NV NV - Steven T. Koecher, 30, Henderson, 13 Dec 2009 - # 7

[Fairy1]

I truly hate to introduce yet another theory. I really do. But have ya'll heard of Freeganism? I got to thinking about it because Steven left behind his laptop and car - and most everything else. There was a case here on WS of a missing young woman about a year or so ago (in NYC, I think) who was said to be a Freegan. She was found - I think in the Hudson River - but she was alive.

Just thought I'd put it out there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeganism

 

[laytonian]

I truly hate to introduce yet another theory. I really do. But have ya'll heard of Freeganism? I got to thinking about it because Steven left behind his laptop and car - and most everything else. There was a case here on WS of a missing young woman about a year or so ago (in NYC, I think) who was said to be a Freegan. She was found - I think in the Hudson River - but she was alive.

Just thought I'd put it out there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeganism

IOW, "living off the grid" by taking advantage of what all of those nasty consumers discard or will give you.

You might be closer to a good theory than you think. Forget someone who wasn't dedicated and jumped into the water, because the most publicized recent case is from Utah, and it hit the news the day before Steven was last seen -- Daniel Suelo of Moab, Utah.

I wonder if Steven read any newspapers, because Daniel Suelo's self-promotion began Dec 12th....and he made it sound oh, so romantic. LINK Deseret News, 12 Dec, 2009.

Does Steven seem like the kind of guy who'd keep up with the news? We do know he checked out a library book about Pete Maravich, who'd experimented with being a recluse.

 

[Fairy1]

IOW, "living off the grid" by taking advantage of what all of those nasty consumers discard or will give you.

You might be closer to a good theory than you think. Forget the bay, because the most publicized recent case is from Utah, and it hit the news the day before Steven was last seen -- Daniel Suelo of Moab, Utah

I wonder if Steven read any newspapers, because Daniel Suelo's self-promotion began Dec 12th....and he made it sound oh, so romantic. [ LINK Deseret News, 12 Dec, 2009.

Does Steven seem like the kind of guy who'd keep up with the news?

Well, as we've speculated in relation to other theories, maybe he was approached by someone who supports this lifestyle in person.

Steven seems to have had a lot of time on his hands. Lord knows who or what he came across during his "down" time?

I will say, the climate in Vegas is generally favorable. That's one of the reasons we have such a large homeless population. We also have TONS of restaurants and vacant homes.

I've never seen any stories related to the Freegan lifestyle in Vegas, but I'm off to research!

 

[RubyRed]

Considering his background you would think he kept up with the news, Who knows if he
did , though.

 

[laytonian]

Well, as we've speculated in relation to other theories, maybe he was approached by someone who supports this lifestyle in person.

Steven seems to have had a lot of time on his hands. Lord knows who or what he came across during his "down" time?

I will say, the climate in Vegas is generally favorable. That's one of the reasons we have such a large homeless population. We also have TONS of restaurants and vacant homes.

I've never seen any stories related to the Freegan lifestyle in Vegas, but I'm off to research!

The serious practioner doesn't call it "freeganism" or "off the grid". To them, it's a religious and moral lifestyle that can't be qualified with a mere slogan.

It's much different than being homeless. Suelo-Shellabarger lives in a cave on public lands, and has accumulated many possessions. He just didn't pay for them. Like Steven, he uses the computers at the library.

The main problem, though, is you can't do it in a vacuum without changing your name. You have to be well-known for people to seek you out and give you things.

 

[Fairy1]

Well, I see plenty of freegan references to Las Vegas and Utah. But no "smoking guns." Maybe there was a reference to this on Steven's computer and no one knew what to make of it? IDK how well-known or widespread the movement is. I never would have heard of it if not here on WS!

We have been told that Steven enjoyed very simple things in life. He didn't seem to be interested in getting rich and it sounds (per gsmith) like he didn't believe he could support a family - even in the future. Maybe this is why. Maybe he did prefer a simple, frugal, uncomplicated and untraditional way of life.

This could also explain the absence of more food receipts from when he was on the road and the low amounts of those that were found?

 

[Fairy1]

The serious practioner doesn't call it "freeganism" or "off the grid". To them, it's a religious and moral lifestyle that can't be qualified with a mere slogan.

It's much different than being homeless. Suelo-Shellabarger lives in a cave on public lands, and has accumulated many possessions. He just didn't pay for them. Like Steven, he uses the computers at the library.

The main problem, though, is you can't do it in a vacuum without changing your name. You have to be well-known for people to seek you out and give you things.

Not necessarily. I found lots of message boards with people who are living otherwise normal lives - but "frugally". Looking to meet others via cheap entertainment. Perhaps a less "pure" and non-political form of freeganism. Dumpster diving and looking for valuables on curbs, etc.

Just tonight on my way home from work I saw a truck full of "stuff" and the first thing I thought of was that they were picking up other people's discarded things. We used to have a little old Mexican woman on our street who went through people's trash all the time.

Just sayin' - even without adopting this lifestyle completely, there are ways to survive on the streets without assistance.

 

[laytonian]

Well, I see plenty of freegan references to Las Vegas and Utah. But no "smoking guns." Maybe there was a reference to this on Steven's computer and no one knew what to make of it? IDK how well-known or widespread the movement is. I never would have heard of it if not here on WS!

We have been told that Steven enjoyed very simple things in life. He didn't seem to be interested in getting rich and it sounds (per gsmith) like he didn't believe he could support a family - even in the future. Maybe this is why. Maybe he did prefer a simple, frugal, uncomplicated and untraditional way of life.

This could also explain the absence of more food receipts from when he was on the road and the low amounts of those that were found?

Or maybe he took food with him?

I've heard of freegans for years; panhandlers with a fancy name. When your lifestyle has a slogan, you're a poseur That's a lot different than what Shellabarger-Suelo does. Freegans generally have jobs, or an income....and will bore you at parties (eating your food) telling you how you're beneath their pure status.

You've heard of "freecycle", haven't you? You'll find those in resort areas (all of our ski resorts, except Deer Valley, have a freecycle area).

But you generally don't drop out, to be freegan. In fact, you have to do the opposite (employ a wide circle of friends and relatives to support you, because if you only have a few, they get tired of you quickly).

 

[RubyRed]

Getting Steven back up to the first page. Bump

 

[Mia]

Maybe Steven DID NIT know he was drug running. Maybe he just thought he was making deliveries for someone who owned a business, or a friend. maybe he got a idea, thats what he was doing. And when he found out, thats maybe when things went bad.

Really? Steven could have been running drugs without knowing he was running drugs? How would that work? Sorry, don't mean to sound snarky, I'm actually truly curious. Would the drugs be hidden in some other objects? What would these objects be? Just in boxes? And if the latter, you don't think Steven would open one immediately/check out what he was delivering? I just think in this scenario we're truly not giving Steven enough credit. Yes, he was a Mormon, and yes, he was apparently devout, but I don't think he'd be this naive or unworldy or stupid. He IS 30 years old, lived in a major city (SLC) for a good part of his adult life, spoke two languages, spent a year in a foreign country, worked as a journalist for quite awhile, and spent years away at college and received a college degree. I think Steven was kind-hearted and perhaps his downfall was that he thought everyone else is that way too (I'm a little younger than Steven, have lived alone in NYC for 8 years, and am just now starting to truly realize that no, everyone is not like me, i.e., there really are truly evil and irrational people in this world with no value for human life). HOWEVER, I don't think he was naive enough to be running drugs without knowing it. Besides, he would have had to transport them in his car, and the car was checked out by drug sniffing dogs with negative results, right?

 

[Mia]

Gottcha!

Ok, I admit I didn't click on the links before asking what the significance of these websites is, but I just did and I still don't see the significance or anything that made me go "hmmm..." I see that Steven is/was the technical/administrative contact for the chocolates website, but that's it. And I see that the other one is a travel/touristy tour type website. Am I missing something? Please do tell!

ETA: Ah, ok, just read the posts following about the Mexican cruise ship and the dates. I don't really see anything of significance here; I don't think Steven is working on a cruise ship, in fact I don't think he left the country, but it's a nice thought! Steven playing a guitar on the deck of a cruise ship, getting a nice tan. Would be wonderful if true.

 

[laytonian]

Ok, I admit I didn't click on the links before asking what the significance of these websites is, but I just did and I still don't see the significance or anything that made me go "hmmm..." I see that Steven is/was the technical/administrative contact for the chocolates website, but that's it. And I see that the other one is a travel/touristy tour type website. Am I missing something? Please do tell!

ETA: Ah, ok, just read the posts following about the Mexican cruise ship and the dates. I don't really see anything of significance here; I don't think Steven is working on a cruise ship, in fact I don't think he left the country, but it's a nice thought! Steven playing a guitar on the deck of a cruise ship, getting a nice tan. Would be wonderful if true.

I guess what surprised me, was much different than anyone else's.

I posted two links about the travel agency, and everyone thinks I'm hinting about him working on a cruise ship. Wrong.

What *I* saw was "ask for Steve" at the travel agency's phone number. Silly me. I figured that if that IS our Steve, he worked there...and gained lots of travel ins and outs. Y'all want him to have disappeared and be happy somewhere. Well...where else to learn about how to do it? Plus, since he DID also design the website, it's more than a coincidence that Steve is listed at the same phone number as the domain registration.

The other link, looks like no one took my hint at all. "Click on all the links" would have given you an obvious laugh if you had followed my directions.

Oh well. Best to keep my links to myself

 

[carbuff]

Really? Steven could have been running drugs without knowing he was running drugs? How would that work? Sorry, don't mean to sound snarky, I'm actually truly curious. Would the drugs be hidden in some other objects? What would these objects be? Just in boxes? And if the latter, you don't think Steven would open one immediately/check out what he was delivering? I just think in this scenario we're truly not giving Steven enough credit. Yes, he was a Mormon, and yes, he was apparently devout, but I don't think he'd be this naive or unworldy or stupid. He IS 30 years old, lived in a major city (SLC) for a good part of his adult life, spoke two languages, spent a year in a foreign country, worked as a journalist for quite awhile, and spent years away at college and received a college degree. I think Steven was kind-hearted and perhaps his downfall was that he thought everyone else is that way too (I'm a little younger than Steven, have lived alone in NYC for 8 years, and am just now starting to truly realize that no, everyone is not like me, i.e., there really are truly evil and irrational people in this world with no value for human life). HOWEVER, I don't think he was naive enough to be running drugs without knowing it. Besides, he would have had to transport them in his car, and the car was checked out by drug sniffing dogs with negative results, right?

I agree, I think he knew what he was doing.

 

[carbuff]

I guess what surprised me, was much different than anyone else's.

I posted two links about the travel agency, and everyone thinks I'm hinting about him working on a cruise ship. Wrong.

What *I* saw was "ask for Steve" at the travel agency's phone number. Silly me. I figured that if that IS our Steve, he worked there...and gained lots of travel ins and outs. Y'all want him to have disappeared and be happy somewhere. Well...where else to learn about how to do it? Plus, since he DID also design the website, it's more than a coincidence that Steve is listed at the same phone number as the domain registration.

The other link, looks like no one took my hint at all. "Click on all the links" would have given you an obvious laugh if you had followed my directions.

Oh well. Best to keep my links to myself

Does his mother own the chocolate company, or is that just who he hit up for the testimonial?

 

[laytonian]

Does his mother own the chocolate company, or is that just who he hit up for the testimonial?

You think she knows she gave the testimonial? Certainly, she'd know that they don't make **the chocolate** itself in Utah.
It reminded me of the time I bought very first issue of a new magazine, and it had "questions from our readers" in it.

There was another funny thing related to that website:
If you google the phone number, you'll see that it also leads to the local Pride (LGBT) center.

 

[carbuff]

You think she knows she gave the testimonial? Certainly, she'd know that they don't make **the chocolate** itself in Utah.

It reminded me of the time I bought very first issue of a new magazine, and it had "questions from our readers" in it.

I figured that was just careless phrasing...

 

[laytonian]

I figured that was just careless phrasing...

Doesn't ANYONE see something really hinky about this?

Deanna's testimonial
I just love the fact that I can get fresh chocolate made right in Kaysville... I think it's the best chocolate in the State!
- Deanne Koecher

 

[RubyRed]

I guess what surprised me, was much different than anyone else's.

I posted two links about the travel agency, and everyone thinks I'm hinting about him working on a cruise ship. Wrong.

What *I* saw was "ask for Steve" at the travel agency's phone number. Silly me. I figured that if that IS our Steve, he worked there...and gained lots of travel ins and outs. Y'all want him to have disappeared and be happy somewhere. Well...where else to learn about how to do it? Plus, since he DID also design the website, it's more than a coincidence that Steve is listed at the same phone number as the domain registration.

The other link, looks like no one took my hint at all. "Click on all the links" would have given you an obvious laugh if you had followed my directions.

Oh well. Best to keep my links to myself

I clicked on all before so I went back to look. Are you talking about the adopt a pet link on there. under reviews.

 

[carbuff]

Doesn't ANYONE see something really hinky about this?

Deanna's testimonial
I just love the fact that I can get fresh chocolate made right in Kaysville... I think it's the best chocolate in the State!
- Deanne Koecher

Well...no. Even if he made it up, it seems like a trivial thing. But I'm more than willing to admit I might be missing something.

 

[laytonian]

Well...no. Even if he made it up, it seems like a trivial thing. But I'm more than willing to admit I might be missing something.

Yes, you are missing something. Read it.

I caught it the first time I glanced at it, and it's why I said "click on all the links". And days later, no one's seeing what hit me in the face like I'd stepped on the wrong end of a rake.