NV NV - Steven T. Koecher, 30, Henderson, 13 Dec 2009 - # 6

[laytonian]

I've never understood either. In fact, I think it makes it harder to respond to posts in an earlier thread.

It definitely causes the "we've discussed that 16 times before" syndrome

I poked around, and it seems that some people believe that the longer the thread, the longer it takes a page in that thread to load. That's not my experience.

But it's also not my place to challenge a long-time practice that keeps people here happy....so that's my last thought on the matter.

 

[hollyblue]

Every time you hand someone a check, they have your information.

The bank's job is to keep people from using that information to make a withdrawal. But NOT to keep deposits from your account.

It was all I could do, on the FB page, to write a "chuckle" response to the bank employee who claimed it was a security issue.

I think it would definitely be easier to fool the teller than online and with it being a foundation, special banking guidelilnes would be in effect for withdrawls.

 

[hollyblue]

I still don't understand why we do that. It doesn't affect anything, does it?

I have no clue, except that it may be easier for the administrators to monitor.

 

[laytonian]

I think it would definitely be easier to fool the teller than online and with it being a foundation, special banking guidelilnes would be in effect for withdrawls.

It's not a foundation; they didn't even set it up as a regular "donation account".

Frankly, why didn't they just set it up under Steven's name...and make him liable for any gift taxes? It'd serve him right, if he disappeared on purpose

 

[Malini2001]

That's the way it always is. We never get "validation" from LE; we get information from news reports, contemporaneous statements, and other sources. Trying to make them all fit, is the hard part.

But remember.....IF someone is purposely giving bad information, that's to their discredit and leads to suspicion against them.

Right now: the only thing that doesn't fit with a Dec 10th Ruby Valley visit is that "date posted" on the Wendover purchase. The only way to test that, is to drive 150 miles to that godforsaken place and use my debit card for the gas I'd need to get back home
We've had bank account info shared with us...but grindingly, not the little extra step.

Maybe we're the only ones who think it's important?

SOMEONE (aware of what we're doing) told the family this:

"Those clues aren't going to solve this case -- you'll only find him by publicizing the case."
(I just happen to be someone who disagrees with that.)

Laytonian,
If you mean to test the posting date vs the purchase date .....you would have to have your account at the same bank and make your purchase at the same time of day. There are different cut-off times for different banks and electronic processors.

Hard to believe someone said the only way to find him is to publicize. That would only be true if someone saw him out and about. The clues would show what was going on in Steven's life, and therefore, may show who he was in contact and that person(s) may have something to do with his disappearance.

 

[hollyblue]

That's the way it always is. We never get "validation" from LE; we get information from news reports, contemporaneous statements, and other sources. Trying to make them all fit, is the hard part.

But remember.....IF someone is purposely giving bad information, that's to their discredit and leads to suspicion against them.

Right now: the only thing that doesn't fit with a Dec 10th Ruby Valley visit is that "date posted" on the Wendover purchase. The only way to test that, is to drive 150 miles to that godforsaken place and use my debit card for the gas I'd need to get back home

We've had bank account info shared with us...but grindingly, not the little extra step.

Maybe we're the only ones who think it's important?

SOMEONE (aware of what we're doing) told the family this:

"Those clues aren't going to solve this case -- you'll only find him by publicizing the case."
(I just happen to be someone who disagrees with that.)

But there has not been much publizied has there? A few articles and videos. No formal organization to distribute flyers on the net or the ground; with the exception of the milk carton. I don't know what they might be doing on the church websites for the info to get out. I don't see any kind of search being mentioned on the FB site, except for individual people now coming forward. There's no proof of foul play and I think people think he just wanted to start a new life for himself. I don't understand it, but it is certainly frustrating.

 

[laytonian]

Laytonian,
If you mean to test the posting date vs the purchase date .....you would have to have your account at the same bank and make your purchase at the same time of day. There are different cut-off times for different banks and electronic processors.

Hard to believe someone said the only way to find him is to publicize. That would only be true if someone saw him out and about. The clues would show what was going on in Steven's life, and therefore, may show who he was in contact and that person(s) may have something to do with his disappearance.

You're right, Malini. Thank you. You just saved me a long drive to Wendover (and since I detest casinos, it wouldn't be a pleasant destination).

When I use my debit card at CostCo, my Utah-based credit union processes it right then. Same with most other purchases. But Maverik takes 2-3 days (darn it!...we have one on the list).

 

[hollyblue]

It's not a foundation; they didn't even set it up as a regular "donation account".

Frankly, why didn't they just set it up under Steven's name...and make him liable for any gift taxes? It'd serve him right, if he disappeared on purpose

That's right. So I can see the tax advantage and the ease of transactions when needed by the family. Gift tax? Someone feeling really generous?

 

[laytonian]

But there has not been much publizied has there? A few articles and videos. No formal organization to distribute flyers on the net or the ground; with the exception of the milk carton. I don't know what they might be doing on the church websites for the info to get out. I don't see any kind of search being mentioned on the FB site, except for individual people now coming forward. There's no proof of foul play and I think people think he just wanted to start a new life for himself. I don't understand it, but it is certainly frustrating.

It is.

When the clues lead all directions, when there's no crime scene, when there's a very (apparent) private life ... when your friends are basically "assigned" to you based on the ward you're assigned to attend, it IS tough.

I think this case would have received more publicity, if that car had been left in St George or Salt Lake City.

BUT I always keep one thing in mind: the Yosemite Murders case. Remember that one, January 1999? Three women disappear from Cedar Lodge, outside Yosemite National Park?
The FIRST BIG CLUE came when Carole Sund's wallet was found in the middle of the road, on a busy Modesto Street. That led to a months-long investigation and round-up of several of Modesto's finest meth users.
The SECOND BIG CLUE came when Carole's rental car was found burned, down a little logging road near Long Barn, CA.

LATER, we find out that the perp (Cary Stayner) staged the scene nicely and deflected attention. BOTH of those clues were random choices by Stayner.

He randomly picked a dirt road to drive down, and burn the car.

He drove to Modesto and just threw the wallet out the window, while stopped at a traffic light.

Then, he sat in the window of Cedar Lodge and watched the investigation circle around everyone else. It wasn't until he killed the fourth woman, Joie Armstrong, that he became a suspect.

THEN, after Cary Stayner's arrested, we find out that he'd called a cab to take him back to Cedar Lodge -- and the cab driver remembered the call BUT DIDN'T COME FORWARD UNTIL AFTER STAYNER CONFESSED. She could have saved a life. "Hey, I picked a guy up out in the middle of almost nowhere and took him back to Cedar Lodge the day after those women disapppeared."

 

[seekingsusan]

Ok, I have a few questions/concerns about the timeline

- I thought we determined that Steven used the cash from his boss to buy groceries (because it never showed up on his bank records). Yet on the timeline we have him buying groceries before his boss paid him. Where is Steven getting money?

- Also, if Steven's boss did pay him $100.00 on the 8th, why was he using his debit card for everything on the 9th and 10th, especially a charge for $3.64 at Taco Time?

Based on these issues, I think it makes more sense that Steven got paid between December 1st and 6th, and by the time he left town on the 8th - 9th, the cash was gone.

Another thing.....I think it's likely that AN's family is incorrect about the date of Steven's visit. Frankly, (and no offense to country folks) when I am not in front of a computer every day (for work) or going to school, all the days seem to run together. If these people are working on a ranch day in and day out - not writing the date down on work correspondence, reading dated emails, etc. - it makes sense that looking back, it would be difficult to recall exactly what day they had lunch with Steven. Do we know what evidence Naegle had for changing the date? I think Steven was in Ruby Valley on the 8th.

 

[hoppyfrog]

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NV NV-Steven T. Koecher, 30, Henderson MSG 13 Dec 09 thread #7 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community