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. 26 related questions found. The daughter of two hair stylists, she was already immersed in that world and the craft came naturally. [3] Days before her disappearance, she had accused four men of gang-raping her at a party she had attended. On February 12, 2018, Laurie filed a complaint with the Little Rock Police Department, alleging a Captain, a Lieutenant and a Sergeant had sent her threatening text messages, had yelled at her during questioning and had refused to update her on the case during the early days of the investigation. They called 911 when the mother said she smelled decomposition. Working off a gut instinct, Hudson told Dateline he felt they needed to take another look in the park where Ebbys car was found back in 2015. However, he didnt report it to police until three days later. Passionate for expression and individualism. Four days after her disappearance, her car was found in West Little Rock's Chalamont Park. By Katherine Stinson. Laurie Jernigan also claims that police refused to check cell tower pings from Ebbys phone. But Ebby's specialty was. This would later be increased to $50,000. Officers with the Little Rock Police Department searched the park, but came up empty-handed. 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 later learned that Michael had agreed to help Ebby, so he took Laurie home and attempted to reach Ebby to make a plan. She remained silent for nearly 24 hours. 5 min read 8657 Werger road, Windham The man who called 911 to report an armed neighbor in his garage asked authorities for permission to shoot her, criticized police for. Marking Ebbys birthday, every dollar raised from those in attendance went to the organization, which provides services for survivors of assault and human trafficking. 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 . Working dogs also take non-verbal clues from their handlers. I think a young woman was seen speaking with a young man by the park security. A private investigator hired by Ebbys family, Monty Vickers, said her text records indicate she sent several messages to the men she accused threatening to go to the police. On October 25, 2015, she placed an erratic phone call to her older brother, Trevor; this was the last known contact anyone had with her. The . The family would like to thank all of you who have supported efforts to find Ebby, the statement read. In 2018, Laurie Jernigan filed a complaint with the LRPD that certain officers had sent her threatening text messages, yelled at her and refused to provide her with updates early on in the case. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. As they felt local police werent taking the case seriously, Ebbys family hired private investigator Monty Vickers, who acted as a go-between between them and investigators. And the minute we could do so, on October 26 in the middle of the night, we filed a report.. She saw the best in people and loved anyone who came into her life with a fierceness that was unmatched. As of today, the case is still open and unsolved. The car belonged to 18-year-old Ebby Steppach, and Ebby had vanished without a trace. 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. No one heard from or saw Ebby again. The first time he saw her, she was with two men and had asked the trio to leave, which they did without argument. Upcoming on In Pursuit. Ebby Steppach death has been reported as a homicide. During the search for Ebby, her family looked into the possibility of her having been forced into sex trafficking. But that information will not be released, to avoid jeopardizing the case. [11] Extensive searches for Steppach at Chalamont Park had been held in the past. For Ebby's family and friends, they just want answers. [4], The following day, October 24, 2015,[6] Steppach arrived at her mother's home, and informed her stepfather that she had been gang raped by four individuals[7] at the party and wanted to report the incident to authorities. Ebby was known as an outgoing and bubbly teen, who was close to her family and friends. The case made national news and people from all over the world contacted the Little Rock Police Department and the family with bogus tips, some even claiming to be holding Ebby captive as they demanded money for her safe return. In addition to the mishandling of the car evidence and loss of the LRPDs call records, Vickers discovered many other holes in the investigation. 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. Danielle explained she tried to warn Ebby that the new friends she was making didnt seem like the best crowd. Bob never drank again until his death . She had been dead since the time her car was found three years prior. She also mentioned it had been recorded without her knowledge or consent. The next day, Ebby told her step father Michael about the rape, and they agreed to meet at the police station later to report it. May 22, 2019 1 year since Ebbys remains were recovered. It is a shame, because the culprits seem pretty obvious. 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It was up to us to clean up the mess and basically start from the beginning. That's what I'm wondering, too. 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. 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. As they felt the police werent taking Ebbys disappearance seriously, her family approached the media to help widen word of their missing loved one. For 8 months, Little Rock Police treated Ebby as a runaway, doing little to nothing to find her. Although Hudson would not tell Dateline how Ebby died, because he believes it would interfere with the investigation, he said her death is being investigated as a homicide. The case made national news and people from all over the world contacted the Little Rock Police Department and the family with bogus tips, some even claiming to be holding Ebby captive as they demanded money for her safe return. And definitely her contacts. Tommy Hudson with the Little Rock polices Cold Case Unit said the case is considered an open homicide investigation. Instead, Ebby got to spend that last day with her grandparents. This case hasnt been discussed on this sub in about a year, but its one I think about often, so I wanted to bring it back up again. And she never showed up at the police station. Her stepfather meticulously photographed the inside of the car and her belongings, just in case. To help spread word of the case, Laurie appeared on Dr. Phil. Ebbys cellphone records indicate she made two calls to police that night, each about a minute long, but strangely Little Rock Police say they have no record of her calls. [7] She initially told him she was parked outside his house, but upon hanging up and walking out to the street, he did not see her car. Officers with the Little Rock Police Department searched the park, but came up empty-handed. Well, with God, Ill make it through.. The Vanished did a great story on this. Searches were conducted of the park and the woods near where the car was discovered, but no evidence was found. But no one knew where she was. [10] These remains were subsequently confirmed to be those of Steppach. Her disappearance ended 4 years ago when Little Rock police found. I just knew it, everything in my soul, I knew something had happened to her, Laurie said. However, her parents never addressed this with her, wanting to give her more independence. Those with information regarding the case are being asked to call the Little Rock Police Department at 501-371-4829. I was like, Ebby thats not safe, dont do that. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. He never gave up on her, on finding out what happened, she said. Investigations, which is dedicated to locating missing and trafficked children, and T.H.O.R.N., an international anti-human trafficking organization that works to address the sexual exploitation of children. In November 2015, the family offered up a $3,000 reward for information leading to her discovery. I hope that one day that justice is brought down upon those that committed this crime, for the sake of her family and for her. They were only 60 feet away from where her car had been abandoned. Worried about Ebby, numerous family members tried to reach out to her, but received no response to their messages. It seems as though most unsolved cases begin with a very poor investigation. Surveillance footage was also located about a week after Ebby went missing, which showed her car travelling along Cantrell Road in west Little Rock. My daughter, she doesnt have any siblings anymore. The 2018. But again, the case hit a snag when Hudson recently announced he was again retiring and relocating across the river, where he will help out at the North Little Rock Police Department cold case unit. Then, Eric, Ebbys on-again, off-again boyfriend, reveals vital information on Ebbys behaviors right up until her disappearance. Dharmesh graduated from Wayne State University Vanished: Heidi Broussard (33) and Margot Carey (2wks). Ebby Jane Steppach was 18 years old when she disappeared in late October 2015. When he died, I thought, now he knows what happened to her. 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. Ebby Jane Steppach (March 31, 1997 - October 25, 2015) [2] was an American woman who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Little Rock, Arkansas. That police department should be sued. 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