NV NV - Steven T. Koecher, 30, Henderson, 13 Dec 2009 - #18

[laytonian]

I was searching around today to see if Steven has popped up anywhere recently and came across this comment. Just below the headline, you can get to the actual article by clicking on "Return to story."

http://comments.sltdb.com/comments.php?p=5&id=49906365

I hope it's ok to link it this way - you can find the article itself online, but the comments are no longer there. I had to go backwards!

I don't recall seeing this story before. Tried to find some info on this gang, but most of what came up was in Spanish. I was hoping to figure out if they run in other cities.

We discussed it here, when it happened. A woman was shot in the shoulder, and the assailants were arrested in SLC. Drug-related crime.

But, for reason, almost all of the entire thread was removed -- which is why, I'm sure, you could find no comments on it when you searched. The commenter "OhWell" is no stranger. Maybe that little voice within will help you remember

Or these other posts over there:
Very familiar "stop at all the rest areas"
The ULTIMATE clue

 

[Fairy1]

We discussed it here, when it happened. A woman was shot in the shoulder, and the assailants were arrested in SLC. Drug-related crime.

But, for reason, almost all of the entire thread was removed -- which is why, I'm sure, you could find no comments on it when you searched. The commenter "OhWell" is no stranger. Maybe your little voice within will help you remember

OMG - I have no memory of it! Possibly because I've never been a big fan of the drug runner theory.

Yes, the little voice within is ringing that bell now. Thanks!

 

[Fairy1]

This is the only thing I can find on the Green Valley H.S. suicide tonight:

http://www.8newsnow.com/story/13549119/breaking-news-body-discovered-near-high-school

21-year-old - not Steven.

 

[laytonian]

This is the only thing I can find on the Green Valley H.S. suicide tonight:

http://www.8newsnow.com/story/13549119/breaking-news-body-discovered-near-high-school

21-year-old - not Steven.

Thanks. I was sure it wasn't either -- but with three "in close range" popping up in one day, I wanted to alert everyone.

 

[Fairy1]

You haven't looked at the map, have you? It's not just one ping. It's four. HERE: 12-13 Dec cell pings map.

Look at how those last four pings are within the Whitney Ranch area -- NOT into the city center, but past it, into the other side of town.

I'm talking about the last ping - on 12/14 - at Russell and the 515. From Anthem, that is going north/northeast - which is toward Las Vegas. Water Street and Boulder Highway, where the bus station is located, is in "old" Henderson and the other way.

Car dump, as I've said repeatedly.

You dump the car somewhere to deflect attention away from where you're really going.

I understand the concept. What I don't understand is WHY THERE? Coming in from St. George, you would drive across the entire length of the city (north to south). Why would you drive, basically, to the furthest point to dump your car? If he exited I-15 at St. Rose, he had to go left to get to Anthem. Why not go right into Southern Highlands?

Your belief is that Steven's happy and alive somewhere - right?
Do you really believe he's camping out in SCA?

Yes, that is my HOPE and no, of course I don't believe he's in SCA. But I'm inclined to believe he is still somewhere in the Henderson/Las Vegas area.

 

[laytonian]

I'm talking about the last ping - on 12/14 - at Russell and the 515. From Anthem, that is going north/northeast - which is toward Las Vegas. Water Street and Boulder Highway, where the bus station is located, is in "old" Henderson and the other way.

Russell and I-515 looks like it's as far away from "town", as SCA.
....and those last four pings are all within 3-5 miles of that.

I understand the concept. What I don't understand is WHY THERE? Coming in from St. George, you would drive across the entire length of the city (north to south). Why would you drive, basically, to the furthest point to dump your car? If he exited I-15 at St. Rose, he had to go left to get to Anthem. Why not go right into Southern Highlands?
[/URL]

Because you don't really know where you're going to park (or even what you're going to do?)
Maybe your phone rings, and you don't want to drive and talk?
Or maybe it's simpler: you get to the St Rose exit, it's like "Holy crappers - if I don't take this exit, I'm out of town!"

The left turn takes you by the airport; maybe he thought of parking there, first?

Yes, that is my HOPE and no, of course I don't believe he's in SCA. But I'm inclined to believe he is still somewhere in the Henderson/Las Vegas area.

I think if someone willingly leaves, they flat-out leave.

They'll spend their energy and saved-up cash to go somewhere they've always wanted to go.

And who knows?
Maybe he did get a fake ID and return to Sao Paulo, Brazil?

 

[Fairy1]

Question for the Las Vegas locals: I remember somebody mentioning that the pings where GW and SK passed each other are near the racetrack. Is it near anything else they might have both been visiting -- recreation area, convention center, big casino...?

I doubt it. There are a lot of industrial businesses out there. I can't think of any reason to actually stop anywhere in the vacinity, other than the Speedway.

 

[webrocket]

And who knows?
Maybe he did get a fake ID and return to Sao Paulo, Brazil?

that is probably one of the least probably scenarios. besides the fact you need a valid passport to fly, in order to get one under a different name he would have to have extremely good fake ID to get one. we know from the various discussions that while it is not impossible to do, only one with sufficient resources can get quality fake IDs.

also, the Brazilian govt was not happy when the US required Brazilian visitors to obtain visas. (too many were just flying here and staying) if memory serves me correctly, the retaliated and Americans flying to Brazil need visas.

so in order to Steven to fly to Brazil, he would have to have someone else's birth cert, social security #, a passport issued under that ID and then get a visa.

remote at best.

 

[Fairy1]

Russell and I-515 looks like it's as far away from "town", as SCA.
....and those last four pings are all within 3-5 miles of that.

But it's not. SCA is waaaaaaay out there - to the south. From there, the city is to the north. The pattern of those pings tell me that he was making his way from south to north.

Because you don't really know where you're going to park (or even what you're going to do?)
Maybe your phone rings, and you don't want to drive and talk?
Or maybe it's simpler: you get to the St Rose exit, it's like "Holy crappers - if I don't take this exit, I'm out of town!"

The left turn takes you by the airport; maybe he thought of parking there, first?

You may be right - I've never been in that state of mind. But I will say - even entering Anthem from the other direction - it would have been quite odd for him to have parked his car where he did just randomly.

Anthem is large and SCA is just a small portion of it. If someone didn't know right where they were going, they wouldn't know SCA from the rest of Anthem.

If he wasn't specifically looking for the airport or Anthem, it would have been easier to go into Southern Highlands - a high-end area itself.

I think if someone willingly leaves, they flat-out leave.

They'll spend their energy and saved-up cash to go somewhere they've always wanted to go.

And who knows?
Maybe he did get a fake ID and return to Sao Paulo, Brazil?

Could be. I see they've discovered that Erick Wales is living in another country and doesn't want to be found. That's fine, I guess. But LET bYOUR MOTHER KNOW YOU'RE NOT DEAD! Before months go by. That's just plain mean.

 

[TechWriter797]

Has the LL been thoroughly vetted? I've always been suspicious of how he was planning to work with SK to pay his back rent. And then all those phone calls...

 

[laytonian]

But it's not. SCA is waaaaaaay out there - to the south. From there, the city is to the north. The pattern of those pings tell me that he was making his way from south to north.

We're probably saying the same thing. To me, Whitney Ranch wouldn't be the "city" -- it'd be the eastern outskirts (kind of like SCA being in the southern outskirts).

You may be right - I've never been in that state of mind. But I will say - even entering Anthem from the other direction - it would have been quite odd for him to have parked his car where he did just randomly.

Maybe he'd tried other places first? (That's a clue to what I want to look at, closely.)

Anthem is large and SCA is just a small portion of it. If someone didn't know right where they were going, they wouldn't know SCA from the rest of Anthem.

If he wasn't specifically looking for the airport or Anthem, it would have been easier to go into Southern Highlands - a high-end area itself.

But I think there may have been food, where he turned left? You know, how those freeway signs have little ads on them?

Could be. I see they've discovered that Erick Wales is living in another country and doesn't want to be found. That's fine, I guess. But LET YOUR MOTHER KNOW YOU'RE NOT DEAD! Before months go by. That's just plain mean.

Actually, Wales did.

The family won't release the note, but it was obvious that it indicated he'd left intentionally.
The tight look on his parents' faces was telling.

Wales' car was found in the barrio, 14 miles from the Mexican border. I think it's obvious where he went.

(Probably got his butt arrested, had to ask for bail money, Mexican police sent a picture to his family - and bingo.)

 

[laytonian]

that is probably one of the least probably scenarios. besides the fact you need a valid passport to fly, in order to get one under a different name he would have to have extremely good fake ID to get one. we know from the various discussions that while it is not impossible to do, only one with sufficient resources can get quality fake IDs.

also, the Brazilian govt was not happy when the US required Brazilian visitors to obtain visas. (too many were just flying here and staying) if memory serves me correctly, the retaliated and Americans flying to Brazil need visas.

so in order to Steven to fly to Brazil, he would have to have someone else's birth cert, social security #, a passport issued under that ID and then get a visa.

remote at best.

I think everything in this case is "remote"

We don't even know if the State Department was ever checked, to see if his passport was scanned. Or if the TSA's records were investigated. Or if he'd ever applied for a duplicate passport.

All we heard, is that he wasn't on a flight manifest out of Vegas.

I say Sao Paulo, because it's the one place his family indicated that he talked about going back to. He knew the language, he'd fit in. He may have even met someone there while he was on his mission. (Yes, I know missionaries aren't supposed to date - but the newspaper wedding announcements almost always show a couple consisting of a missionary to a country, marrying a woman from that same country.)

 

[Fairy1]

We're probably saying the same thing. To me, Whitney Ranch wouldn't be the "city" -- it'd be the eastern outskirts (kind of like SCA being in the southern outskirts).

You may be right. Just seems to me he was making his way north and for us, the story ended at Whitney Ranch. Who's to say he didn't keep going north, which would led him (eventually) into Vegas proper?

Maybe he'd tried other places first? (That's a clue to what I want to look at, closely.)

But I think there may have been food, where he turned left? You know, how those freeway signs have little ads on them?

Could be. A new development opening or new models.

Actually, Wales did.

The family won't release the note, but it was obvious that it indicated he'd left intentionally.
The tight look on his parents' faces was telling.

Wales' car was found in the barrio, 14 miles from the Mexican border. I think it's obvious where he went.

(Probably got his butt arrested, had to ask for bail money, Mexican police sent a picture to his family - and bingo.)

I think it's obvious too. But if the note was that telling, the story never would have hit the news. Must have been cryptic.

 

[laytonian]

I think it's obvious too. But if the note was that telling, the story never would have hit the news. Must have been cryptic.

I don't think Wales' note was cryptic.

His parents knew he left on his own, were worried for his safety (but there's not going to be a big search on a walkaway)....so most of the news was driven by the parents.

I think, to parents, it's unimaginable that their child would leave them for another life.
That's why they think a criminal got ahold of them, that they'd be home but something's keeping them away, etc.

 

[Fairy1]

I don't think Wales' note was cryptic.

His parents knew he left on his own, were worried for his safety (but there's not going to be a big search on a walkaway)....so most of the news was driven by the parents.

I think, to parents, it's unimaginable that their child would leave them for another life.
That's why they think a criminal got ahold of them, that they'd be home but something's keeping them away, etc.

Maybe unimaginable to his parents, but not to LE or the media. IMO, if the note was that telling or convincing, we never would have heard of this case at all.

 

[Essbee]

Hi there,
I've been a lurker on this thread for several months but also followed the Erick Wales case rather closely (because I live here in San Diego).

Please recall that Erick Wales was reported missing and his story was in the newspaper BEFORE his car was found. In fact, once the car and the note were found in Barrio Logan, the reporting pretty much stopped there.

 

[laytonian]

Hi there,
I've been a lurker on this thread for several months but also followed the Erick Wales case rather closely (because I live here in San Diego).

Please recall that Erick Wales was reported missing and his story was in the newspaper BEFORE his car was found. In fact, once the car and the note were found in Barrio Logan, the reporting pretty much stopped there.

I hadn't followed Wales' case that closely, so I'm absolutely DUMBSTRUCK right now by the difference in how the two cases were handled.

BBM

[URL="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/24/missing-mans-car-found/]Apr 24, 2010[/URL]: "Police found the black Saturn Ion belonging to Wales, 24, about 9 a.m. at Chicano Park on Logan Avenue near Cesar E. Chavez Parkway in Barrio Logan and towed it away to examine it, Officer Brad Ruff said. He declined to give any details about the condition of the car or whether any of Wales’ belongings were found inside."

VERSUS

SK's case, where the parking authority called his parents but LE never investigated the vehicle forensically. In fact, LE never touched the car and SK's family went through it themselves. I'm not saying they did anything wrong. But they're not investigators. They were left on their own to investigate it themselves. Why wouldn't Henderson PD take as much care with Koecher's vehicle as the San Diego PD did with Wales' vehicle?

 

[webrocket]

I hadn't followed Wales' case that closely, so I'm absolutely DUMBSTRUCK right now by the difference in how the two cases were handled.

BBM

[URL="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/24/missing-mans-car-found/]Apr 24, 2010[/URL]: "Police found the black Saturn Ion belonging to Wales, 24, about 9 a.m. at Chicano Park on Logan Avenue near Cesar E. Chavez Parkway in Barrio Logan and towed it away to examine it, Officer Brad Ruff said. He declined to give any details about the condition of the car or whether any of Wales’ belongings were found inside."

VERSUS

SK's case, where the parking authority called his parents but LE never investigated the vehicle forensically. In fact, LE never touched the car and SK's family went through it themselves. I'm not saying they did anything wrong. But they're not investigators. They were left on their own to investigate it themselves. Why wouldn't Henderson PD take as much care with Koecher's vehicle as the San Diego PD did with Wales' vehicle?

circumstances.

Erick was last seen at an ATM if I recall correctly and more than a few people have been victims of crime after withdrawing money.

Steven walked away from his car and there was never any evidence of a crime in connection with the vehicle.

let's face it, while it's always been the case, in these days of squeezed resources, I don't blame LE for not investigating what from all appearances was a walk away in the case of Steven. If harm came to him, it was well after he parked his car and walked away from it.

 

[carbuff]

There's also the factor that it was several days before anybody reported SK to the police -- SCA tried to locate the owner rather than calling the police or just having the thing towed. If he had gone missing and been reported, and then his car was found abandoned, events might have been interpreted differently.

 

[sbakker]

There's also the factor that it was several days before anybody reported SK to the police -- SCA tried to locate the owner rather than calling the police or just having the thing towed. If he had gone missing and been reported, and then his car was found abandoned, events might have been interpreted differently.

Was SK working for the window cleaning place at the time? If he was, wwonder why his boss did not call anyone?