniaturized copies not accepted) and social security card as best evidence of identification for licensing / ID purposes. Other documents may or may not be acceptable. The division has discretion to require additional proof of identity, as it deems necessary. Items on the following list (Secondary List) may be used to accompany a document from the Primary List (above) when being issued a duplicate driver license or ID card.
Secondary Forms of Identification

* Bank Card
* BIA / Tribal Treaty / ID Card
* Church Records
* Concealed Weapons Permit
* Mexican Voter Registration Card
* Court of Record Documents: Adoption, Bankruptcy Decree,Divorce, Emancipation, Name Change
* Credit Card (with photo)
* Employee ID Badge (with photo)
* Employee Authorization Card (with passport)
* International Driver License
* Marriage License / Certificate
* Medical Insurance ID Card
* MVR / Clearance Letter
* Out-of-Country Driver License
* Professional License
* School ID (with photo)
* Selective Service Card
* Selective Service Registration
* Social Security Card
* U.S. Armed Forces Drivers License

Acceptable Proof of Social Security Number

* Social Security Card issued by the U.S. Government (non-laminated and signed.)
* Documents from the Social Security Administration.
* Information acquired from federal Data Files.

Acceptable Proof of Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)

* ITIN card issued by the Internal Revenue Service
* Documents from the IRS or letter from the IRS to verify the ITIN.

Acceptable Proof of Legal Presence

* U.S. State, Local Government-issued Birth Certificate
* Valid U.S. Passport.
* Valid Foreign Passport with Appropriate Immigration Documents (Must include or be accompanied by an I-94) *
* Certificate of Citizenship (N560)
* Certificate of Naturalization (N550)
* INS I-551 Resident Alien Card issued since 1997
* INS I-688 Temporary Resident Identification Card
* INS I-688B, I-766 Employment Authorization Card
* U.S. Department of Receptions and Placement Program Assurance Form(Refugee)

* The appropriate immigration documents(s) determine legal presence. Not the passport itself.

Acceptable Proof of Utah Residence
Utah law requires proof of a Utah residence address from all Driver License, Identification Card, and Driving Privilege Card applicants. Proof must be verified by at least two different types of documents.

In order to verify a residence address as the individual’s place of domicile or an address where the individual resides as a resident, an application for a Utah driver license, Utah driving privilege card, or Utah identification card shall be accompanied by a minimum of two different types of original (current and valid) documents from the following list identifying the individual’s name and residence address:
(a) Property tax notice, statement or receipt, within 1 year
(b) Utility bill, billing date within 60 days, no cell phone bill
(c) Utah Vehicle registration or title, current not expired
(d) Bank statement, within 60 days
(e) Recent mortgage papers
(f) Current residential rental contract
(g) Major credit card bill, within 60 days
(h) Court order of probation, order of parole or order of mandatory release, must display residential address on the order
(i) Transcript(s) from an accredited college, university, or high school

 

[Lady LEO]

If you don't know how or where to look, getting the supporting documents to start a new life under a new identity can be very challenging and is getting harder with each legislative session. It's not as simple as it would seem on the surface. The people that I've encountered who had fake identifying documents paid a notable amount of money to acquire them and they really had to be well connected and trusted for the forgers to generate the fake IDs and supporting documents.

I find it highly unlikely that SK, who wasn't particularly successful with his own original identity, would enjoy any measurable success at navigating the underground, complex, and many times costly endeavor of adopting an entirely new identity.

Identity theft by hackers using computers is one thing, trying to have all of the needed documentation for everyday requirements such as opening bank accounts, applying for employment, and obtaining photo ID is a whole different ball game.

This is not meant in any derrogatory manner when I say that illegal immigrants are better connected, out of sheer necessity, to be able to obtain false personas and the documentation needed for their new identity. It is much harder for your average adult caucasian male who is not particularly street saavy to achieve the same goal without many more obstacles.

I believe that SK wouldn't have had the know how, skill, or connections needed to be able to cover his tracks well enough to take on a new identity without detection.

 

[fridaybaker]

Jobu - Thanks for the info! I'm glad you were able to pull off the driver's license scheme! I do think that these days everything is harder! Including life in general.

...and Sophieness: Thanks for the article on happiness. Especially in the current culture, you are expected to be happy. Feeling low? Take anti-depressants. Grieving and distraught over a loved one's death, loss of job, anything else? Take a relaxant. Still grieving? "Just forget it. It's time to move on". Etc., etc. It seems to me that even in religious circles, happiness is primo, numero uno, THE PRIORITY. Dont' have regrets, be happy. Don't cry, be happy.......

Regarding Steven: When I read GSmith's posts and various things his family have said, I think he was probably the victim of foul play. When I look at the situation devoid of those things, just the basic facts about him, I think he voluntarily disappeared. Ach!

However, I did just note a website by a cousin of his, and I hope this isn't too personal to note here, but on it any mention of anyone else's blogs -friends, family, etc. were all listed as "Mary and Sam", "Tammy and Dave", "Joe and Susie", etc. ( not real names, obviously.) There were many listings of these, likely 15 or so. Looking at it, it would seem that people come in twos in the milieu in which Steven mingled. It reminded me of my own years of singledom, my family and friends all married. It was a time of great anguish. Not only the lonliness, but the feeling like a 5th wheel and, at times, even like an outsider. I'm not, of course, asserting that SK felt the same way, it's just a reaction I had when I saw that blog. (And, by the way, I WAS NOT HAPPY. My unhappiness eventually motivated me to make finding a wonderful "other" to share my life with my number one priority, though, and no one tells me anymore to just "be happy" with my singledom!)

Also, whether or not SK rejected his faith I don't think we can say because there's just no evidence. However, we do know that the LDS church, for most "active" members, is quite a bit different than many other walks of life. My experience is that it "is your life" in that one's whole world, really, is the church. And, as well, there are many, many expectations. The high goal of reaching the Celestial Kingdom, comes with marriage and children, which SK apparently wasn't near accomplishing. The many strictures regarding lifestyle could be quite confining to many people -not that he wouldn't have believed in them, just that, taken altogether, they can make for tremendous expectation. And I've noticed that articles have referred to him as a "journalist" although -he wasn't. He was in about the lowliest job one can have these days -passing out flyers.

I just don't see that him voluntarily necessarily means that he rejected his religion.

 

[Weygand]

I just don't see that him voluntarily necessarily means that he rejected his religion.

Pardon me if I am interpreting the last sentence incorrectly, but I'm thinking you meant to say 'Voluntarily Disappearing' in which case I agree, but I think that is entirely a possibility....or it could be he found an even more extreme offspin of the LDS

 

[Lady LEO]

So why haven't the police done that?

Don't know if they have or if they haven't. Though the availablity of training for officers has been improving, actually taking the time to practice FSA and truly develop this skill is a commitment. I believe that the time required to really become proficient at this skill is a deterrant to many officers who are overworked, underpaid, and under appreciated.

 

[hollyblue]

Don't know if they have or if they haven't. Though the availablity of training for officers has been improving, actually taking the time to practice FSA and truly develop this skill is a commitment. I believe that the time required to really become proficient at this skill is a deterrant to many officers who are overworked, underpaid, and under appreciated.

Lady Leo, I can't answer you by PM because you don't have the capabilities yet. (25 posts) In answer to your question, the person I was speaking of to analyze statements in SK's case would be Peter Hyatt; although he is very good at FSA, I think he has a tendency to pull the analysis his way at times...on how he thinks what will be acceptable for an audience.

My experience came from being inquisitive. People have a reason for everything they do or say...so I began research with a book entitled Cause of Listening and it just progressed from there. Personally, I like Mark McClish, but he doesn't blog about cases in the media as prolific as PH.

 

[Lady LEO]

Would anyone close to the family and AN be able to give me a general idea of how willing or receptive the family would be to someone taking a fresh look at this case including talking to those close to SK?

 

[Lady LEO]

Lady Leo, I can't answer you by PM because you don't have the capabilities yet. (25 posts) In answer to your question, the person I was speaking of to analyze statements in SK's case would be Peter Hyatt; although he is very good at FSA, I think he has a tendency to pull the analysis his way at times...on how he thinks what will be acceptable for an audience.

My experience came from being inquisitive. People have a reason for everything they do or say...so I began research with a book entitled Cause of Listening and it just progressed from there. Personally, I like Mark McClish, but he doesn't blog about cases in the media as prolific as PH.

Thanks for the reply. I haven't heard of either of those individuals but it's good to learn about others who are skilled.

I've been very blessed in having had the opportunity to study under a federally contracted FSA trainer and nationally recognized expert in FSA. I took to FSA very quickly, almost as second nature, and it caught the FSA expert's attention. As a result, for the past year, he has been sourcing out some work for me to do on active cases from around the country. It has been an amazing experience and the prospects continue to present themselves. As such, I would find it very rewarding to be able to apply my skills, talents, knowledge, and expertise to bring about some answers and closure to these cases, and by default, to the family members and loved ones involved.

 

[Fairy1]

Lady Leo, I can't answer you by PM because you don't have the capabilities yet. (25 posts) In answer to your question, the person I was speaking of to analyze statements in SK's case would be Peter Hyatt; although he is very good at FSA, I think he has a tendency to pull the analysis his way at times...on how he thinks what will be acceptable for an audience.

My experience came from being inquisitive. People have a reason for everything they do or say...so I began research with a book entitled Cause of Listening and it just progressed from there. Personally, I like Mark McClish, but he doesn't blog about cases in the media as prolific as PH.

Who is Peter Hyatt?

 

[Fairy1]

Thanks for the reply. I haven't heard of either of those individuals but it's good to learn about others who are skilled.

I've been very blessed in having had the opportunity to study under a federally contracted FSA trainer and nationally recognized expert in FSA. I took to FSA very quickly, almost as second nature, and it caught the FSA expert's attention. As a result, for the past year, he has been sourcing out some work for me to do on active cases from around the country. It has been an amazing experience and the prospects continue to present themselves. As such, I would find it very rewarding to be able to apply my skills, talents, knowledge, and expertise to bring about some answers and closure to these cases, and by default, to the family members and loved ones involved.

Have you read back on the threads on Steven's case? His cousin, who has been instrumental in the search for Steven, and a couple of his friends have posted here. Have you looked at their posts or are we attempting to reinvent the wheel?

 

[Kelly_Robinson]

No, I don't believe I have seen this information before. I'm not sure why you would notify the PI rather than LE???

Because when I called the detective handling the case he told me to forward anything I have to the P.I. and he was adamant about it.

Again this is just a feeling but to me it sounded like the policeman who was "handling" this seemed a bit uninterested. He did tell me that he checked the facebook page throughout the week and then said, "If you do have anything then contact the private investigator. "

I got the impression, that unless there was something that was really concrete the detective didn't want to talk and had other things to do. That is just a feeling I got and I could be wrong.

Kelly

 

[Kelly_Robinson]

There have been some very intelligent and good people who have done alot of work on this and some reasonable explanations for what has happened. With a slew of experience sometimes an investigator whether it is the police or a private investigator can only throw up their hands because as in this case there is so little to go on.

I investigate people who are going to be hired at high security companies and administer pysch tests and interpret them. I also do investigative work on people who need to be located for various reasons. I have done work for LE looking for bad guys who don't want to be caught. Some very serious crimes.

The reason that I don't believe that Steven Koecher just walked away is because no matter how hard one tries to "disappear" they are going to leave behind some kind of evidence that they are alive.

Can one get a false I.D? Yes they can from a place like China or India and they are very expensive and many times those people who want a fake I.D. have to send in a recent picture of themselves and send the money to a foreign country to get a phony I.D. many times getting ripped off and they never get what they have paid for. Getting a false I.D. over the internet in the U.S. or Canada isn't going to happen as companies that offer them are always a scam. It's is illegal in the U.S. and Canada to even offer fake I.D.'s (Yes there are companies in the U.S. and Canada that offer them but they have to have a disclaimer as a novelty) and when they occassionally pop up the FBI raid them immediately. The most recent that comes to mind is the company in Florida who offered fake driver's licenses that looked totally real.

Also it is very hard if not impossible to completely stay off of the major credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax and Transunion. If you rent a motel it will show up as an inquiry on a credit bureau. From my undertanding there has been no activity on Steven Koecher's credit bureau at all nor his credit cards. Credit cards are easy to understand if he threw them away or didn't use them anymore.

Also let's say that Steven did get a fake I.D. and social security card. If he applied for a job, most companies require that a perspective employee show his I.D. unless your working out in a field picking oranges for money under the table, you will be asked to do a background check.

Background checks include running a credit bureau and if that bureau is run and it contains absolutely no information on it, then that is referred to as "running a ghost" which means it is going to raise red flags immediately as it is not reasonable to believe that an adult who is 30 years old has absolutely no credit activity or history, not even one inquiry and that is what would happen if Steven Koecher had gotten a fake I.D. and social security number. He would have a blank credit bureau with nothing on it anyone doing a background is going to know something is wrong or bogus.

Getting a fake I.D. leaving his car behind, starting a new life somewhere else, costs money and it costs money to continue to live. One would have to be so consicious of what they are doing as to never leave any type of "fingerprint" anywhere,

As an investigator one cannot always find an exact location of someone who has disappeared but it is almost always possible to confirm they are alive and where they have been in the past few months, at the least in the last year or two.

For these reasons that I have listed I don't believe STeven Koecher walked away, committed suicide or anything like that. He drove alot before he went missing and that could be due to the fact that he was out trying to get a job. It looks like he is carrying a folder of some kind in that video and to me it looks like is he carrying an application or possible resume. Whatever happened to him started in that neighborhood and ended up somewhere else. As far as the last ping on his cell phone goes, everyone knows that cellphones are typically programmed to dial voicemail by just hitting the 1 key on the dial pad without a password.

Why would anyone other than the owner of the phone check his voicemail? I believe that if he met with foul play (which I am almost sure of) that they checked his voicemail to see if anyone was looking for him or to see if anyone left a message that would identify the person with whom Steven Koecher met with.

Kelly

Kelly

 

[fridaybaker]

There have been some very intelligent and good people who have done alot of work on this and some reasonable explanations for what has happened. With a slew of experience sometimes an investigator whether it is the police or a private investigator can only throw up their hands because as in this case there is so little to go on.

I investigate people who are going to be hired at high security companies and administer pysch tests and interpret them. I also do investigative work on people who need to be located for various reasons. I have done work for LE looking for bad guys who don't want to be caught. Some very serious crimes.

The reason that I don't believe that Steven Koecher just walked away is because no matter how hard one tries to "disappear" they are going to leave behind some kind of evidence that they are alive.

Can one get a false I.D? Yes they can from a place like China or India and they are very expensive and many times those people who want a fake I.D. have to send in a recent picture of themselves and send the money to a foreign country to get a phony I.D. many times getting ripped off and they never get what they have paid for. Getting a false I.D. over the internet in the U.S. or Canada isn't going to happen as companies that offer them are always a scam. It's is illegal in the U.S. and Canada to even offer fake I.D.'s (Yes there are companies in the U.S. and Canada that offer them but they have to have a disclaimer as a novelty) and when they occassionally pop up the FBI raid them immediately. The most recent that comes to mind is the company in Florida who offered fake driver's licenses that looked totally real.

Also it is very hard if not impossible to completely stay off of the major credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax and Transunion. If you rent a motel it will show up as an inquiry on a credit bureau. From my undertanding there has been no activity on Steven Koecher's credit bureau at all nor his credit cards. Credit cards are easy to understand if he threw them away or didn't use them anymore.

Also let's say that Steven did get a fake I.D. and social security card. If he applied for a job, most companies require that a perspective employee show his I.D. unless your working out in a field picking oranges for money under the table, you will be asked to do a background check.

Background checks include running a credit bureau and if that bureau is run and it contains absolutely no information on it, then that is referred to as "running a ghost" which means it is going to raise red flags immediately as it is not reasonable to believe that an adult who is 30 years old has absolutely no credit activity or history, not even one inquiry and that is what would happen if Steven Koecher had gotten a fake I.D. and social security number. He would have a blank credit bureau with nothing on it anyone doing a background is going to know something is wrong or bogus.

Getting a fake I.D. leaving his car behind, starting a new life somewhere else, costs money and it costs money to continue to live. One would have to be so consicious of what they are doing as to never leave any type of "fingerprint" anywhere,

As an investigator one cannot always find an exact location of someone who has disappeared but it is almost always possible to confirm they are alive and where they have been in the past few months, at the least in the last year or two.

For these reasons that I have listed I don't believe STeven Koecher walked away, committed suicide or anything like that. He drove alot before he went missing and that could be due to the fact that he was out trying to get a job. It looks like he is carrying a folder of some kind in that video and to me it looks like is he carrying an application or possible resume. Whatever happened to him started in that neighborhood and ended up somewhere else. As far as the last ping on his cell phone goes, everyone knows that cellphones are typically programmed to dial voicemail by just hitting the 1 key on the dial pad without a password.

Why would anyone other than the owner of the phone check his voicemail? I believe that if he met with foul play (which I am almost sure of) that they checked his voicemail to see if anyone was looking for him or to see if anyone left a message that would identify the person with whom Steven Koecher met with.

Kelly

Kelly

Okay, I hope I'm doing this quote thing right! Kelly, I'm glad to hear your perspective on this. One of the disadvantages the web sleuthers have is that there's no continuous contact with the professionals working the case. Although some here are obviously professionals, such as you, this at least provides some of the rest of us great insight. Thank you!

Your comments on the realities of acquiring fake ID were very enlightening. However, I still think that there are cases where many of these things just aren't caught, for whatever reason -people who slip through the cracks. Also, I just think that there are many places where one could work w/o ID. Honestly, I've responded to quite a few business cards posted on bulletin boards somewhere for things -usually home repair, but others as well- and never asked for ID. Also, SK could be living where someone else is doing the providing. Although I do have a long work history and drive, if I didn't, I probably wouldn't have many occasions to use any ID, as a homemaker. It's food for thought, though. Exactly how many people are there, who aren't actually living on the streets, who can't be found through credit/ss tracking? A handful? A hundred? Hmmm.

I also think that it's highly likely that SK was the victim of foul play, although as I said in an earlier post, there seems to be "evidence" or for every theory. It's very troubling that he just parked his car and has never been seen or heard from again. I keep going back to wanting to relook at everything in a very comprehensive and deliberate way: Make a list of EVERY POSSIBLE employment advertising venue, such as every newspaper, Craigslist, etc. and search it, if possible, for any and all potential job adverts to which he might have responded, although this may have been done. Also, and perhaps the Pro's working the case have done this, but we really can't be sure to what extent -everyone connected to the area around his disappearance looked into. I know that there was a house in question or something, but I don't think that we know to exactly what level people were looked into.

If I were SK's family, I think that I'd know every job advert w/n a hundred-mile radius oF SCA, and the names, addresses, background (via paid criminal background check avail. to the public) and every pet's name w/n 5 blocks of his car by heart. I don't know if they do, but I'd love to know. It would just make me feel better!

Also, I'm sure this has been looked into, but does anyone, even a few block away from SK's rental house, have video cameras? Not necessarily his immediate neighbors, but someone along a route he would have taken to a store -even a few streets down?

Finally, would anyone here be willing to look one more time at the second video? I know you have all worked here so diligently for so long, but I still think that at the very end of that video a door is opened and he walks in. Probably not, and I know LE has seen it, but I can't get over what my eyes tell me.


Sorry.... I'll stop now!

 

[fridaybaker]

Pardon me if I am interpreting the last sentence incorrectly, but I'm thinking you meant to say 'Voluntarily Disappearing' in which case I agree, but I think that is entirely a possibility....or it could be he found an even more extreme offspin of the LDS

I'm sorry, I did mean "voluntarily disappearing". I hadn't really thought of him joining a more "extreme" off-spin of the LDS, but thinking about it, if he did join something like the FLDS, it might not be something he'd want his family to know about. I think it's considered something like heresy, although I'm not sure that's the terminology they'd use.

What makes me ill is to think of him meeting foul play and the possibility of having his family never know what happened to him. Or, perhaps worse, he's out there somewhere and needs help.