Found Deceased MI - Venus Stewart, 32, Colon, 28 April 2010 - # 4 *D. Stewart guilty*

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VENUS ROSE STEWART TIMELINE

2002: Venus Rose McComb and Douglas Harrie Stewart marry.

2007 through 2009: Venus Stewart and Douglas Harrie Stewart's marriage is marred by mutual allegations of violence and multiple divorce filings from both parties.

2009: Venus and Douglas Stewart move from Schoolcraft, Michigan, to eastern Virginia.

February 2010: Venus Stewart and her two daughters, age 3 and 5, move back to Michigan, where they live with her parents, Therese and Larry McComb, in Colon Township. Back in Michigan, Venus Stewart files for a protective order in St. Joseph County. Court documents reveal that this latest move was sparked by an investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of their 5-year-old daughter, which concluded that at the time there was insufficient evidence to charge Douglas Stewart with sexual molestation of the couple's daughter.

February - April 2010: Venus Stewart writes notes detailing the alleged sexual abuse of her daughter by her husband. Also, according to her father, Venus wrote out a will days before she disappeared, because she was concerned that her husband would harm her.

Monday - April 19, 2010: Venus Stewart is granted temporary custody of the couple’s two daughters by Judge William Welty in St. Joseph County District Court.

Monday - 7:10 AM - 8:30 AM- 26 April 2010: Venus Stewart is abducted between 7:10 and 8:3a.m. Monday outside her parent’s home in the 55000 block of Driftwood Drive in Colon Township while walking to her parents' mailbox to post a letter. Police immediately name her estranged husband, Douglas Harrie Stewart, as the person of interest in the abduction and begin a multi-state manhunt to find him. According to Lt. Mike Risko of the MSP, "There is evidence that there was a struggle. We do not believe she left of her own free will."

Monday - "late night" - 26 April 2010: Douglas Harrie Stewart, Venus's estranged husband, is located at his residence in Newport News, Virginia. Police continue to attempt to locate two vehicles associated with Doug Stewart: a 1998 silver Mercury sedan and a 2005 silver Dodge Ram extended-cab pick-up. Despite locating Douglas Stewart, police have yet to find the car or pickup truck.

Wednesday - 28 April 2010: Douglas Stewart refuses to answer questions by investigators or the media and refers all contact to his attorney, Jeffrey M. Schroder of Portage, Michigan. Lt. Mike Risko says all investigators' contact with Doug Stewart is through his lawyer. Newport News police locate the Dodge Ram truck at Doug Stewart's apartment building's parking lot.

Friday - 30 April 2010: Michigan State Police troopers and sheriff’s deputies began searching near Adams Lake and Oak Leaf Trail, approximately a mile from the McCombs' residence from which Venus Stewart was abducted, after receiving a tip, State Police Lt. Mike Risko said. Risko said the tip that police acted on Friday was information that a person saw a man near the shoreline of Adams Lake within the time frame that Venus Stewart is believed to have been taken. “It’s one of the few tips we’ve got so we’re going to act on it,” Risko said. “At this stage of the game, I don’t think we can let anything slide." The Michigan State Police and the Sheriff's Department canvassed the area on foot but didn't find anything.

Monday - 3 May 2010: Media report that the two vehicles associated with Douglas Stewart for which police have been searching have been located in Virginia.

Tuesday - 4 May 2010: A neighbor of the McCombs says that she spotted a pick-up truck in the area at the time of her disappearance, about 7AM. She said that five minutes later, the truck was gone. The Michigan State Police crime lab compared photos of the tread on her husband’s trucks’ tires to the tire marks left at the scene in Michigan, and advised that the “general tread pattern” was in agreement, but they needed the actual tires from Stewart’s truck for “more thorough, further analysis.”

Wednesday - 5 May 2010: Using side-scan sonar and divers, investigators search Adams Lake but find no clues to Venus Stewart's disappearance. Investigators continue to state that Doug Stewart is the sole person of interest in Venus Stewart's disappearance, despite having what investigators say is a solid alibi. While the dive team conducted its search Wednesday, Lt. Mike Risko said that MSP crime lab personnel were flying to Virginia to conduct searches of a Mercury sedan and Dodge Ram pickup truck that are both registered to Douglas Stewart. Police obtained search warrants for the vehicles, which were seized today by Newport News police.

Contacted by the media on Wednesday, Doug Stewart makes the following statement: "I still care about her very much, and to be told that you could be involved of something of this nature, it's repulsive. It makes me feel horrible, and now, that the timeline has gone so far ... I'm getting very worried and very concerned."

Thursday - 6 May 2010: 24 Hour News 8 obtained a copy of the handwritten notes by Venus detailing her daughter's story. According to the documents, her daughter told Venus about the incident in February 2010 in which Doug Stewart allegedly had his eldest daughter touch him inappropriately. The notes were provided by Larry McComb, Venus' father, who said he stumbled across the papers in a drawer. February is when Venus left her husband, Douglas Stewart, and moved in with the McCombs in Colon Township, Larry McComb added.

Also on Thursday, police released a sketch of a person with whom they would like to speak. Police state that the man is not a suspect. The sketch is based on several reports of a man near Adam's lake who approached people. Two people say they encountered the man the night before Stewart disappeared. The witnesses said it was unusual, and the man was disheveled and wet, as if he had been swimming. He asked the witnesses for a cigarette. “Some guy came out of the woods, out of nowhere,” said Leana Powell, “came up behind me and asked, 'do you know where I am?'”

On Thursday, State Police Forensics Teams from Michigan continue to inspect the two vehicles in the possession of Douglas Stewart. A copy of the search warrant says they want to test the Dodge Ram, which is owned by Venus Stewart but has been in the possession of Doug Stewart, for dirt, plant material, or any other evidence that shows the truck was driven to Michigan recently. They are also looking for blood, hair, a tarp, or other signs it may have been used for an abduction. They also want to compare tire treads on the Dodge Ram with plaster casts of tracks left in a field near the Colon Township home where Venus Stewart was staying with her parents. A woman who lives in the neighborhood says she saw a pickup, roughly matching the description of Stewart’s crew cab, parked in that field that morning, with a man crouching down behind it.

MSP Lt. Mike Risko says that Doug Stewart continues to be uncooperative with investigators as of Thursday.

Friday - 8 May 2010: Police continue to state that they believe that Venus Stewart's husband Douglas Stewart abducted her from her parents Colon Township home.

On Nancy Grace Friday night, Larry McComb, Venus' father, states that investigators took into their possession a plastic tarp wrapper that was found in the driveway on the morning of Venus' disappearance. McComb is certain that the wrapper is not his and states that he believes that it fell out of the vehicle of the person who abducted his daughter. McComb and his wife Therese also claim that Doug Stewart will not tell them whether or not he was at work on the day that Venus disappeared, instead claiming that he has told police all details of his whereabouts on Monday, April 26. Police continue to assert that Doug Stewart is not cooperating with the investigation.

Dana Jones, who lives at River Park Apartments, tells Newport News media that, earlier in the investigation of Venus Stewart's disappearance, Michigan State Police had visited the high-rise apartment building where Doug Stewart lives, causing a commotion unusual for the apartment residents. Kiara Roundtree, whose boyfriend lives in the apartment building, said, "I saw, like, cops lined up, and people were just staring, like, wondering what's going on. People that live on the ninth floor were saying they saw the cops on the ninth floor, like, kind of knocking on someone's door."

Monday - 10 May 2010: An apparent blood stain was found in Douglas Stewart's truck, the Michigan State Police reported Monday afternoon. Police executed search warrants at Stewart's Newport News, Va. home, where he once lived with Venus Stewart, who has been missing since April 26. The chemical the Michigan State Police Department uses to detect blood read positive on a portion of the truck's interior. The material is now at a lab, being tested. Police also found a Wal-Mart receipt for a shovel, tarp, cap and gloves, they confirm. The receipt was from April 25 -- the day before Venus disappeared -- from a Wal-Mart in Ohio. Douglas Stewart's truck was parked on the street a few blocks from his complex, the Newport News police reported -- despite Stewart having two reserved parking spots in the structure at his apartment complex.

Tuesday - May 11, 2010: Doug Stewart may have left Virginia and may be headed to Michigan. He has relatives in Michigan who live near Venus Stewart's parents. Fulton, MI, is Doug's home town where he was raised. Police continue to stay that Doug Stewart is the only person of interest in the disappearance of his wife.

Wednesday - May 12, 2010: MSP renews its search effort for Venus Stewart. Lt. Mike Risko refuses to say where in St. Joseph County the search is being conducted--later reported that nothing found during the search. Risko says that Doug Stewart may be back in Michigan, perhaps to transfer to the Detroit area for a job with US Food Services, with whom he is currently employed. Lt. Risko states that he does not expect blood test results from the stains in the vehicles to be back today. Risko also states that MSP is still working on tire tread comparisons and MSP is bringing the Dodge Ram back to Michigan for further testing. Risko says they are planning to review surveillance video to see if Stewart shows up. Stewart claims that he was in Virginia at the time of the abduction.

Thursday - May 13, 2010: MSP continues to wait for blood analysis results. Denny Olson, a former leader in Michigan for the Guardian Angels, is organizing a search for Venus that will begin at 9 a.m. Friday at a park on West Colon Road near Sturgeon Lake. Volunteers will search from Colon north to Leonidas and Fulton and as far east as Interstate 69. Contact Denny at diehard1054@yahoo.com for more information.

Friday - May 14, 2010 - More people come forward to say that they saw Doug's silver Mercury Sable "cruising" around their former home in Schoolcraft, MI, on April 25. MSP awaits all test results on evidence from the car and truck. The tire imprint specialist is waiting on the arrival of the Dodge Ram from NNPD, in whose possession it has been since it was seized.

SEARCH WARRANTS SERVED ON DOUGLAS STEWART:

Search warrant for Douglas Stewart (pdf)
Search warrant for Douglas Stewart's apartment (pdf)
Search warrant for Douglas Stewart's Dodge (pdf)
Search warrant for Douglas Stewart's Mercury (pdf)
Transcription of Search Warrants



WHO'S WHO IN THE VENUS STEWART CASE:

VS - Venus Rose McComb Stewart, 32, who disappeared from her parents home in Colon, MI, on 4-16-10.
DS - Douglas Harrie Stewart, 29, estranged husband of Venus Stewart; former Marine, currently a delivery truck driver.
LM - father of Venus Stewart, in whose home Venus and her children have lived since Feb. 2010.
TM - mother of Venus Stewart, in whose home Venus and children have lived since Feb. 2010.
BS - daughter, 5, of Venus and Doug Stewart.
RS - daughter, 3, of Venus and Doug Stewart.
DJ - Venus's older brother.
DES - Douglas Stewart's father, who lives seven miles from the McCombs' Driftwood Drive residence.
JS - Douglas Stewart's attorney.
MR - Lieutenant Mike Risko, MSP spokesman throughout the Venus Stewart case.



PLACES OF INTEREST:

DD - Driftwood Drive, where Venus was abducted.
NN - Newport News, where Doug Stewart currently lives.
SJC - St. Joseph's County, from which Venus was abducted.
Colon Township - Driftwood Drive is located on the very northern edge of Colon Twp.
Leonidas - community in which Doug's father's farm is located.



LOCAL MEDIA:

MLIVE - Kalamazoo (MI) Gazette newspaper and local media site.
WTVB Radio - AM radio in Branch County, MI.
WOODTV - NBC TV station in Grand Rapids, MI.
WZZM13 - CBS TV station in Western Michigan.
WWMT - CBS station for Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and Grand Rapids, MI.
WNDU - NBC TV in South Bend, MI.
Daily Reporter - Coldwater, MI, newspaper.
Battle Creek Enquirer - newspaper in Battle Creek, MI.
Sturgis Jornal - Sturgis, MI, newspaper.
WAVY - Newport News, VA, NBC TV station.
WVEC - Hampton Roads, VA, ABC TV station.
DailyPress - Newport News, VA, daily newspaper's website.



LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT NEWS:

MSP Twitter - official twitter account for Michigan State Police, frequently updated.
MSP News Releases - official press releases by Michigan State Police.



CASE-RELATED LINKS:

Douglas Stewart's Myspace - see family videos.
Case Archive Album - a must-see link of case-related photos compiled by WSer AmandaReckonwith (thanks!)
Map of case-related locations - under construction - check back soon.
Sierra1947 Youtube - archive of all Nancy Grace shows.



PREVIOUS THREADS AT WEBSLEUTHS ON VENUS'CASE

Thread 1 - 4/27/2010 to 5/07/2010
Thread 2 - 5/07/2010 to 5/10/2010
Thread 3 - 5/10/10 to 5/13/10


THE VICTIM - VENUS ROSE MCCOMB STEWART:

Venus Stewart is described as a white female, 5-feet, 4-inches tall and weighing 130 pounds. She has brown eyes and dark hair.

Click the image below to go to a slideshow of photos related to this case.



IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION:

Police ask anyone with information about Venus Stewart’s whereabouts to call the State Police post in White Pigeon at 269-483-7611, or the MSP Rockford Regional Dispatch Center at (616) 866-6666 or 911.
 
Thanks Cubby for the new thread and puf for the new timeline.
 
In response to everyone who responded to my post about why didn't she scream... I didn't know the brother was nutjob that pulls guns on people. The reporting on this case has been all over the place and I am grateful to pufnstuf for the timeline and links. but I'm curious to know when was DS in the marines and what was his mos, rating, or job?
 
Much gratitude, as always, to our archivists Pufnstuf and AmandaReckonwith for their wonderful categorizing of these cases.
 
Thank you Puf for the timeline. It's so hard to follow this case with so little info, but my heart is breaking for Venus and her children.
 
Puff and Amanda - you ROCK!! Wow - all the information in one place. And thanks to everyone who keep the updates and pictures flowing and the mind provoking comments in abundance. :blowkiss:
 
Tire marks where Venus Stewart disappeared appear to match tires on estranged husband's truck

By Rex Hall Jr. | Kalamazoo Gazette
May 13, 2010, 11:44PM
NEWPORT NEWS, Va.​

Tire marks found at the scene of Venus Rose Stewart’s disappearance appear to match the tire treads from her estranged husband’s pickup truck, documents show.

The crime lab technician who compared the photos of the tire impressions found near the scene of Venus Stewart’s disappearance and photos of Douglas Stewart’s truck tires “indicated she would need the actual tires from the Stewart pickup for more thorough, further analysis,” according to the search warrant affidavit.

 
Tire marks where Venus Stewart disappeared appear to match tires on estranged husband's truck

By Rex Hall Jr. | Kalamazoo Gazette
May 13, 2010, 11:44PM
NEWPORT NEWS, Va.​

Tire marks found at the scene of Venus Rose Stewart’s disappearance appear to match the tire treads from her estranged husband’s pickup truck, documents show.

The crime lab technician who compared the photos of the tire impressions found near the scene of Venus Stewart’s disappearance and photos of Douglas Stewart’s truck tires “indicated she would need the actual tires from the Stewart pickup for more thorough, further analysis,” according to the search warrant affidavit.


Well, darn it, they recycled the news. lol.
This was new to me, though.
SBM
Another search warrant shows that police also found suspected blood during a search of a 1998 Mercury Sable that belongs to Douglas Stewart and that former neighbors of the Stewarts in Schoolcraft reported seeing what was believed to be the Stewarts’ Sable “cruising the neighborhood” April 25.

So he was in the Sable on the 25th, and the truck at the parents on the 26th. Interesting.
 
Well, darn it, they recycled the news. lol.
This was new to me, though.
SBM
Another search warrant shows that police also found suspected blood during a search of a 1998 Mercury Sable that belongs to Douglas Stewart and that former neighbors of the Stewarts in Schoolcraft reported seeing what was believed to be the Stewarts’ Sable “cruising the neighborhood” April 25.

So he was in the Sable on the 25th, and the truck at the parents on the 26th. Interesting.

I thought it was a good article to get people up to speed on the case. It also lets us know the police are still waiting for crime lab results on the blood swabs taken because the reporter called the police department:

"Police Lt. Mike Risko said Thursday that police were still awaiting results of crime-lab analysis on the suspected blood found in both vehicles. The search warrants show that investigators also took fingerprints, palm prints and DNA swabs from Douglas Stewart on May 5."
 
Well, darn it, they recycled the news. lol.
This was new to me, though.
SBM
Another search warrant shows that police also found suspected blood during a search of a 1998 Mercury Sable that belongs to Douglas Stewart and that former neighbors of the Stewarts in Schoolcraft reported seeing what was believed to be the Stewarts’ Sable “cruising the neighborhood” April 25.

So he was in the Sable on the 25th, and the truck at the parents on the 26th. Interesting.

Whoa. That is NEW info. He had to have help, if that is true. So who would be his accomplice?
 
Whoa. That is NEW info. He had to have help, if that is true. So who would be his accomplice?

It doesn't say the husband was driving the car nor does it say what time of day it was. It could have been very early in the morning thus giving him enough time to make it to where Venus was living the following day. He could have driven all night on a manic high rage.

How many hours drive is it from where the husband lives to where Venus was living with her parents?
 
Well, darn it, they recycled the news. lol.
This was new to me, though.
SBM
Another search warrant shows that police also found suspected blood during a search of a 1998 Mercury Sable that belongs to Douglas Stewart and that former neighbors of the Stewarts in Schoolcraft reported seeing what was believed to be the Stewarts’ Sable “cruising the neighborhood” April 25.

So he was in the Sable on the 25th, and the truck at the parents on the 26th. Interesting.

Except that Schoolcraft is about 30 miles from Driftwood Drive. I'm sure there are lots of Sables around, it doesnt mean it was him.
 
It doesn't say the husband was driving the car nor does it say what time of day it was. It could have been very early in the morning thus giving him enough time to make it to where Venus was living the following day. He could have driven all night on a manic high rage.

How many hours drive is it from where the husband lives to where Venus was living with her parents?

I wonder if the MSP has searched the house on Walnut.
 
well of course they need the actual tire to compare...what did they think would compare it to? Photos are not going to be enough...but don't they have the tire by now already? Geez...
 
A neighbor told police that at about 7 a.m. April 26, she spotted a “light gray colored” pickup truck with four doors parked in a field near her residence and that a white male was “crouched behind” the vehicle. Five minutes later, the truck was gone, the search warrant affidavit says.

snip/

Another search warrant shows that police also found suspected blood during a search of a 1998 Mercury Sable that belongs to Douglas Stewart and that former neighbors of the Stewarts in Schoolcraft reported seeing what was believed to be the Stewarts’ Sable “cruising the neighborhood” April 25.

snip/

As their investigation continues, Risko said, police are trying to transport Douglas Stewart’s pickup truck back to Michigan for further analysis and to get a closer look at the tires. The crime lab technician who compared the photos of the tire impressions found near the scene of Venus Stewart’s disappearance and photos of Douglas Stewart’s truck tires “indicated she would need the actual tires from the Stewart pickup for more thorough, further analysis,” according to the search warrant affidavit. Risko said the pickup truck and Mercury Sable were still in the possession of Newport News police, as of Thursday.

MORE: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/05/tire_marks_where_venus_stewart.html
 
well of course they need the actual tire to compare...what did they think would compare it to? Photos are not going to be enough...but don't they have the tire by now already? Geez...

Not yet. They're trying to get the truck and car transported back to MI. Vehicles are still in NNPD's possession.
 
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