"There was some evidence we were looking at that was found at the scene when she initially disappeared that bothered us," Hudson said. He also added that they have persons of interest in the case and have interviewed multiple people, but no one had been named a suspect at this time. The search to find her lasted until May 2018, when her remains were found in a drainpipe in Chalamont Park. There are only two reasons here why this case has not been solved.A)The Little Rock police dept are completely stupid and boungled the case from the startor B) They know good and well who did it but they hid/destroyed evidence and drug their feet in order to protect the ones who murdered her. Growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas, she lived with her mother, Laurie Jernigan; her stepfather, Michael Jernigan; her older brother, Trevor; and her younger sister, Harris. I really feel sorry for their mother. Remains found in an underground pipe in a Little Rock park have been confirmed as those of Ebby Steppach, who went missing in 2015. So he delved deep into the case, determined to solve it. Instead of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to non-profits H.A.L.O.S. Her death has been classified as a homicide. This is a very sad case. Laurie said she later found out that after Ebby disappeared, Trevor spent his lunch hours searching the trunks of abandoned cars for his sister and traveling to other states following up on tips. If she was a runaway like the police kept saying, she wouldve taken her makeup. Around this time, Ebbys face and information were featured on billboards and banners across central Arkansas. The remains had been about 60 feet from where the car was discovered. Her stepfather meticulously photographed the inside of the car and her belongings, just in case. From the very beginning of the missing person investigation, Laurie and Michael Jernigan claim that the LRPD conducted incredibly shoddy work. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. Ebby opted to move out and bounced around between staying with friends and her older brother, Trevor. who worked the case of Natalee Holloway. So I kept thinking she might have been washed into the pipe, which would have made it more difficult to find her.. On October 27, her abandoned car was discovered in Chalamont Park in west Little Rock. Investigations, which also promised to make donations to safe houses in Ebbys memory. Hudson obtained maps of the drainage pipes from the city and took a team back down to Chalamont Park, where they sent cameras down drainage pipes. She remained a missing person for nearly three years before her body was discovered in a drainage pipe in Chalamont Park in May 2018, in the immediate vicinity of where her car had been found. Although Ebby had moved out, she kept in touch with her parents and even reached out to her stepfather Michael with an alarming situation. I apologize in advance for any formatting errors. I moved to Little Rock in the summer of 2015 and remember seeing Ebbys missing posters everywhere that fall. It was at this party that Ebby claimed to have been raped by 4 men, who also recorded the act. Hudson told Dateline that a new investigator has been assigned to Ebbys case and that he has complete faith in his investigative abilities. [4] Throughout the evening, cell phone records showed Steppach sent text messages to several of the men she had implicated in her rape, threatening to report them to police. By Katherine Stinson. I'm so sorry. Shortly following the news of Hudson's retirement, Little Rock Police Department released a statement about Ebby's case: The Little Rock Police Department is committed to work collectively to resolve all cold cases; more specifically the Ebby Steppach case. She crashed with friends frequently as well. Her feedback, along with that of others, resulted in the creation of a handbook that police give out to those whose loved ones have gone missing. On the same day, its been reported that two one-minute calls were made from Ebbys cellphone to the Little Rock Police Department. However, it does seem highly coincidental that she disappeared/was murdered right after being sexually assaulted and had threatened to report it. During the multiple searches for Ebby, a team looking through a remote wooded area of Little Rock stumbled across a site, consisting of clothes, handcuffs, a skeletal leg bone and a shoe that resembled one that the missing girl would wear. To laugh with her again.. Ebby Jane Steppach (March 31, 1997 - October 25, 2015) [2] was an American woman who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Little Rock, Arkansas. Protective. [4] In an attempt to bring publicity to her case, Steppach's mother and brother Trevor appeared on Dr. Phil in December 2017. When the FBI got involved it became clear how badly her case had been treated and thats when things moved in a different direction. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. And I knew it was Ebby.. Ebby Steppach death: New theories revealed on Dr. Phil Show 2,786 views May 19, 2022 A Dr. Phil episode aired on Thursday focusing on the disappearance and death of Little Rock's Ebby. Hudson obtained maps of the drainage pipes from the city and took a team back down to Chalamont Park, where they sent cameras down drainage pipes. The equipment hit obstructions on both ends of the drainage pipe and Hudson was given the go-ahead to dig up the section of pipe. She was really rebelling and fighting, fighting back and storming out, Laurie said. During this time in her life, she also got a job at the Foot Locker in McCain Mall, a move her family says coincided with a change in behaviour. This also highlighted how poorly local authorities were managing the case. Steppachs family released a statement on Wednesday after her remains were positively identified. While the search for Ebbys body ended in 2018, Tommy Hudson, the lead investigator on her case at the time kept working on finding her killer. [13] Upon the arrival of police at the scene, Foley claimed she was "kind of dismissed by [the officers]", who told her the park had been searched with recovery canines who would have picked up on the scent of human decomposition, and assured her it "must be an animal or something". So he delved deep into the case, determined to solve it. Unsolved Homicide: Who Put Ebby Steppach in the Drainpipe? The Vanished did a great story on this. The remainder was frittered away in about 4 years of drunken extravagance. While the medical examiner found a preliminary cause of death, it hasnt been publicly released. That was the last time anyone heard from her. On October 13, 2005, Ebby's car was found in a small residential park, out of gas with the keys in the ignition. There have been a lot of rumors swirling about why this case has not been solved yet. Something was there. In 2015, Ebby Steppach was sexually assaulted at a party, and disappeared days later. He has the answers he was looking for.. Something happened to her.. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Ebbys body was found in a drainpipe in her hometown of Little Rock, AR, and the mystery that still shrouds her death has left an indelible mark of grief on her family and friends, especially Ebbys mother, Laurie. On the night of October 23, 2015, Ebby attended a house party, where she claimed to have been raped. While he isnt one hundred percent certain the girl he saw was Ebby, he says she does resemble the images of Ebby hes been shown. She never responded to her grandmothers calls, either. [1], Ebby Jane Steppach was an 18 year-old high school student in Little Rock, Arkansas who was completing her senior year at Little Rock Central High School. Her devotion in close relationships and drive to renew a prosperous life for herself was cut short by an unexplainable, unsolved murder in October of 2015, leaving all who knew her across her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas (pronounced ARE-ken-SAW) grasping for . He started by searching areas around the accused mens homes, ditches, the woods and other areas that someone could dump a body. It has been through your support, many prayers and Gods strength that they have been able to make this journey., God hears and answers all prayers, it continued. Upcoming on In Pursuit. I have peace knowing neither Ebby or Trevor are alone. Searches of the woods around the park were undertaken, but no sign of Ebby was found. The keys were in the ignition, the battery was dead and the gas tank was empty. They said they couldnt due to a lack of resources. Upon the arrival of police, Foley claimed she was kind of dismissed by the officers, who told her the park had been searched with recovery canines who would have picked up on the scent of human decomposition, and assured her it must be an animal or something.. At around 2:00pm on October 25, Trevor managed to get a hold of his sister, who said she was parked outside his house. [4] That evening, two brief calls lasting approximately one minute each were placed to the Little Rock Police Department from Steppach's cell phone, though the police department would state they had no record of receiving a report. I have seen many comments suggesting that one of the alleged rapists is somehow related to an LRPD officer, who is trying to cover up the crime. 0:00 / 40:28 Unsolved Homicide: Who Put Ebby Steppach in the Drainpipe? There's just a lot that doesn't make sense. I wanted to check the park again.". She wanted Michael to go to the police with her to report the incident. TELL DR. PHIL YOUR STORY: Have a story in the news? She knew her daughter was in danger. She was survived by her parents, Laurie and Michael Jernigan; her father, Peter Steppach; her sister, Harris Elizabeth; brother, Trevor; stepbrother, Ethan; her grandparents . I think the most frustrating part, as most would agree, is that the most obvious place where her remains would be, were never searched. He initially hesitated to take the case, but once he saw the shotty investigation he knew he had to do something and began tracking Ebbys final movements. Many personal items were strewn about the car, including Ebbys phone, wallet and contact lenses. Upon the pipe being excavated, human remains were found. But her stepdad and I were really strict. He never gave up on her, on finding out what happened, she said. In the News - Published on May 19, 2022 Dr. Phil devotes his platform to shine a light on the 2015 disappearance and subsequent death of 18-year-old Ebby Steppach; a story that dominated national news. Hudson told Dateline that a new investigator has been assigned to Ebbys case and that he has complete faith in his investigative abilities. In November 2015, the family offered up a $3,000 reward for information leading to her discovery. In 2018, authorities returned to the park where her abandoned car had been . Little Rock Police spokesman Officer Steve Moore said cold case investigators were following up on Ebby Steppach's disappearance Tuesday when they found the skeletal remains in an underground. The next day, after seeing the vehicle still there as he did his rounds, he once again called and waited for police, who finally arrived around an hour later and discovered it belonged to Steppach. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. She explained that Ebby had started a new job, started hanging out with a different crowd, changed schools - all of which she believes led to the rebellion. She was really rebelling and fighting, fighting back and storming out, Laurie said. "I'm grateful that I wasn't told about that text, about what happened," Laurie said. The last person to hear from Ebby was her brother, Trevor, on Sunday, October 25. Want Dr. Phil to Investigate a Situation or Possible Scam? When asked why she had waited to file the complaint, Laurie explained she feared retaliation and thus waited until it had been transferred to detectives in another department. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Ebby Jane Steppach was born March 31, 1997 at 6:30 a.m. She died October 25, 2015, the day her car was abandoned at Chalamont Park in West Little Rock. So Ebbys mom and stepfather, Michael, told her she needed to behave in a respectful manner or she needed to move out. Ebby Steppach / Date of death. And she took excellent care of it. When her family tried to report her missing, they were told they needed to wait 12 hours for her to be considered missing. She worked two part-time jobs as a teenager, saving every dollar so she could buy nice, expensive makeup. However, it was noted that the officers implicated were no longer with the Major Crimes Unit. On October 28, three days after Ebbys last contact with her brother, a security guard at Chalamont Park in west Little Rock reported an abandoned vehicle in the parking lot. TM & 2023 Peteski Productions, Inc. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc.. a Paramount company. Family Member, Friend or Colleague of a Guest. For anyone still looking, she is the subject of True Crime Garage's latest episode. Police arrived over an hour later and after a quick inspection, told her it was sewage. When she wasnt at her grandmothers house [the following day], thats when thing started to get like, Well, where is she?,' Steppachs stepdad, Michael Jernigan, told the station at the time. Together, they will continue to work on any new developments in this case.. . She remained a missing person for nearly three years before her body was discovered in a drainage pipe in the immediate vicinity of her car in May 2018. Ebbys family was notified of the discovery and the remains were sent to the state crime lab, where they were determined to be those of the missing girl. IE 11 is not supported. Date of death: October 25, 2015, Died Place: Little Rock, Arkansas, United States: Nationality: American: Towards the beginning of the school year, she left her family's home to gain her parents' freedom. Ebbys remains were found on May 22, 2018, a mere 60 feet from where her car had been found two years earlier. He recalled her sounding confused, disoriented and panicked, their mother Laurie told Dateline. What in the fucking fuck. Ebbys friend Danielle, whom she had been staying with, was never contacted by police either. She was survived by her parents, Laurie and Michael Jernigan; her father, Peter Steppach; her sister, Harris Elizabeth; brother, Trevor; stepbrother, Ethan; her. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Almost 3 years later, her remains were discovered in the same park. Everything else? My daughter, she doesnt have any siblings anymore. -. Brandon Lawson The 911 call that led to a mysterious disappearance. As such, on March 31, 2018, they held a fundraiser for PATH, also known as Parents Against Trafficking Humans. Site Layout Map. She saw the best in people and loved anyone who came into her life with a fierceness that was unmatched. LRPD treated the case as a runaway situation for almost 8 months, and by the time federal investigators got involved in 2016, crucial evidence had been lost. And I just became hysterical.. And it was broken all over the car. "It was a gut feeling with all of us," he said. Dharmesh Patel is a 41 y/o California man, who was working as a radiologist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, Pasadena. Ebby Steppach was creative. If you have any information regarding the murder of Ebby Steppach, please contact the Little Rock Police department, 501-404-3128 Investigator Tommy Hudson (email: thudson@littlerock.gov) 501-371-4829 Little Rock PD Non-emergency number 501-371-4636 Little Rock PD Public Information Officer, Sources:Ebby Steppach case still open, preliminary cause of death determined but wont be releasedOne year later | The search for justice for Ebby continuesDays after Ebby Steppach disappeared, police shrugged off pipe odor, caller says. The final time she was with more unknown men. Officers with the Little Rock Police Department searched the park, but came up empty-handed. Although Ebby had moved out, she kept in touch with her parents and even reached out to her stepfather Michael with an alarming situation. I just knew it, everything in my soul, I knew something had happened to her, Laurie said. If she was a runaway like the police kept saying, she wouldve taken her makeup. [4] She also alleged that the rape had been recorded on a cell phone. On October 27, Ebbys abandoned car was discovered in Chalamont Park in Little Rock. My grandson has lost his dad. These remains were subsequently confirmed to be those of Steppach. According to locals familiar with the case, Ebby was about to report 4 men who sexually assaulted her, including the son of a police officer. That police department should be sued. Her remains were missed in all the searches. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But no one knew where she was. The discovery of Ebbys remains came after a foul odor had been reported coming from the pipe during the early parts of the investigation. Im so glad this is becoming standard fare in these subs vs dogs being infallible. The Steppach family offered a reward of $50,000 with information leading to their daughters discovery. 18-year-old Ebby vanished in October 2015, but her remains weren't found until May 2018. With this kind of police investigation who needs enemies? We could have put her to rest. Something happened to her.. Searches were conducted of the park and the woods near where the car was discovered, but no evidence was found. Those with information regarding the case are being asked to call the Little Rock Police Department at 501-371-4829. I believe that it is just the result of poor investigating. Of the continuing investigation, Moore says, Weve never given up on this.. I am more likely to think the delays and mishandling of evidence can be chalked up to incompetence and indifference, although anything is possible. The claim had come from a family friend, who had searched the park not long after Ebby went missing. After Tuesdays discovery, Steppachs family released a statement asking for privacy, THV11 reports. According to private investigator Monty Vickers, Ebby also sent texts to her alleged rapists, threatening to go to the police with her claims. Ebby was a young woman with big dreams and a fiery personality, who loved her family and had a big heart for those less fortunate. When she found out that the remains were found so close to her car, and could have possibly been found much sooner, she was angry. Learn how your comment data is processed. Ebby Steppach, known to her classmates and family members as Ebby Jane, was an independent, hardworking, and protective friend. Anyone with information about Ebby Steppachs case is asked to call the Little Rock Police Department Cold Case Unit at (501) 4043128. Vanished: Heidi Broussard (33) and Margot Carey (2wks). The nightmare only continued for Ebbys family as they noticed mistakes they said police had made from the beginning and believed her case was not being taken seriously. Please post your thoughts and theories below. However, where she was on the road has never been publicly released, nor if there was anyone else in the car with her. Ebby opted to move out and bounced around between staying with friends and her older brother, Trevor. [10] These remains were subsequently confirmed to be those of Steppach. And the minute we could do so, on October 26 in the middle of the night, we filed a report.. The remains of an Arkansas teen who vanished more than two years ago have been found, and police tell Oxygen.com that what had been a missing persons case is now a homicide investigation.Ebby Steppach, 18, was last seen alive on October 24, 2015. When Ebbys remains were found, Laurie was devastated. 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Operational Risk Management Establishes Which Of The Following Factors,