ebby steppach autopsy

Brandon Lawson The 911 call that led to a mysterious disappearance. He initially hesitated to take the case, but once he saw the shotty investigation he knew he had to do something and began tracking Ebbys final movements. Almost 3 years later, her remains were discovered in the same park. [15], Dec 2017 Ebbys disappearance was on Dr. Phil, "Dead teen's loved ones question Little Rock police", "Parents, friends hold out hope for missing Arkansas teen", "Ebby Steppach case: Skeletal remains found in drainage pipe ID'd as long-missing teen", "Remains Found in Underground Pipe Confirmed as Teen Ebby Steppach Who Has Been Missing Since 2015", "What Led Up To The Disappearance Of 18-Year-Old Ebby Steppach", "Ebby Steppach case gets new life with help from Dr. Phil", "Human Remains Found in Little Rock Park Confirmed to be Missing Teen Ebby Steppach", "Remains of teen Ebby Steppach, who went missing in 2015, found in drainage pipe in Arkansas park", "Remains Found at Little Rock Park ID'd as Missing Girl's", "Little Rock park to be searched for woman missing since 2015", "Friends of Ebby Steppach question how Little Rock police handled case", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Ebby_Steppach&oldid=1125336746, May 22, 2018, Chalamont Park, Little Rock, This page was last edited on 3 December 2022, at 13:27. Forum Rules And Guidlines. On October 27, her abandoned car was discovered in Chalamont Park in west Little Rock. Danielle explained she tried to warn Ebby that the new friends she was making didnt seem like the best crowd. Days later, Ebby's Volkswagen Passat was found parked in Chalamont Park. Our cold case unit is comprised of seasoned investigators who have retired as active members of the Little Rock Police Department. Dr. Phil devotes his platform to shine a light on the 2015 disappearance and subsequent death of 18-year-old Ebby Steppach; a story that dominated national news. On Tuesday, May 22nd, investigators with the Little Rock Police Department informed the family that human remains had been found at Chalamont Park, which is where Ebby's car was found on October 30, 2015. But Ebby's specialty was. Little Rock Police Capt. Ebbys cellphone records indicate she made two calls to police that night, each about a minute long, but strangely Little Rock Police say they have no record of her calls. Upcoming on In Pursuit. In the News - Published on May 19, 2022 Dr. Phil devotes his platform to shine a light on the 2015 disappearance and subsequent death of 18-year-old Ebby Steppach; a story that dominated national news. "Because I know I would've been hysterical and rushed over. It was up to us to clean up the mess and basically start from the beginning. This case hasnt been discussed on this sub in about a year, but its one I think about often, so I wanted to bring it back up again. From the very beginning of the missing person investigation, Laurie and Michael Jernigan claim that the LRPD conducted incredibly shoddy work. It is situated at Chalamont Park in Little Rock, Arkansas. Searches were conducted of the park and the woods near where the car was discovered, but no evidence was found. When she wasnt at her grandmothers house [the following day], thats when thing started to get like, Well, where is she?,' Steppachs stepdad, Michael Jernigan, told the station at the time. She wanted Michael to go to the police with her to report the incident. And the burden of being the last person to talk to Ebby.. There was a drainage pipe not far from the car, and it had rained in the days after she went missing, he said. He came in and saved the day on Ebbys case, Laurie said. [4] Later that evening, when Steppach's mother, Laurie Jernigan, and stepfather attempted to reach her by phone, they got no response; her stepfather suspected she had gone to retrieve the video of her rape. She mentioned that someone had seen the car possibly while Ebby was there alive. According to locals familiar with the case, Ebby was about to report 4 men who sexually assaulted her, including the son of a police officer. Today marks the third anniversary of the last time she was seen alive. That was when they discovered Ebby's remains just 60 feet from where her car had been found. There's just a lot that doesn't make sense. During the multiple searches for Ebby, a team looking through a remote wooded area of Little Rock stumbled across a site, consisting of clothes, handcuffs, a skeletal leg bone and a shoe that resembled one that the missing girl would wear. They are nearly on par with polygraphs in my estimation. She would not let you leave a room without making you laugh. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. When I got the case, there were things that werent done that shouldve been done on the front end, Hudson said, explaining that interviewing key witnesses and checking surveillance footage had not been done. Learn how your comment data is processed. Laurie said she was with her husband out to dinner at the time, but had no idea about the text. That's what I'm wondering, too. Throughout the evening, cell phone records showed Ebby sent text messages to men she had implicated in her rape, threatening to go to the police if they didnt delete the video. The family would like to thank all of you who have supported efforts to find Ebby, the statement read. Sadly, this time Ebbys remains were finally found. Hudson obtained maps of the drainage pipes from the city and took a team back down to Chalamont Park, where they sent cameras down drainage pipes. Parents: Is Your Child Addicted to Screen Time? Rules and Guidlines for Discussion. If I remember correctly, the original officer on the case was texting Ebby's mom on her private cell, and it was somewhat abusive and inappropriate. James and Michelle Butler: The Senseless Murder of 21-Year-Navy Veteran and Wife. It is a shame, because the culprits seem pretty obvious. The security guard explained that Ebby met a man there on multiple occasions. She explained that Ebby had started a new job, started hanging out with a different crowd, changed schools - all of which she believes led to the rebellion. Ebbys family contacted everyone they knew and anyone they thought may have been in contact with Ebby. On October 27, Ebbys abandoned car was discovered in Chalamont Park in Little Rock. During their conversation, she gave him the names of two of the men involved. Laurie said she was with her husband out to dinner at the time, but had no idea about the text. Unsolved Homicide: Who Put Ebby Steppach in the Drain: With Phil McGraw. He came in and saved the day on Ebbys case, Laurie said. TM & 2023 Peteski Productions, Inc. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc.. a Paramount company. Working off a gut instinct, Hudson told Dateline he felt they needed to take another look in the park where Ebbys car was found back in 2015. likeawolf 4 yr. ago My motto in general for life problems In this update, Laurie is joining us again to discuss how Ebby was found and where her case stands today. Want Dr. Phil to Investigate a Situation or Possible Scam? On February 12, 2018, Laurie filed a complaint with the Little Rock Police Department, alleging a Captain, a Lieutenant and a Sergeant had sent her threatening text messages, had yelled at her during questioning and had refused to update her on the case during the early days of the investigation. As of now, the case is currently with the Little Rock Police Department Cold Case Unit, who say its an open homicide investigation. [3] Days before her disappearance, she had accused four men of gang-raping her at a party she had attended. Days before her disappearance, Ebby accused 4 men of raping her at a party and filming it. Four days after her disappearance, her car was found in West Little Rock's Chalamont Park. Around 8 p.m., she told her grandmother Peggy she was leaving to meet up with Michael, but that she would be back and planned to spend the night there. And they were stopped in their tracks. LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas The death of Ebby Steppach-- it's a case that has baffled the public and police for several years. [13] Upon the arrival of police at the scene, Foley claimed she was "kind of dismissed by [the officers]", who told her the park had been searched with recovery canines who would have picked up on the scent of human decomposition, and assured her it "must be an animal or something". Remains found in an underground pipe in a Little Rock park have been confirmed as those of Ebby Steppach, who went missing in 2015. Around this time, Ebbys face and information were featured on billboards and banners across central Arkansas. When he died, I thought, now he knows what happened to her. She was really rebelling and fighting, fighting back and storming out, Laurie said. On the night of October 23, 2015, Ebby attended a house party, where she claimed to have been raped. I have peace because Ebby isnt alone. Her remains were found in a drainage pipe. [11] Extensive searches for Steppach at Chalamont Park had been held in the past. [4] On Friday, October 23, she attended a party at some point during the evening. General AMW/The Hunt/In Pursuit/True Crime TV Shows Discussion. [4] In an attempt to bring publicity to her case, Steppach's mother and brother Trevor appeared on Dr. Phil in December 2017. "Because I know I would've been hysterical and rushed over. When Vickers contacted the security guard who found the car several months later, he said it was the first anyone had contacted him about it. Those with information regarding the case are being asked to call the Little Rock Police Department at 501-371-4829. Remains found in an underground pipe in a Little Rock park have been confirmed as those of an 18-year-old woman who went missing in 2015. At around 2:00pm on October 25, Trevor managed to get a hold of his sister, who said she was parked outside his house. She was unable to tell him who she was with or where she was. For Ebby's family and friends, they just want answers. Her devotion in close relationships and drive to renew a prosperous life for herself was cut short by an unexplainable, unsolved murder in October of 2015, leaving all who knew her across her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas (pronounced ARE-ken-SAW) grasping for . Ill be back, dont lock the door. By that time, I just knew in my soul that something was really wrong, Ebbys mother, Laurie Jeringan, told Dateline. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. I'm so sorry you had to go through that and then have to deal with more bs on top of it. 18-year-old Ebby vanished in October 2015, but her remains weren't found until May 2018. I'm so sorry. There was no doubt it was her.. To help keep the case in the public eye, Ebbys family created a Facebook group to help spread awareness via social media. Surveillance footage was also located about a week after Ebby went missing, which showed her car travelling along Cantrell Road in west Little Rock. The first time he saw her, she was with two men and had asked the trio to leave, which they did without argument. Ebby opted to move out and bounced around between staying with friends and her older brother, Trevor. Steppach's remains were found not far from where her 2003 Volkswagen . On October 27, Ebby's 2003 Volkswagen Passat was discovered by security guard, Guy Hooper, abandoned in a parking lot near a wooded area in a neighborhood park named Chalamont Park. After speaking with his sister, Trevor immediately called the police, worried. Investigations, which is dedicated to locating missing and trafficked children, and T.H.O.R.N., an international anti-human trafficking organization that works to address the sexual exploitation of children. I listen to too many. Ebby Steppach was creative. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. They listed her as runaway and, as such, no search was conducted, despite her family saying she would never run away without keeping in contact with them. During this time in her life, she also got a job at the Foot Locker in McCain Mall, a move her family says coincided with a change in behaviour. And she never showed up at the police station. [4] The car had an empty gas tank as well as a dead battery, and the key had been left in the ignition. He also added that they have persons of interest in the case and have interviewed multiple people, but no one had been named a suspect at this time. -. He told Dateline that mistakes were made early on in the case before he was brought on to help solve it. What's even worse is that her brother Trevor recently passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 35. With this kind of police investigation who needs enemies? If she was a runaway like the police kept saying, she wouldve taken her makeup. Her body was found was. Same situation btw, they knew she was going to report them for rape so they kidnapped her to beat her but 2 guys ended up killing her. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Although Ebby had moved out, she kept in touch with her parents and even reached out to her stepfather Michael with an alarming situation. Ebby got sober through the Oxford Group, and carried the message of salvation through religious conversion to his old friend, Bill. When she was 18 years old, Ebby started acting contrary to how those around her expected. An internal investigation was conducted, which yielded insufficient evidence to prove her claims. If Ebby had been found right away, we wouldn't have had to go through this nightmare, she said. Ebby Jane Steppach was born March 31, 1997 at 6:30 a.m. She died October 25, 2015, the day her car was abandoned at Chalamont Park in West Little Rock. Well, with God, Ill make it through.. I think it was too much on his heart, his mother Laurie told Dateline. But someone else needs him now.. Ebby, thats not a good position, dont put yourself in that. But then kind of that week, I stopped putting such a huge emphasis on it. In 2017, Laurie participated in Closer to Home Arkansas Takes Action, which was hosted by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. And we could have found her killer by now.. The last known contact she had on October 25 was with her older brother, Trevor. Later on October 24, Michael called his stepdaughter and told her he would meet her at her grandparents house, where she was reportedly staying at the time. They first entered the top drain, near where the car was found, and hit an obstruction approximately 70 feet down. Ebbys family was notified of the discovery and the remains were sent to the state crime lab, where they were determined to be those of the missing girl. [4] Throughout the evening, cell phone records showed Steppach sent text messages to several of the men she had implicated in her rape, threatening to report them to police. The remainder was frittered away in about 4 years of drunken extravagance. Ebby Steppach, 18, of Little Rock, Arkansas mysteriously vanished on October 24, 2015. After hanging up from her phone call with her brother, Ebby was never heard from again. On October 24, she texted her stepfather to inform him of the rape and to say she wanted to go to police about it. She wasnt a so-called runaway. In 2015, Ebby Steppach was sexually assaulted at a party, and disappeared days later. While neither were human remains, it piqued the interest of investigators and thus the pipe was excavated. Vanished: Heidi Broussard (33) and Margot Carey (2wks). She said she was outside his house, but when he went outside, she wasnt there. When she found out that the remains were found so close to her car, and could have possibly been found much sooner, she was angry. A private investigator hired by Ebbys family, Monty Vickers, said her text records indicate she sent several messages to the men she accused threatening to go to the police. Her remains were missed in all the searches. But Ebby's specialty was. So they turned to the police. She remained a missing person for nearly three years before her body was discovered in a drainage pipe in Chalamont Park in May 2018, in the immediate vicinity of where her car had been found. It wasnt until November 2016, almost a year after Ebby disappeared, that police formally searched the Chalamont Park area, turning up no further clues. Ebby Steppach died six years ago today, still no arrests Debi believes someone is responsible for her granddaughter's death, saying, "there is somebody or somebodies that know exactly what happened to her." Her prayer is that whoever is responsible will come forward and confess, leaving no more questions, only good memories, behind. The keys were in the ignition and the car was out of gas as if it had been left running. I apologize in advance for any formatting errors. 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The Disappearance of Nguyet Thu Wiki Phung, Case Update: Brittanee Drexels Remains Discovered After 13 Years, Suspect Charged, The Disappearances of Tina & Bethany Sinclair. Growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas, she lived with her mother, Laurie Jernigan; her stepfather, Michael Jernigan; her older brother, Trevor; and her younger sister, Harris. On the same day, its been reported that two one-minute calls were made from Ebbys cellphone to the Little Rock Police Department. Laurie said the days since Ebby died, have been filled with trying to find out what happened to her daughter in October of 2015. Finally, her case was transferred to the homicide unit who were appalled with way the case was handled. And I knew it was Ebby.. Upon Ebbys remains being found, hundreds gathered for her memorial service at Christ Community Church on the campus of the Little Rock Christian Academy. Ebby was a young woman with big dreams and a fiery personality, who loved her family and had a big heart for those less fortunate. The 4 men implicated in her rape were interviewed by police, but there have been no formal searches of their cell phones for further evidence. She wanted Michael to go to the police with her to report the incident. I have peace because Ebby isnt alone. So they turned to the police. Ebby Jane Steppach had dreams of becoming a cosmetologist. In May 2017, the case was reassigned to homicide detectives within the Little Rock Police Department. By Harriet Sokmensuer. The family's private investigator had a bigger, more thorough file than the police. The daughter of two hair stylists, she was already immersed in that world and the craft came naturally. Ebby opted to move out and bounced around between staying with friends and her older brother, Trevor. But no one knew where she was. This is the location where Ebby Steppach's body was found. [4] Wanting independence from her parents, Steppach decided to move out of her family's home at the beginning of the school year,[5] but was mainly staying with her grandparents and friends. That was when they discovered Ebby's remains just 60 feet from where her car had been found. He told Dateline that mistakes were made early on in the case before he was brought on to help solve it. "Maybe if we ignore it, it will go away." I wish my job worked that way. gossipgossipblah 4 yr. ago This is just outrageous to me. Exploring the 2015 disappearance and subsequent death of 18-year-old Ebby Steppach; That was the last time anyone in Ebbys family saw her. Detective Bruce Maxwell has access to all of Hudsons work on the case and they are in constant contact. I agree. The daughter of two hair stylists, she was already immersed in that world and the craft came naturally. Thats what we think about every day. Cadaver dogs are much less likely to find remains if they're not fresh. I wanted to check the park again.". On October 13, 2005, Ebby's car was found in a small residential park, out of gas with the keys in the ignition. Lauries family also hired TJ Ward, an Atlanta based P.I. It has been through your support, many prayers and Gods strength that they have been able to make this journey., God hears and answers all prayers, it continued. An investigation was conducted by department administrators and it was found there was insufficient evidence of any mistreatment. So when the vibrant eyeshadow palettes and tubes of lipstick were found broken and scattered throughout her car just days after she was reported missing, Ebbys mother knew something was wrong. Ebby Jane Steppach was 18 years old when she disappeared in late October 2015. In May 2018, the FBI and the LRPDs Cold Case Unit (led by experienced detective Tommy Hudson) teamed up with Little Rocks Public Works to begin excavating drainage pipes at Chalamont Park. Hudson told Dateline that a new investigator has been assigned to Ebbys case and that he has complete faith in his investigative abilities. Their names, obviously, have not been released. When Vickers reached out to the security guard at Chalamont Park, he claimed it was the first time hed been contacted about the case. Officers with the Little Rock Police Department searched the park, but came up empty-handed. I think a young woman was seen speaking with a young man by the park security. Its also unclear why Ebbys remains werent located for three years, when multiple searches had taken place in the vicinity, even with a cadaver dog. They're together. Working dogs also take non-verbal clues from their handlers. The final time she was with more unknown men. He recalled her sounding confused, disoriented and panicked, their mother Laurie told Dateline. You would think talking to Danielle and looking into the cell phone pings are two of the first things theyd do. On May 24, 2018, the police went back to Chalamont Park around 10am and discovered skeletal remains near wear Ebby's car was found. Searches of the woods in the park were undertaken, but no sign of Steppach was found. But someone else needs him now.. They sent out cadaver dogs to search Chalamont Park, but the dogs were unable to pick up on Ebbys scent. The remains were confirmed by the Little Rock Police Department, according to a reporter for KARK 4 News on Wednesday. The next day, Ebby told her step father Michael about the rape, and they agreed to meet at the police station later to report it. However, he didnt report it to police until three days later. In 2018, Laurie Jernigan filed a complaint with the LRPD that certain officers had sent her threatening text messages, yelled at her and refused to provide her with updates early on in the case. General. However, they wanted to encourage her independence, and didnt confront her. In 2018, authorities returned to the park where her abandoned car had been . Ebby met some reportedly disreputable people through her summer job at the Foot Locker in McCain Mall. And that's something that has given me solace.". If for no other reason to set a precedent that shoddy half ass police work is unacceptable. We could have put her to rest. Why this wasnt done, I dont know, Hudson said. On October 30, 2015, the Little Rock Police Department searched an abandoned car in a small residential park. But her family told local media they believed she was in danger. The next evening around 5:30 p.m., Ebby called her brother, Trevor, and told him that she was in her car, but didnt know where she was. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? The second time, she was with another man in the backseat of her car. Those who she loved most of all were her grandparents. Police aren't known for their willingness to investigate rapes, or their their tact when dealing with victims. Margie Foley, a family friend and mother of one of Steppachs best friends, claimed that she had smelled decomposition while doing a private search of the area and alerted the authorities. If you have any information about the disappearance and murder of Ebby Steppach, please call the Little Rock Police Department at (501) 404-3128. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. As well, she had moved out of her parents house before starting her senior year, living between other family members houses and that of a friend from her time at LISA Academy. Listen iHeartPodcast's " Hell and Gone " is back with a 4th season, and this time, host Catherine Townsend is diving into the murder of Ebby Steppach. But that was the last time her grandparents ever saw her. She never responded to her grandmothers calls, either. 26 related questions found. She worked two part-time jobs as a teenager, saving every dollar so she could buy nice, expensive makeup. Oddly enough I was working for her uncle while she was still missing. Now-retired Little Rock Police homicide detective Tommy Hudson stepped in and took over Ebbys case in 2017. Laurie, who has met with Dr. Phil twice, returns because she says she is now pleading with the public to share any information they may have. Per a 2017 report, the men Steppach had accused of sexual assault had all spoken to police, though no formal searches of their cell phones were done for the alleged video of Steppachs rape. However, they claim they have no records of these calls having been placed. "It was something I just couldn't shake. "I'm grateful that I wasn't told about that text, about what happened," Laurie said. Sep. 22 2021, Published 6:32 p.m. According to private investigator Monty Vickers, Ebby also sent texts to her alleged rapists, threatening to go to the police with her claims. When it came to her education, Ebby spent most of her life attending charter schools, before transferring to Central High School in Little Rock during her senior year, after which she planned to attend cosmetology school and obtain her real estate license. Thats when Trevor told me something was terribly wrong, Laurie said. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. While the search for Ebbys body ended in 2018, Tommy Hudson, the lead investigator on her case at the time kept working on finding her killer. Yesterday, God answered the familys prayers to find Ebby.. It was hard for all of us.. Laurie told Dateline investigators continued to call Ebby a runaway and assured Laurie shed be back soon. It was around that time that Laurie said the 18-year-old high school student started to change. Ebby Steppach case still open, preliminary cause of death determined but wont be released, One year later | The search for justice for Ebby continues, Days after Ebby Steppach disappeared, police shrugged off pipe odor, caller says, Mysterious 911 call and the disappearance of Cheyann Klus, Dr. Dharmesh Patel (41) attempted to kill his family by driving their Tesla off a 300 foot cliff, Ana Walshe is missing after her husband googled 'how to dispose of a 115 pound womans body', Jennifer Fairgate and her briefcase of bullets, Florida Cosplay/Cam Girl, Melissa Turner stabs her boyfriend to death and waits 4 hours to call 911, Tristyn Bailey (13) was stabbed 114 times, allegedly by her 14 y/o classmate. She remained a missing person for nearly three years before her body was discovered in a drainage pipe in Chalamont Park in May 2018, in the immediate vicinity of where her car had been found. Upon the arrival of police, Foley claimed she was kind of dismissed by the officers, who told her the park had been searched with recovery canines who would have picked up on the scent of human decomposition, and assured her it must be an animal or something.. But again, the case hit a snag when Hudson recently announced he was again retiring and relocating across the river, where he will help out at the North Little Rock Police Department cold case unit. Ebby Steppach (Ebby Jane Steppach) was born on 31 March, 1997 in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. I think she kind of thought of our house as kind of a safe place, Danielle said in an interview. Thats when Trevor told me something was terribly wrong, Laurie said. Published on May 23, 2018 08:25 PM. Her phone records also indicate she stopped opening messages that night a major red flag. I really dont believe it is that latter. [4] When he called her back, she answered, this time telling him she was in her car but was unsure where she was parked. It seems as though most unsolved cases begin with a very poor investigation. Unsolved Homicide: Who Put Ebby Steppach in the Drainpipe? She worked two part-time jobs as a teenager, saving every dollar so she could buy nice, expensive makeup. Ebby was a young woman with big dreams and a fiery personality, who loved her family and had a big heart for those less fortunate. Although Hudson would not tell Dateline how Ebby died, because he believes it would interfere with the investigation, he said her death is being investigated as a homicide. During the search for Ebby, her family looked into the possibility of her having been forced into sex trafficking. In the News. "She was very funny, Laurie said. [9], Around 10a.m.[9] on May 24, 2018, while performing another search of Chalamont Park, police discovered skeletal remains in a drainage pipe in the vicinity where Steppach's car had been discovered. On October 25, 2015, she placed an erratic phone call to her older brother, Trevor; this was the last known contact anyone had with her. But again, the case hit a snag when Hudson recently announced he was again retiring and relocating across the river, where he will help out at the North Little Rock Police Department cold case unit. - Published on May 19, 2022. Her mother Laurie told Dateline that Ebby had texted Michael around 8 p.m. on October 24, 2015, and told him she had been raped by a group of men at a party and that the assault had been videotaped. They're together. . She explained that Ebby had started a new job, started hanging out with a different crowd, changed schools - all of which she believes led to the rebellion. Unsolved Homicide: Who Put Ebby Steppach in the Drainpipe? "There was some evidence we were looking at that was found at the scene when she initially disappeared that bothered us," Hudson said. Ebby Steppach was an 18-year-old teenage girl living in Little Rock, Arkansas, with her parents when she started acting out. He received no response and found she wasnt home when he arrived. At just 35 years old, he died of a massive heart attack. Ebbys disappearance was also featured on Nancy Grace. But Ebbys specialty was makeup. In May 2018, Ebby Steppach's body was found in a drainpipe in her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas, more than two-and-a-half years after the 18-year-old high school senior disappeared. Relieved, Trevor went to his front door, but found neither his sister nor her car were outside. She went through a lot of changes all at once and suddenly she was chomping at the bit to take control of her life, Laurie said. He explained that things like interviewing key witnesses, checking surveillance footage at a nearby Walmart and a social media . Mother hopeful new detective will solve 2015 murder of daughter Ebby Steppach 18-year-old Ebby vanished in October 2015, but her remains weren't found until May 2018. The blockage was pulled up by the bulldozer and turned around and there she was, right in front of me, Hudson said. Its Going To Take Someone Coming Forward, Says Mother Of Little Rock Teen Whose Death Remains Unsolved, Private Investigator Refutes Police Theory That Teen Found Dead In Drainpipe Crawled Down There On Her Own, I Knew Instantly Someone Had Taken Her, Says Mother Of Teen Whose Body Was Found In 2018, This Is Not A Cold Case, Says Retired Detective About Ebby Steppachs Death, Sponsored: Dr. Phil McGraw Teams Up With Sundae To Help Homeowners Sell As-Is. I wanted to check the park again.". A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. It has taken a toll on our entire family.. My faith is so strong and I trust that God will bring answers, Laurie said. On October 28, three days after Ebbys last contact with her brother, a security guard at Chalamont Park in west Little Rock reported an abandoned vehicle in the parking lot. Ebby Jane Steppach (March 31, 1997 October 25, 2015)[2] was an American woman who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Little Rock, Arkansas. I would give anything to hear her laugh again. As they felt local police werent taking the case seriously, Ebbys family hired private investigator Monty Vickers, who acted as a go-between between them and investigators. Ebby Steppach was 18 years old when she disappeared from her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas, just days after a party where she alleged that four men sexually assaulted her and recorded their actions on a cellphone. It was around that time that Laurie said the 18-year-old high school student started to change. That police department should be sued. Vickers tried to contact the police for three months to offer assistance with the investigation, but his calls and emails went without reply. He never gave up on her, on finding out what happened, she said. Its unclear what compelled investigators to search the pipe specifically on Tuesday. She crashed with friends frequently as well. So he delved deep into the case, determined to solve it. That is truly awful. [4], Several searches of Chalamont Park were undertaken after the discovery of Steppach's car, though no additional evidence was found in the surrounding woods. We were told that we couldn't file a police report for 12 hours, Laurie said. However, where she was on the road has never been publicly released, nor if there was anyone else in the car with her. At just 35 years old, he died of a massive heart attack. But no matter what happens, I have peace. Family: Ebby Steppach's Death is Being Investigated as a Homicide. Catherine Townsend, a dynamic private investigator, says she has been working on the case for the past 18 months and believes the police are wrong to call Ebbys death a suicide and that her killer could still be found. While the medical examiner found a preliminary cause of death, it hasnt been publicly released. Ebby called him, sounding panicked and disoriented. Her death has been classified as a homicide. Descried as bubbly and of a big heart, Ebby was known for going out of her way to help the ones she loved. She had been dead since the time her car was found three years prior. I just knew it, everything in my soul, I knew something had happened to her, Laurie said. Bob never drank again until his death . It wasnt until October 30 that officers went to the park and identified the car as Ebbys. In 2015, she was 18 years old, 110 pounds, with blonde hair, and only a little over 5 feet tall. After the fundraiser, a birthday party was held for Ebby. When the FBI got involved it became clear how badly her case had been treated and thats when things moved in a different direction. This one is so bizarre. I think the most frustrating part, as most would agree, is that the most obvious place where her remains would be, were never searched. And she took excellent care of it. 100GB with M1 Maxxs $15 U.P. Even though her grandparents were the last family to see her, they werent interviewed for a year and a half after she disappeared. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Ebbys remains were found on May 22, 2018, a mere 60 feet from where her car had been found two years earlier. While initially believed to possibly be related to the case, it was later determined the leg bone belonged to an animal. It's why I searched here. [3] Days before her disappearance, she had accused four men of gang-raping her at a party she had attended. Ebby Steppach. Worried about Ebby, numerous family members tried to reach out to her, but received no response to their messages. As they felt the police werent taking Ebbys disappearance seriously, her family approached the media to help widen word of their missing loved one. While he isnt one hundred percent certain the girl he saw was Ebby, he says she does resemble the images of Ebby hes been shown. My daughter, she doesnt have any siblings anymore. The Search for Ebby & Allegations of Police Mishandling. [4] She also alleged that the rape had been recorded on a cell phone. Cops took 5 years to arrest them. Photo provided by Ebby's mother Laurie Jernigan. Many personal items were strewn about the car, including Ebbys phone, wallet and contact lenses. Her keys, her phone, her purse, makeup and contact lenses were scattered inside. She knew her daughter was in danger. On the morning of Wednesday, October 21, 2015, Ebby skipped school, telling her friend Danielle she wanted to avoid all that drama. Danielle didnt know what she meant. Russell King passes a memorial for Ebby Steppach as he works Tuesday at Chalamont Park in west Little Rock. [4], Steppach last had contact with her older brother, Trevor, around 2p.m. on October 25, 2015, in a phone call. The remains had been about 60 feet from where the car was discovered. The interior of the car and many of Ebbys belongings were water damaged when they got the car back, Laurie and Michael claim, because the LRPD had left the trunk open during a heavy rainstorm. Steppach's family released a statement Wednesday evening after they were notified of the Arkansas State Crime Lab results. She abruptly decided to switch to Central after attending private school all her life [EDIT: Ebby attended LISA Academy, which is a charter school, not a private school]. The nightmare only continued for Ebbys family as they noticed mistakes they said police had made from the beginning and believed her case was not being taken seriously. "There was some evidence we were looking at that was found at the scene when she initially disappeared that bothered us," Hudson said. What worried her mother most of all was the condition of Ebbys makeup. I tried to keep this write-up from getting too long, so didnt include every single detail I read. The . Ebby's body was found in a drainpipe in her hometown of Little Rock, AR, and the mystery that still shrouds her death has left an . This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors. On November 3, 2015, a friend of Ebbys and her mother went to the park to look around. Laurie says that's because no one has figured out what - or who - caused Ebby's death. The last person to hear from Ebby was her brother, Trevor, on Sunday, October 25. She rebelled against her parents and started living with her friend Daniel Westbrook. Wow this is appalling. He also said the medical examiner has determined a preliminary cause of death. When she found out that the remains were found so close to her car, and could have possibly been found much sooner, she was angry. Shortly following the news of Hudson's retirement, Little Rock Police Department released a statement about Ebby's case: The Little Rock Police Department is committed to work collectively to resolve all cold cases; more specifically the Ebby Steppach case. When her family tried to report her missing, they were told they needed to wait 12 hours for her to be considered missing. She was survived by her parents, Laurie and Michael Jernigan; her father, Peter Steppach; her sister, Harris Elizabeth; brother, Trevor; stepbrother, Ethan; her grandparents . Marking Ebbys birthday, every dollar raised from those in attendance went to the organization, which provides services for survivors of assault and human trafficking. [4] On October 21, 2015, Steppach missed school. Ebbys cell phone records show that she made two calls to the Little Rock Police Department that night, each about a minute long. Dharmesh Patel is a 41 y/o California man, who was working as a radiologist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, Pasadena. But Ebbys family and friends had already taken matters into their own hands and began passing out fliers across town, hoping someone had seen her. See what happens when she takes a closer look at the drainpipe where Ebby was found what does she say it proves? According to to a text sent to a friend, Ebby said four men had been involved and that she had felt forced into the encounter. Ebby family were unaware of the odor until after the remains were IDd. After Tuesdays discovery, Steppachs family released a statement asking for privacy, THV11 reports. That still begs the question why no one thoroughly searched the area (with or without dogs) in November 2015 when Ebby's friend and her mom smelled decomposition in the park. We could have put her to rest. The case made national news and people from all over the world contacted the Little Rock Police Department and the family with bogus tips, some even claiming to be holding Ebby captive as they demanded money for her safe return. December 2017 In an attempt to bring publicity to her case, Steppachs mother and brother Trevor appeared onDr. Phil. This was followed by a police search of Chalamont Park in November 2016. Something was there. No one heard from or saw Ebby again. Tommy Hudson with the Little Rock polices Cold Case Unit said the case is considered an open homicide investigation. If she was a runaway like the police kept saying, she wouldve taken her makeup. Feel free to read more at the resources below, and please let me know what you think about this case. On October 30, 2015, the Little Rock Police Department searched an abandoned car in a small r However, her parents never addressed this with her, wanting to give her more independence. Petito 's tragic story has captured the nation and the internet after she was found dead in the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in. This also highlighted how poorly local authorities were managing the case. She remained silent for nearly 24 hours. It was up to us to clean up the mess and basically start from the beginning. A family friend named Margie Foley had reported to the police that she smelled decomposition while they . "But if Tommy had been on the case back then and had found her in a week, they would've found who did it and we wouldnt have had to keep living this nightmare. Nothing was found. According to Laurie, she had known her daughter was dead before the remains were discovered. What happened to Ebby from Dr Phil? It was determined she had been there since her car was found three years prior. "It was a gut feeling with all of us," he said. Date of death: October 25, 2015, Died Place: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States: Nationality: American: Ebbys remains were found on May 22, 2018, a mere 60 feet from where her car had been found two years earlier. In May 2018, the Cold Case Unit teamed up with the FBI and the Public Works Department to search a drainage pipe in Chalamont Park using robots with video cameras. Ebby Steppach was born on March 31, 1997, and lived in Little Rock, Arkansas with her mom and step-dad, Laurie and Michael Jernigan, and two siblings, Trevor and Harris. Her bones were found last Tuesday in a park drainage pipe in a Little Rock suburb, steps from where her car was discovered after she disappeared. The woman who reported the smell to police felt they had initially shrugged her off, not showing up until an hour after she had first phoned in. For Ebbys older brother, Trevor, the toll his sisters disappearance and death took on his heart may have been too much. But later that evening, Ebby had stopped responding to Michael. The Vanished did a great story on this. The claim had come from a family friend, who had searched the park not long after Ebby went missing. Instead, Ebby got to spend that last day with her grandparents. Hudson told Dateline that a new investigator has been assigned to Ebbys case and that he has complete faith in his investigative abilities. The family thanked the numerous people involved in the investigation, including a Little Rock Cold Case Detective, Tommy Hudson, and members of the cold case unit, as well as the FBI. On Friday, Ebby went to a party while Danielle stayed home because she didnt know anyone who would be there. So Ebbys mom and stepfather, Michael, told her she needed to behave in a respectful manner or she needed to move out. Ebbys family tried to file a missing person report, but was told by police they had to wait at least 12 hours. The men implicated in Ebbys rape have been spoken to by investigators, but there have been no formal searches of their cellphones for the alleged video of her rape. When I got the case, there were things that werent done that shouldve been done on the front end, Hudson said, explaining that interviewing key witnesses and checking surveillance footage had not been done. So we had to wait. Her car was found abandoned in a West Little Rock park days later, but her body wasn't discovered until May of 2018 . Everything else? It has taken a toll on our entire family.. [4] Trevor described her as seeming "disoriented" during their conversation. For anyone still looking, she is the subject of True Crime Garage's latest episode. In 2017, the case was reassigned to the LRPDs homicide unit, who brought cadaver dogs to the park to search for clues. They then went in the other way and hit another obstruction about 130 feet in. Her ability to forecast the sun despite the rainiest of days made her a special young woman, introducing serenity to a world that so deeply . Throughout the evening, cell phone records showed Ebby sent text messages to men she had implicated in her rape, threatening. And I just became hysterical.. The case made national news and people from all over the world contacted the Little Rock Police Department and the family with bogus tips, some even claiming to be holding Ebby captive as they demanded money for her safe return. While the search for Ebbys body ended in 2018, Tommy Hudson, the lead investigator on her case at the time kept working on finding her killer. Towards the beginning of the school year, she left her family's home to gain her parents' freedom. And she started to push back rebel.. https://storiesoftheunsolved.com/2019/02/02/the-murder-of-ebby-steppach/, https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/may/31/report-of-smell-dismissed-in-15-2018053/?page=2, https://www.thv11.com/article/features/one-year-later-the-search-for-justice-in-ebby-steppach-case-continues/91-beb932ec-171e-481a-83a8-068ac173a8e2. During their conversation, he shared that he believed hed seen Ebby three different times before her disappearance. Ebbys mother Laurie told Dateline she was devastated to see Hudson leave, but is hopeful that Maxwell will solve the case and finally get justice for Ebby. I was like, Ebby thats not safe, dont do that. Passionate for expression and individualism. In April 2016, volunteers searched for Ebby, beginning in the area near where her car was found and moving toward a wooded area near Markham and Bowman. All Rights Reserved. For 8 months, Little Rock Police treated Ebby as a runaway, doing little to nothing to find her. Fort Valley State University student Missing Where is Anitra Gunn? In my hometown there was a gang rape and murder with 8 people involved who had loudly threated to kill the girl in the middle of the town green the same day they killed her. She also mentioned it had been recorded without her knowledge or consent. The remains were found near a memorial for Steppach, police said. Andrea Cavallier is a Digital Producer for Dateline NBC. The search to find her lasted until May 2018, when her remains were found in a drainpipe in Chalamont Park. Ebby Steppach death has been reported as a homicide. She never responded to her grandmothers calls, either. Im so glad this is becoming standard fare in these subs vs dogs being infallible. The equipment hit obstructions on both ends of the drainage pipe and Hudson was given the go-ahead to dig up the section of pipe. To laugh with her again.. Her stepfather thinks at this point Ebby tried to track down the men to acquire the video of her rape in an attempt to regain her independence. Her feedback, along with that of others, resulted in the creation of a handbook that police give out to those whose loved ones have gone missing. Steppachs family released a statement on Wednesday after her remains were positively identified. "She would still be dead if they found her in a week," Laurie said. If the police weren't interested, or perhaps not motivating the dogs well, they are also less likely to find anything. I just knew it, everything in my soul, I knew something had happened to her, Laurie said. May 22, 2018 Around 10 a.m., while performing another search of Chalamont Park, police discovered skeletal remains in a drainage pipe in the vicinity where Steppachs car had been discovered. May 22, 2019 1 year since Ebbys remains were recovered. She would never do this. Steppach had recently attended a private school, but the following year she attended a government-funded school. Map of Chalamont Park and where Ebby was located. She was lost and told him she was fucked up.. Who killed Ebby, and why did it take so long to find her body? But her stepdad and I were really strict. [4] This was the last known contact anyone had with her. Ebby Jane Steppach had dreams of becoming a cosmetologist. As of today, the case is still open and unsolved. They said they couldnt due to a lack of resources. Dr. Phil devotes his platform to shine a light on the 2015 disappearance and subsequent death of 18-year-old Ebby Steppach; a story that dominated national news. She submitted recordings of conversations, text message threads, emails and provided witnesses as evidence. It was the last time anyone ever heard from Ebby. Her parents did not approve of her newest boyfriend, who attended the public high school Central High. Examining the world of solved and unsolved cases. Lucy Letby- Killer Nurse? When the Little Rock Police Department began investigating the case as more than a runaway, it was handed to the Violent Crimes Division. Ebby spent that Saturday holed up in bed at her grandparents home, sleeping and watching Spongebob Squarepants. On Tuesday, police announced during a press conference that the remains could be those of Steppach, who disappeared in October 2015. What really happened to Ebby Steppach? She saved her money and worked hard to buy really nice makeup, Laurie said. Searches of the woods around the park were undertaken, but no sign of Ebby was found. She remained silent for nearly 24 hours. It was polar opposite than the Ebby we knew. Missing Florida mother found deceased in Alabama, Where is 4-year-old Codi Bigsby, missing from Hampton, VA, Ill either see you again or never see you again The Disappearance of Daniel Robinson, Destiny Jacksons body was found in the Las Vegas desert after she was killed during a car jacking, Spooky Houses youll be DYING to stay far away from, Suzanne Morphew (49) has been missing since May 10th, 2020 her husband has been arrested, FOUND SAFE- Laura Lacie Read- missing from Midtown, Houston, after her child is found alone, Dr. Beth Potter, her husband, Robin Carre were killed and found in a ditch, Missing Child Alert: Taylor Rose Williams (5) is missing from Jacksonville, Florida. At this point in the investigation, they still listed her as a runaway, as no signs of foul play or a struggle were present inside or outside of the vehicle. Hell And Gone is a podcast from iHeartRadio and School of Humans that follows journalist and private investigator Catherine Townsend as she investigates unsolved deaths. Unknown Ebby Steppach Killer- Arkansas- 2015 . Ebby Steppach, known to her classmates and family members as Ebby Jane, was an independent, hardworking, and protective friend. By that time, I just knew in my soul that something was really wrong, Ebbys mother, Laurie Jeringan, told Dateline. I really feel sorry for their mother. The discovery of Ebbys remains came after a foul odor had been reported coming from the pipe during the early parts of the investigation. He had retired earlier in the year, but returned just months later to help with the new cold case unit. what planes can land on a 3,000 foot runway, compliance and ethical practice in interior design, caroline byron, alan howard, sharston tip opening times, mitchell sd police codes, kelsey grammer black lives matter, mike krukow reno nv, olea mediterranean grill nutrition, prefab shipping container homes for sale louisiana, petit oiseau en 7 lettres, dilution d'une solution 10 fois, why did kelly leave king of queens, why did angela leave masters of flip, ebanie bridges photos, tesla bcg matrix,

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