I did not realize it was so difficult to track someone's SSN information. So in theory, Steven could be using his SSN right now, and there's no way LE/the family could find out about it? Very interesting, although to be honest I don't think he's using his SSN, wherever he is.
Great news about the sightings at Home Depot and Best Buy. Interesting coincidence that both sightings are independent of each other, in different cities (right? one in Las Vegas and the other in Sacramento?) but both are in parking lots of big box stores. Even if this isn't Steven, which it probably isn't, at least some people in the region are actively looking for him! I never understood why Steven's case hasn't gotten much attention; it's fascinating to us so it must have the potential to interest others. Or are we just strange? Yet Susan Powell's story has gone nation-wide, is on GMA and other national morning news programs daily, etc - even though, sadly, it's pretty obvious what happened to SP and I don't think getting the word out in the Midwest and on the east coast about her disappearance is going to help find her. I think we all know what happened there.
All that being said, I've been pestering a few of my friends with details of Steven's case, and they keep insisting that he took off, most likely with someone else. I find their perspectives interesting because not having been 'obsessed' with this case for months, they are perhaps able to look at the original information more clearly and objectively. If Steven did run off, which I think there's a good chance he did based on all the information you all had been discussing at the end of the last thread - his lack of close friends, his image of himself as a 'misfit', his introversion in an extroverted, community/group-oriented state, etc - I don't think he would have contacted his family by now. It doesn't sound like he was all that close to them, and in fact in seems he was a bit annoyed with them, particularly his parents. It seems to me that they had a very clear image of what they wanted and expected Steven's life to be like by this point in his life, and I think Steven felt he was letting them down, and also that what would really make him happy (guitar, perhaps not marrying but remaining single) would clash with their values/expectations. For this reason, I think that if Steven did run off, which I truly hope he did, we shouldn't expect him to 'write home' anytime soon. Maybe one day, when he matures and feels like he's found his place in the world and has gained a measure of self-acceptance/confidence, he may reappear or send a letter, but until then, IF he ran off, I think he is out there 'finding himself' and experimenting with a way of life that wouldn't have been accepted in the LDS/Utah community.
Whatever happened to Steven, I still just wish he had had even just one person in his life who was honestly able to tell him, "You're just fine the way you are" or "Give yourself a little more credit". I feel something as simple as this could have made a big difference in how things turned out for him. In all honesty, I don't think Steven DID fit in in Utah/the LDS community. That's probably why he missed Brazil so much - perhaps he felt more accepted and appreciated there. If Steven did run off, I think it was probably for the best. He needed to go some place (hey, like here in NYC for example!) where one is surrounded by different cultures and ways of life, and where he would feel free to explore spiritually, sexually, musically, socially, etc.
ETA: Hey, did Naegle say whether the family is accepting the services of that PI who offered to do some work on Steven pro bono???