Ebby Jane Steppach had dreams of becoming a cosmetologist. To help spread word of the case, Laurie appeared on Dr. Phil. What worried her mother most of all was the condition of Ebbys makeup. For Ebbys older brother, Trevor, the toll his sisters disappearance and death took on his heart may have been too much. In May 2017, the case was reassigned to homicide detectives within the Little Rock Police Department. Ebbys family contacted everyone they knew and anyone they thought may have been in contact with Ebby. She later learned that Michael had agreed to help Ebby, so he took Laurie home and attempted to reach Ebby to make a plan. Detective Bruce Maxwell has access to all of Hudsons work on the case and they are in constant contact. 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. When asked why she had waited to file the complaint, Laurie explained she feared retaliation and thus waited until it had been transferred to detectives in another department. Ebby Jane Steppach had dreams of becoming a cosmetologist. We could have put her to rest. Steppachs family released a statement on Wednesday after her remains were positively identified. Her keys, her phone, her purse, makeup and contact lenses were scattered inside. That is truly awful. He recalled her sounding confused, disoriented and panicked, their mother Laurie told Dateline. Thats what we think about every day. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. [4] On October 21, 2015, Steppach missed school. [4] Per a 2017 report, the men Steppach had accused of rape had all spoken to police, though no formal searches of their cell phones were done for the alleged video of Steppach's rape. 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. 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. 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. For anyone still looking, she is the subject of True Crime Garage's latest episode. Please post your thoughts and theories below. By Katherine Stinson. Friends of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie are coming out of the woodwork and claiming that the couple's relationship history was toxic from the start. When Ebbys remains were found, Laurie was devastated. When Ebbys parents recieved her car back from Little Rock Police, the interior and many of her personal belongings were water damaged due to the trunk being left open during a storm by police. It's why I searched here. In 2017, the case was reassigned to the LRPDs homicide unit, who brought cadaver dogs to the park to search for clues. On May 22nd, 2018, Steppach's skeletal remains were discovered in a drainage pipe beside the parking lot. Exploring the 2015 disappearance and subsequent death of 18-year-old Ebby Steppach; So Ebbys mom and stepfather, Michael, told her she needed to behave in a respectful manner or she needed to move out. It wasnt until October 30 that officers went to the park and identified the car as Ebbys. 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. Timeline of the Ebby Steppach Case Steppach, a student at Central High in Little Rock was reported missing on Oct. 26, 2015. April 2019 Ebbys older brother, Trevor, dies from a massive heart attack at just 35 years old. Four days after her disappearance, her car was found in West Little Rock's Chalamont Park. Officers with the Little Rock Police Department searched the park, but came up empty-handed. Cheyann Klus went missing on December 2nd, 2017. 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. It was the last time anyone ever heard from Ebby. Ebby opted to move out and bounced around between staying with friends and her older brother, Trevor. Date of death: October 25, 2015, Died Place: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States: Nationality: American: Ebby stayed with Danielle and her family for the remainder of the week. The daughter of two hair stylists, she was already immersed in that world and the craft came naturally. 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. Now-retired Little Rock Police homicide detective Tommy Hudson stepped in and took over Ebbys case in 2017. While neither were human remains, it piqued the interest of investigators and thus the pipe was excavated. But that information will not be released, to avoid jeopardizing the case. The Vanished did a great story on this. You go to Walgreens and you see Mothers Day cards and you think I only have one child out of three left. Published on May 23, 2018 08:25 PM. I hope that one day that justice is brought down upon those that committed this crime, for the sake of her family and for her. [1], Ebby Jane Steppach was an 18 year-old high school student in Little Rock, Arkansas who was completing her senior year at Little Rock Central High School. The search to find her lasted until May 2018, when her remains were found in a drainpipe in Chalamont Park. 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. According to private investigator Monty Vickers, Ebby also sent texts to her alleged rapists, threatening to go to the police with her claims. 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. 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. She had been dead since the time her car was found three years prior. It was hard for all of us.. I believe that it is just the result of poor investigating. 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. 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. 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. The remains were found by cold case investigators in an underground pipe in Chalamont Park, the last place Steppach was seen before she went missing. 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. This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors. EDIT: Someone commented that old remains can be hard for cadaver dogs to detect. 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. In this update, Laurie is joining us again to discuss how Ebby was found and where her case stands today. Law enforcement never reached out to him. 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 preliminary cause of death has been determined but not publicly released. Today marks the third anniversary of the last time she was seen alive. On May 24, 2018, the police went back to Chalamont Park around 10am and discovered skeletal remains near wear Ebby's car was found. He never gave up on her, on finding out what happened, she said. Searches of the woods around the park were undertaken, but no sign of Ebby was found. But her stepdad and I were really strict. She worked two part-time jobs as a teenager, saving every dollar so she could buy nice, expensive makeup. If Ebby had been found right away, we wouldn't have had to go through this nightmare, she said. May 19, 2022, 4:00 PM The disappearance of high school senior Ebby Steppach in 2015 made headlines across the country and sent shockwaves through her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas. And we could have found her killer by now.. She loved her family, her friends, and served those closest to her with a carefree compassion and unflinching grace. Those with information regarding the case are being asked to call the Little Rock Police Department at 501-371-4829. The keys were in the ignition and the car was out of gas as if it had been left running. TELL DR. PHIL YOUR STORY: Have a story in the news? As of now, the case is currently with the Little Rock Police Department Cold Case Unit, who say its an open homicide investigation. The remains were confirmed by the Little Rock Police Department, according to a reporter for KARK 4 News on Wednesday. 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. You would think talking to Danielle and looking into the cell phone pings are two of the first things theyd do. She had been dead since the time her car was found three years prior. Days before her disappearance, Ebby accused 4 men of raping her at a party and filming it. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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. 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. She was unable to tell him who she was with or where she was. [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. He came in and saved the day on Ebbys case, Laurie said. The battery was dead, gas tank empty, and keys were left in the ignition. It is a shame, because the culprits seem pretty obvious. Working dogs also take non-verbal clues from their handlers. However, they wanted to encourage her independence, and didnt confront her. That was the last time anyone in Ebbys family saw her. 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. For Ebby's family and friends, they just want answers. 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. gossipgossipblah 4 yr. ago This is just outrageous to me. December 2017 In an attempt to bring publicity to her case, Steppachs mother and brother Trevor appeared onDr. Phil. 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. According to Laurie, she had known her daughter was dead before the remains were discovered. What's even worse is that her brother Trevor recently passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 35. Fort Valley State University student Missing Where is Anitra Gunn? who worked the case of Natalee Holloway. No one heard from or saw Ebby again. 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. TM & 2023 Peteski Productions, Inc. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc.. a Paramount company. She never responded to her grandmothers calls, either. 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. Her car was found abandoned in a city park. The last known contact she had on October 25 was with her older brother, Trevor. After she told him "I'm fucked up," the phone call ended. See what happens when she takes a closer look at the drainpipe where Ebby was found what does she say it proves? I think it was too much on his heart, his mother Laurie told Dateline. She mentioned that someone had seen the car possibly while Ebby was there alive. That was the last time anyone heard from her. He told Dateline that mistakes were made early on in the case before he was brought on to help solve it. Officers with the Little Rock Police Department searched the park, but came up empty-handed. And they were stopped in their tracks. Anyone with information about Ebby Steppachs case is asked to call the Little Rock Police Department Cold Case Unit at (501) 4043128. "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. The next day, after seeing the vehicle still there as he did his rounds, he once again called and waited for police, who finally arrived around an hour later and discovered it belonged to Steppach. I just knew it, everything in my soul, I knew something had happened to her, Laurie said. It was polar opposite than the Ebby we knew. 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. However, the pair had made no arrangements to meet away from the house. But no matter what happens, I have peace. 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. Just when I thought she had it down, you know, she didnt. Ebby family were unaware of the odor until after the remains were IDd. Ebby said, Im fucked up, and then hung up. They are thankful for the life they got to share with her and ask for continued support and prayers as they work through this difficult time, the statement read. Remains found in an underground pipe in a Little Rock park have been confirmed as those of Ebby Steppach, who went missing in 2015. Create your free profile. 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. I think a young woman was seen speaking with a young man by the park security. [10] These remains were subsequently confirmed to be those of Steppach. 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. A podcast did a great story on this and I cant remember which one. If you have any information regarding the murder of Ebby Steppach, please contact the Little Rock Police department, 501-404-3128 Investigator Tommy Hudson (email: [email protected]) 501-371-4829 Little Rock PD Non-emergency number 501-371-4636 Little Rock PD Public Information Officer, Sources:Ebby Steppach case still open, preliminary cause of death determined but wont be releasedOne year later | The search for justice for Ebby continuesDays after Ebby Steppach disappeared, police shrugged off pipe odor, caller says. Its unclear what compelled investigators to search the pipe specifically on Tuesday. Sep. 22 2021, Published 6:32 p.m. 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. Map of Chalamont Park and where Ebby was located. The family's private investigator had a bigger, more thorough file than the police. 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]. 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. These remains were subsequently confirmed to be those of Steppach. The Search for Ebby & Allegations of Police Mishandling. That police department should be sued. 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. 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. He had retired earlier in the year, but returned just months later to help with the new cold case unit. Ebbys disappearance was also featured on Nancy Grace. Lauries family also hired TJ Ward, an Atlanta based P.I. The Steppach family offered a reward of $50,000 with information leading to their daughters discovery. It is situated at Chalamont Park in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tommy Hudson is the detective who was responsible for finding Ebby's body. 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. [4] She had previously attended a private school, but transferred to a public school that year. Ill be back, dont lock the door. Ebby got sober through the Oxford Group, and carried the message of salvation through religious conversion to his old friend, Bill. 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. It was up to us to clean up the mess and basically start from the beginning. Learn how your comment data is processed. Almost 3 years later, her remains were discovered in the same park. 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. Plus, hear from Debi, Ebbys paternal grandmother, who has never spoken to the media because she says so much of the media got her granddaughters story wrong. Her car was found abandoned in a West Little Rock park days later, but her body wasn't discovered until May of 2018 . Isolated Japanese family keeps sisters body at home in Press J to jump to the feed. Ebby Jane Steppach (March 31, 1997 - October 25, 2015) [2] was an American woman who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Little Rock, Arkansas. 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. The claim had come from a family friend, who had searched the park not long after Ebby went missing. 5 min read 8657 Werger road, Windham The man who called 911 to report an armed neighbor in his garage asked authorities for permission to shoot her, criticized police for. The blockage was pulled up by the bulldozer and turned around and there she was, right in front of me, Hudson said. Tommy Hudson with the Little Rock polices Cold Case Unit said the case is considered an open homicide investigation. 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. 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. 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. After Ebby disappeared in 2015, her family mounted a campaign to find her, and on May 22, 2018, her remains were discovered inside a drainage pipe in Chalamont Park. Her death has been classified as a homicide. And it was broken all over the car. "It was something I just couldn't shake. 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. Want Dr. Phil to Investigate a Situation or Possible Scam? Ill be back to spend the night. The LRPD claim to have no record of these calls. Ebby was going through a tumultuous time in her senior year, as many teens do. 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. Police arrived over an hour later and after a quick inspection, told her it was sewage. He had footage of it on his dashboard camera, but had since lost the recordings. Little Rock Police spokesman Officer Steve Moore said cold case investigators were following up on Ebby Steppach's disappearance Tuesday when they found the skeletal remains in an underground. If Ebby had been found right away, we wouldn't have had to go through this nightmare, she said. 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 . It was up to us to clean up the mess and basically start from the beginning. Those who she loved most of all were her grandparents. Steppach had recently attended a private school, but the following year she attended a government-funded school. They sent out cadaver dogs to search Chalamont Park, but the dogs were unable to pick up on Ebbys scent. On the night of October 23, 2015, Ebby attended a house party, where she claimed to have been raped. (May 19, 2022) | Dr. Phil S20 E153 Dr Phil Full Episodes 133K subscribers Subscribe 1K Share 99K views 7 months ago. There was a drainage pipe not far from the car, and it had rained in the days after she went missing, he said. She was really rebelling and fighting, fighting back and storming out, Laurie said. They first entered the top drain, near where the car was found, and hit an obstruction approximately 70 feet down. She never responded to her grandmothers calls, either. She knew her daughter was in danger. As they felt the police werent taking Ebbys disappearance seriously, her family approached the media to help widen word of their missing loved one. "It was a gut feeling with all of us," he said. Many personal items were strewn about the car, including Ebbys phone, wallet and contact lenses. And that's something that has given me solace.". 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. However, where she was on the road has never been publicly released, nor if there was anyone else in the car with her. They said they couldnt due to a lack of resources. She saved her money and worked hard to buy really nice makeup, Laurie said. The remains were found near a memorial for Steppach, police said. Yikes just looked into this one. He has the answers he was looking for.. During their conversation, she gave him the names of two of the men involved. Why this wasnt done, I dont know, Hudson said. She knew her daughter was in danger. The remainder was frittered away in about 4 years of drunken extravagance. Cops took 5 years to arrest them. Classic small town law enforcement incompetence. And that's something that has given me solace.". Instead, Ebby got to spend that last day with her grandparents. So we had to wait. My daughter, she doesnt have any siblings anymore. Five months into the investigation, he spoke with the security guard who found her car. 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.. Arkansas Online series about Ebbys disappearance: https://www.arkansasonline.com/ebby/, Stories of the Unsolved blog post: https://storiesoftheunsolved.com/2019/02/02/the-murder-of-ebby-steppach/, Arkansas Online article about police mishandling evidence & acting inappropriately: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/may/31/report-of-smell-dismissed-in-15-2018053/?page=2, THV11 follow up one year after remains were found: https://www.thv11.com/article/features/one-year-later-the-search-for-justice-in-ebby-steppach-case-continues/91-beb932ec-171e-481a-83a8-068ac173a8e2. I have peace knowing neither Ebby or Trevor are alone. Descried as bubbly and of a big heart, Ebby was known for going out of her way to help the ones she loved. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. It was around that time that Laurie said the 18-year-old high school student started to change. I am more likely to think the delays and mishandling of evidence can be chalked up to incompetence and indifference, although anything is possible. The first 2 years with Ebby it was a long time before I could grieve because I was fighting and Trevor happened instantly with no signs. [4] This was the last known contact anyone had with her. Laurie said the days since Ebby died, have been filled with trying to find out what happened to her daughter in October of 2015. It seems as though most unsolved cases begin with a very poor investigation. I hope the family gets justice eventually. Around this time, Ebbys face and information were featured on billboards and banners across central Arkansas. "There was some evidence we were looking at that was found at the scene when she initially disappeared that bothered us," Hudson 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. But no one knew where she was. May 22, 2019 1 year since Ebbys remains were recovered. 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. 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. She wanted Michael to go to the police with her to report the incident. We were told that we couldn't file a police report for 12 hours, Laurie said. As such, on March 31, 2018, they held a fundraiser for PATH, also known as Parents Against Trafficking Humans. 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. Ebbys family tried to file a missing person report, but was told by police they had to wait at least 12 hours. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Wow this is appalling. Upon Ebbys remains being found, hundreds gathered for her memorial service at Christ Community Church on the campus of the Little Rock Christian Academy.
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Lifetrap Questionnaire Pdf, Articles E