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

[carbuff]

LE has not even begun to explore the SP case, in terms of searching for her. They have no clue where to look and so many of the possible areas have been buried under snow since she went "missing." IMO, she is deceased and they will find her come the spring.

I'm really not attempting to be admirable. I have gut feelings on most of the cases I follow as to whether the missing folks are alive or not - and I'm almost always right - based on the circumstances.

One of the things that concerns me most about Steven is how he seems to have distanced himself from family and friends in the year or so before he went missing. That is a red flag to me and should be to the family as well.

One of the things I've been thinking about is how so many of his "friends" have nothing of substance to say. It reminds me of runaway kids whose friends DO know that they ran away and may even know where they are, but won't say. It's odd to me.

bbm

Yes, that's the thing that worries me most. As a formerly depressed and suicidal person, I recognize a lot of danger signs in Steven's behavior -- the fact that he seemed normal to his friends while letting his life kind of mess up being another.

I would still like to know if he ever played golf at that course. You can see a lot about surrounding neighborhoods while you're golfing, especially if you've had to go off course to locate an errant ball. If he played there, he might have been able to spot that cul de sac from the course -- he would have walked within two houses of it. A place where he could leave the car with reasonable certainty it would be safe until found, and not found too soon.

If that was what he was thining, he would want a place where he could be certain it wouldn't be his family who finds the body. Which makes me think if that was what he did, he would have gone to a place where he thought he would have been found by now. I know they've searched the golf course, but there's a lot of rugged area just off the fairways and greens.

If I were in the area, I'd play or walk that course to see how much of that cul de sac is visible from the nearest fairway and green.

Just to give you an idea how rugged that area is, I pulled some photos off the golf course's website (www.reveregolf.com). Note the houses uphill from the course -- that's Sun City Anthem all around. The golf course is down in the canyons.

 

[laytonian]

Just to give you an idea how rugged that area is, I pulled some photos off the golf course's website (www.reveregolf.com). Note the houses uphill from the course -- that's Sun City Anthem all around. The golf course is down in the canyons.

Thank you for thinking of posting those! What we see on the satellite map looks like flat land. But it's not. It's "the hills".

THIS PICTURE shows what I've been trying to say: look at how "close" the mountains look.

 

[Fairy1]

Thank you for thinking of posting those! What we see on the satellite map looks like flat land. But it's not. It's "the hills".

THIS PICTURE shows what I've been trying to say: look at how "close" the mountains look.

From what I saw when I went out there - the whole area is very "hilly" and rocky - inside Anthem.

I know we have had a general description of the areas searched back in December. But you are absolutely right, they need to do a grid search beginning from where the car was found and fanning outward. IMO - ALL of Anthem needs to be searched - not just SCA. It's a large area in and of itself - but then there are the surrounding mountains and desert areas as well.

I don't know how to make this happen!

 

[CONCRNED CTZN]

i still believe that if he disappeared of his own free will that he did not do it alone

and if he disappeared from foul play - whoever did it didnt do it alone and whether the criminal act was random or planned out only time will tell

i wonder if he didnt get someone pregnant and they went into hiding to avoid embarrasement with the help of family and/or friends

You have to have sex to get someone pregnant. Knowing what we do about Steven, I don't think he was having sex AND attending the temple. I just don't. I think he had struggles, but I don't think he had given into them.

 

[laytonian]

For the sake of argument, let's say he was there for a job interview or romantic tryst. Would he really have gone on a Sunday, when he had responsibilities two hours away to meet someone who said "don't call me from your cell phone" and "park here and walk to ......." Would he really fall for that?

Well...if it's him in the video, evidently so. Other than face-to-face, the only other option is that the information was passed on to him by someone he knew.

I still think the video has more clues than we're getting out of it.

Here's what I think needs to be done, with the cooperation of Mr Security:

1 - Find out how many cameras there are, and what's possible to be seen.

2 - Park the two cars in the carport *exactly* where they are in the video.

3 - Have someone of Steven's exactly height (does anyone really know???) and weight, dressed as best determined from the video, carrying something, walk exactly where the figure does.....and compare the images.

4 - Look especially at the reflections in the minivan windows, and quadruple-check to make sure that they're merely bushes and not a "car shaped object" with a figure standing in front of it.

5 - Repeat it often enough, including parking the car, to exactly duplicate the images.

 

[CONCRNED CTZN]

BBM - what has become the standard in Steven's case!

The main reason I believe it IS Steven in that video and that he HASN'T come to harm is that there is no trail to lead anyone there. It appears to be a purposely clandestine "meeting." I don't believe it all was manipulated by another person. Why Steven? Why is there NO TRAIL? Was he really that gullible? I just really can't believe that.

For the sake of argument, let's say he was there for a job interview or romantic tryst. Would he really have gone on a Sunday, when he had responsibilities two hours away to meet someone who said "don't call me from your cell phone" and "park here and walk to ......." Would he really fall for that?

Sunday is the ONLY day he seemed to have obligations...that is what makes it so strange to me.

 

[Lato]

With the cooperation of Mr. Security and the FBI, I think the videos could be enhanced and there would be no doubt as to whether it is Steven or not.

 

[laytonian]

From what I saw when I went out there - the whole area is very "hilly" and rocky - inside Anthem.

I know we have had a general description of the areas searched back in December. But you are absolutely right, they need to do a grid search beginning from where the car was found and fanning outward. IMO - ALL of Anthem needs to be searched - not just SCA. It's a large area in and of itself - but then there are the surrounding mountains and desert areas as well.

I don't know how to make this happen!

Neither do I. Not in the formal, numbers-intensive way it would need to be done....and that's probably why such searches aren't conducted often.

AND THEN, we need to remember how often Rock Creek Park in DC was searched, to find Chandra Levy -- and how closely the police, cadets and searchers came to finding her: "almost". Or (my boring example) of how the punch and cookie crowd kept walking over the same foothills looking for Elizabeth Smart, how the two stoners actually saw Mitchell at night lurking around but no one believed them, and how the searchers came so close that ES could hear them calling her name.

I guess the golf course will gradually be searched by golfers.

Maybe we need a "Steven Koecher Golf Tournament".

....and I'm still thinking about that neighborhood across Anthem Parkway, that was never looked at.

 

[Fairy1]

:treadmill: This is how I feel!

The thing is, if it can't be verified that it's Steven on the video or that his phone pinged in that area that day or have an actual witness who saw him there or find a concrete reason for his being there, then maybe it's a waste of time to continue focusing on that area at all.
Even if he was there - there's nothing to say he stayed there.

I know we've discussed all of this before. I'm just trying to figure out how to move this case foward. Another search? Yes, but where? Get more info on the pings? Probably not possible for us - maybe family?

IDK!

 

[Fairy1]

Neither do I. Not in the formal, numbers-intensive way it would need to be done....and that's probably why such searches aren't conducted often.

AND THEN, we need to remember how often Rock Creek Park in DC was searched, to find Chandra Levy -- and how closely the police, cadets and searchers came to finding her: "almost". Or (my boring example) of how the punch and cookie crowd kept walking over the same foothills looking for Elizabeth Smart, how the two stoners actually saw Mitchell at night lurking around but no one believed them, and how the searchers came so close that ES could hear them calling her name.

I guess the golf course will gradually be searched by golfers.

Maybe we need a "Steven Koecher Golf Tournament".

....and I'm still thinking about that neighborhood across Anthem Parkway, that was never looked at.

You're right - and even Amber Dubois - sounds like searchers were very close but not quite close enough.

It may be possible for the family or LE on Steven's case to contact TES for help. But in order for that to happen, they would have to believe it would be a recovery search, and I don't know if that's an option for them.

 

[carbuff]

Another thing I noticed when scouting out the golf course is that it's not true this is the only cul-de-sac in the area. I can see at least three in the immediate area; one of them is just of Portsmouth Creek Ave, about two blocks away.

It's not really that complicated to get here, either. Follow Anthem Parkway to Laurel Heights Lane, make a left onto Savannah Springs. Yeah, there's a maze on all sides, and the road winds around a bit, but there aren't a lot of corners.

I can see somebody saying, "Oh, just park in the cul de sac and walk over. It's only a couple of blocks and that way you won't get lost."

 

[dovebar]

Neither do I. Not in the formal, numbers-intensive way it would need to be done....and that's probably why such searches aren't conducted often.

AND THEN, we need to remember how often Rock Creek Park in DC was searched, to find Chandra Levy -- and how closely the police, cadets and searchers came to finding her: "almost". Or (my boring example) of how the punch and cookie crowd kept walking over the same foothills looking for Elizabeth Smart, how the two stoners actually saw Mitchell at night lurking around but no one believed them, and how the searchers came so close that ES could hear them calling her name.

I guess the golf course will gradually be searched by golfers.

Maybe we need a "Steven Koecher Golf Tournament".

....and I'm still thinking about that neighborhood across Anthem Parkway, that was never looked at.

The golf tournament is a brilliant idea.

If we are thinking of the same other neighborhood, the reason I come back to Chasma is not only because of the coincidental (or not) name of homeowners, but because it's possible someone said, "Go to Evening Twilight, where you can park in the cul-de-sac there and walk back one street."

Mis-reading directions or a map, he went to Evening Lights, parked in the nearest cul-de-sac, and walked back one street.

He intended to stop by someone's house, but they might not even have known it. My parents have given me relative's addresses and said, "You should stop by," but they haven't called those people ahead and said, "So and so will be coming by" because nothing was that definite of a plan.

He intended to stop by one house, couldn't find it, got lost or ran into someone or accepted a ride somewhere, and never made it. If he kept walking in a wrong neighborhood, he could eventually have gotten lost, made his way out onto Anthem Parkway, a major road, and been picked up by anyone who said they'd take him there, and he would have been trusting enough to get in the car.

 

[laytonian]

You're right - and even Amber Dubois - sounds like searchers were very close but not quite close enough.

It may be possible for the family or LE on Steven's case to contact TES for help. But in order for that to happen, they would have to believe it would be a recovery search, and I don't know if that's an option for them.

Then there's the problem that TES would never be permitted to take their horses and vehicles through a private golf course.

I think a major part of this case's problems, stem from the fact that Steven went missing in a private community, where the HOA gets to decide how things are handled.

The HOA found out immediately, when they contacted Steven's parents, that this was a missing persons case. I think they should have called LE in to investigate the vehicle, right then....BEFORE the poor family had to drive all the way to LV and do their best to sort things out.

But that would be a reported "crime", and we can't have that, can we? :furious:

 

[laytonian]

Another thing I noticed when scouting out the golf course is that it's not true this is the only cul-de-sac in the area. I can see at least three in the immediate area; one of them is just of Portsmouth Creek Ave, about two blocks away.

You're right.

BUT there's a huge difference. Those others are in built-up areas, surrounded by homes. Parking there is even less attractive than on a regular street in SCA, because the curb space is shorter.

When you park at the Savannah Springs cul de sac, you're not in front of anyone's front yard....and you therefore are not identifiable as someone's visitor.

I DO believe he could have gotten there accidentally (and maybe he drove around for awhile, to find the perfect place....). But it's the most perfect place in all of SCA.

 

[RubyRed]

Issuing a parking violation

SCASP members in front of the Anthem Center

http://communitylink.reviewjournal....063412467383004&PG=01325001051063412467651071

Here is the good people of SCA on patrol, they do have a nice pic that they got of their resident bobcat.

 

[laytonian]

Issuing a parking violation


SCASP members in front of the Anthem Center
SCASP members in front of the Anthem Center

http://communitylink.reviewjournal....063412467383004&PG=01325001051063412467651071

Here is the good people of SCA on patrol, they do have a nice pic that they got of their resident bobcat.

AND, they have an "Ask us a question page" HERE

Hmmmm.......I wonder how many of them even KNOW a man went missing in their neighborhood?

Problem IS, they want your information on that page -- but there's no place for your question!

 

[carbuff]

You're right - and even Amber Dubois - sounds like searchers were very close but not quite close enough.

It may be possible for the family or LE on Steven's case to contact TES for help. But in order for that to happen, they would have to believe it would be a recovery search, and I don't know if that's an option for them.

I thought there was a very good volunteer search and rescue group based in Las Vegas. I remember reading about them in conjunction with some of the other missing guys I researched. In fact, I thought they were involved in the earlier search for Steven.

I like the golf tournament idea. Wonder if I could persuade spouse we need (another) vacation...

 

[laytonian]

I thought there was a very good volunteer search and rescue group based in Las Vegas. I remember reading about them in conjunction with some of the other missing guys I researched. In fact, I thought they were involved in the earlier search for Steven.

I like the golf tournament idea. Wonder if I could persuade spouse we need (another) vacation...

There is, and they were. But I don't think there's been a wall-to-wall grid search of Anthem .... and it's probably something that has to be coordinated with the PTB (Anthem HOA).

He's either been right there all the time .......or never was. :banghead:

And maybe there should be a search of the hills surrounding the st George home. That'd be a good activity for his church friends.

 

[dovebar]

It's not like St. George or even SLC are far. I'm a little surprised that his "good friends" in Utah haven't coordinated this so far, especially given that there are many wards in Las Vegas as well. It's a few hours of driving, stay over in others' homes and search for two days.

None of his family and friends and their entire wards or the local wards have a Saturday or Sunday? Church was called off entirely in Utah for natural disasters. You'd think they could take a Saturday or Sunday, get everyone out, and do a thorough search. It doesn't reflect very well on anyone in this that it hasn't been done.

Ho hum, another single guy, wasn't married, wasn't a big Utah business "success," so we don't need to pay attention or care. Besides, we have soccer practice and PEC.

Pretty sad.

 

[marcyjoy]

I have been wanting to share this personal story for a while, but have been hesitant because I don't want to lose faith about finding Steven. This case is captivating to me and I truly want him to found -safe.

Several years ago, a close family friend went missing. Several days later, they found his abandoned car on a logging road in the mountains outside Seattle. A day later, they found his body - and concluded he had committed suicide. The reason he went there (according to a note found on his person) is because he wanted to be sure that no one he loved or cared about would find him. He left no trace, no indication, particularly. Of course the natural "trying to come to grips" that went on afterward revealed depression and increased alcohol usage.

I bring this up, only because in his mind he was determined that this is what he'd do. But up until the day they discovered his body, no one would have given it a thought.