Hi all.
I haven't been near this thread in ages, but Steven has always been in the back of my mind, as I live in Henderson NV somewhat close to where he disappeared 2+ yrs ago. Being from the area I have a few insights/thoughts that might not have been addressed/discussed before.
I tried to update myself via all the posts on this thread, but I'm gonna be honest, it's just too overwhelming. I skimmed through instead, and in that skimming I didn't see any comments yet similiar to what I am and have been thinking for months about this case.
So here are a few thoughts [and please correct me if I have any of this wrong, I am going a lot from memory, since as before stated, trying to find a specific fact in this enormous thread is just too much] [and also I apologize if I offend anybody with what I am about to say, that's not my intention, but I just feel like maybe we have to start thinking out of the box, because nothing else along the usual lines has yielded anything in a long time]:
1) First off, I find the 'in Vegas looking for a job' thing to be somewhat [or rather, way more unlikely than those of you in other parts of the country might consider; I don't know if any of you outside the Southwest are really aware, but we have had, and continue to have, the highest unemployment rate of any city in the country, and it has been that way for several years. If you recall, the housing collapse occurred in November 2008, and the Las Vegas economy quickly IMPLODED around us. Caps intentional. Things got VERY bad, VERY quickly, for pretty much everybody in the Vegas Valley; while national estimates of unemployment were around 15-16%, local estimates were about 20%. Things are still pretty bad, estimated yesterday at about 14% unemployment. So by December 2009, the Vegas economy was firmly in the depths of this recession; people who had held the same job for 10,12, 15 years, were being laid off due to lack of work. Therefore I think that it is likely that even a cursory attempt by an out-of-state jobseeker to contact local employers would have yielded the same information I have mentioned above; NOBODY was hiring. WHAT in the world would make Steven think "I need to find a job. Oh I know---I'LL GO TO VEGAS!" ...I just don't see it.
2) IF by some strange circumstance Steven WAS in Henderson going to meet a potential employer, I highly doubt he would have shown up in a sweatshirt. The boy knew very well how to dress appropriately [as evidenced by his neat appearance in photos at family and church functions], and being pretty desperate financially, would have even had more motivation to dress nicely in order to impress a potential employer. Therefore I find that either a) it wasn't Steven in the video surveillance image after parking the car, or b) he was there in a non-employment capacity.
3) It seems very odd to me, that someone who was reportedly so cash-strapped, would spend all that gas money on the mysterious travels to Sacramento and Las Vegas; the only way it makes any sense to me, would be if Steven expected to receive some cash somewhere during the trip---otherwise it is highly illogical, IMO.
4) The area Stevens car was last seen is in a completely residential area; its in Sun City Anthem, which is a high-end retirement community in Henderson. It is only accessed by one main road, and is not near any commercial areas accessible by foot. The idea that Steven was in the area looking for a job at one of the neighboring businesses---if in fact it WAS Steven on the video---is just not feasible.
5) Steven was behaving oddly, suddenly traveling great and inexplicable distances, being deliberately vague about his whereabouts and destinations; he even behaved oddly with regards to his church obligations. What could have spurred these sudden behaviors? The most common reasons in my opinion, for a 20-year-old kid to suddenly start acting like this, would be either a Woman or Cash. There was no indication whatsoever that there was any woman/women he was conversing with, so while I invite anyone to investigate that possibility if they think it viable, at this time I just dont really see any signs there was a woman-issue, so I am focusing on option B...CASH. He was reportedly very cash-strapped. Is there ANY possibility that he might have gotten SO desperate financially, that maybe he broke down and got into just a little easy dope selling/transporting to pick up a little cash tax-free? I know it sounds WAY out there, he appears to have been a good, moral, churchgoing boy, but come on now, lets all get off our collective high horses for a minute, and admit what we all pretty much know: it would pretty easy to get into moving a little dope, if one were interested and in need of some quick cash. Most of us knows someone who smokes and/or sells weed, and I think we know that the cash for marijuana is quick and easy to come. Transporting is a short hop-skip when it comes to the weed' business. ....IS THIS REALLY SUCH A FAR-FETCHED SUPPOSITION? Normally I dont like to make far-flung projections and theories of what if he....., but in this case the odd behavior leading up to Stevens disappearance leaves a H.U.G.E. question mark that HAS to be addressed!
6) The location where the car was left is somewhat close to a small man-made lake in the Sun City Anthem community; do we know whether that lake was searched for clues or a body? Lets be plain here, people. He is likely dead. Sorry. Sick of pussy-footing around.
As I said before, I think we HAVE to at least try to think outside the box, because what we know so far, is not yielding anything I am just trying to find a way to the answer.
