Trace Evidence show

Trace Evidence

Summary: Trace Evidence is a weekly true crime podcast that focuses on unsolved cases, from chilling murders to missing persons. Join host Steven Pacheco as he examines each case, diving deep into the evidence and exploring the theories which revolve around them. For each unsolved case, there are the victims and their families, who want answers and the abductors and murders who hide the truth. Visit www.trace-evidence.com for more information.

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  • Artist: Unsolved cases, missing persons and the unexplained.
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 044 - The Abduction & Murder of Kristi Cornwell | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:43:37

August 11th, 2009 was a hot and humid day in the North Georgia town of Blairsville. Thirty-eight year old Kristi Cornwell was visiting with her parents that summer as she had recently embarked on major changes in her life. She’d left her career as a probation officer, and was pursuing a new journey into the medical field. She had gotten divorced a few months earlier, but in recent times, had begun dating a new man with whom she hoped she might develop a future. Due to a lower back injury sustained during a fall, Kristi had taken to late evening walks. They eased her pain and, in the evening, the hot and sticky weather wasn’t nearly as intense. Her mother didn’t like her walking so late, but Kristi assured her she could take care of herself, and besides, they were in Blairsville, a picturesque southern town with less than a thousand residents. They’d live there all their lives, and Kristi, if nothing else, always felt safe there. That night, with her phone in her pocket and an earbud in, she spoke to her new boyfriend, Douglas, as she walked the streets of her home town. Then, suddenly and without warning, Douglas heard a commotion and distinctly heard Kristi cry out “Don’t take me.” An instant later, the phone emitted only the sound of static as Douglas screamed her name. In the days, weeks and years that followed, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation would cover hundreds of acres of land in a desperate search. They will uncover connections to other instances of abduction, and other attempts in the area. These clues will lead them on a multi state search for a light colored SUV and a suspect described by previous would be victims. For authorities, it’s a race against the clock that will ultimately end in tragedy and the monster who many believe commited this crime, will cowardly spare himself the requirement to face justice and to answer for his acts when he takes his own life during a three hour standoff with Atlanta Police. Yet still, questions remain, and though authorities believe they’ve found their man, they cannot prove it. Even after Kristi’s remains are discovered, by her own brother, just miles from the site of her abduction. Join host Steven Pacheco as he explores this complicated, tragic and frustrating case in hopes of sorting through the confusion and answering the question: Who murdered Kristi Cornwell? Stay tuned at the end of this episode for special announcements regarding Trace Evidence's one year anniversary, a podcast meetup in Atlanta in October, CrimeCon2018 and for how YOU can participate in the one year anniversary episode! For more information please visit: https://www.trace-evidence.com https://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

 043 - The Bizarre Disappearance of Bryce Laspisa | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:36:55

Bryce Laspisa was the average American college student. He was bright, charming and liked to have fun at every possible time. During the Summer of 2013, he stayed at home with his parents, eagerly anticipating his return to Sierra College, in Rocklin, California. Within two weeks of his return, in August of 2013, Bryce's friends and girlfriend were growing concerned about his drinking and odd behavior. Over the course of a three day period Bryce would give away valuable items, break up with his girlfriend and embark on a mysterious drive into desolate area of California. On the night of August 29th, after sitting in Buttonwillow for nearly thirteen hours, he began his drive home to Laguna Niguel where his worried parents waited. Just after 2am, Bryce called home to say he was going to stop and rest. Just three hours later, his SUV would be found flipped on its side and Bryce was nowhere to be found. Nearly five years later and the circumstances surrounding Bryce's disappearance continue to confuse and confound his family, investigators and everyone who examines his case. What happened to Bryce Laspisa? Did he choose to run away from his life and start a new? Is it possible that he was suicidal? Did the combination of alcohol and drug use result in an altered state of consciousness? Could a head injury have left him without his memory, or, did Bryce become the victim of a random act of violence? Join host Steven Pacheco as he explores this disturbing and tragic story, which many have described, as the male version of Maura Murray. For more information please visit: https://www.trace-evidence.com https://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

 042 - The Disappearance of Tiffany Daniels | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:55:46

Twenty-Five year old Tiffany Daniels was a talented artist living in Pensacola, Florida in August of 2013. Saddened by her boyfriend moving out of state, and overwhelmed with financial difficulties, Tiffany was struggling to find her way. Her worries seemed as though they might be ending as a friend's father rented a room from her home, making her more financially secure and while her boyfriends exist was difficult, she was excited to visit him in Austin and to see the culture which thrives there. On August 12th, 2013, Tiffany told her supervisor that she needed to leave early and may need the rest of the week off. Tiffany exited work at 4:43pm and was never seen again. Over a week later, her vehicle was found abandoned in a parking lot on Santa Rosa island, not far from her home. In the five years since she vanished, there have been many theories and alleged sightings, though nothing can be confirmed. What happened to Tiffany Daniels? Did she choose to run away from her problem? Was she overwhelmed to the point that suicide became an option? Could she have accidentally drowned off the shore of Florida? Was she abducted and moved into the world of human trafficking or is it possible that Tiffany was the victim of a homicide, be it a random act of violence, or possibly perpetrated by someone she knew and trusted? Join host Steven Pacheco as he examines this tragic case and asks the difficult question: Where is Tiffany Daniels? For more information please visit: https://www.trace-evidence.com https://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Episode sponsored by: www.fiuonline.com/podcast

 041 - The Vanishing of Lily Aramburo | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:56:13

Twenty-three year old Lily Aramburo was on top of the world. She'd overcome her addictions, transformed her life and given birth to a son who she loved beyond compare. She'd recently moved in with an old friend, Christen, after each shared their true feelings and they were building a life together, but in early 2007, it would all begin to fall apart. Christen was still using, and before long, Lily fell back into the powerful grip of addiction. After several disputes, Child Services removed her son from her custody, and Lily was sent to rehab. She later failed a drug test and was ejected from the rehab center, losing her chance to win custody back. On June 1st, 2007, Lily and Christen had two friends over to their condo. At 2am, on June 2nd, Lily is alleged to have walked out of the condo wearing only a night gown and carrying bungee cords with her. She left behind her cell phone, wallet and personal items. Christen didn't report her missing for days, and when he did, he claimed that she may be suicidal. Investigators with the Miami-Dade police waiting a week to investigate, and when they did, they quickly dismissed Lily as a drug addict who had run off. It wouldn't be until years later that they would officially question Christen, giving him a polygraph test. They reported the results, saying that Christen passed. Years later, it would be found that he had actually failed. This was only one of many mistakes discovered years after Lily vanished, and while the investigation was remarkably flawed, there was an utter media blackout leaving Lily's story untold and widely, unknown. The diligence and determination of Lily's mother, Lucely and Lily's best friend, Janet Forte, was all that kept her name alive. Later, when detective Ray Hoadley took on the case, a true investigation was finally conducted and a myriad of mistakes, lies and unanswered questions were uncovered. Suspicions began to turn towards those closest to Lily and the inconsistencies were challenged. What happened to Lily Aramburo? Did she simply walk off, into the night, never to be seen again? Was she overwhelmed by addiction, the removal of her son and her unhappy relationship, and as a result chose to commit suicide? Did Lily fall victim to a violent drug dealer with a history of murder? Or, does Lily's fiance and the man she lived with, Christen Pacheco (no relation), know more than he is saying? Join host Steven Pacheco as he examines this tragic, complex and sadly overlooked case in hopes of finding the truth. For more information about Lily Aramburo: Follow @Yogini on twitter and visit justiceinmiami.org Use #justice4lily to promote this episode and Lily's story, perhaps together, we can bring the attention this case deserves. For more information please visit: https://www.trace-evidence.com https://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Episode sponsored by: www.fiuonline.com/podcast

 040 - The Mysterious Death of Kurt Sova - Revisited | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:28:55

On October 23rd, 1981, seventeen year old Kurt Sova had plans to go to a local carnival. Plans changed when he ran into a close friend who invited him to a party at a duplex nearby. The party was filled with locals and people who had driven in from Detroit, and Kurt began drinking heavily. When he began feeling ill, his friend took him outside for some fresh air. The night had gotten cold, and Kurt's friend went into the duplex to retrieve their jackets. When he returned moments later, Kurt was nowhere to be found. For the next five days, friends and family, along with authorities, searched for Kurt, but could find no signs of him. During the search, several bizarre incidents took place. A homeless man told a store manager that Kurt would be found dead and that no one would know what had happened to him. A friend of Kurt's claims to have seen him walking along the side of a road, not far from his own home. The owner of the duplex alleged there had been no party, and that she'd never even heard of Kurt. Sadly, five days after vanishing, Kurt's body was discovered posed in a crucifixion like position in a ravine nearby. Strangely, Kurt's father claims to have searched that very area just the day before, but did not see his son there. A medical examiner could find no cause of death, and thus it was ruled a "probable accident." The Sova family felt their son had been the victim of foul play and that investigators had shirked their duty, and accussed them of having no interest in figuring out what happened. The Newburgh Heights Police Department dismissed the family, believing they were simply grieving and in denial. When a thirteen year old boy named Eugene Kvet turned up dead just months later with circumstances strangely similar to Kurt's, only the Sova family was asking questions. Over the next ten years, new evidence would be revealed, the FBI would file charges against the lead investigator in the case and Kurt's family would be fed important details that were ignored during the initial investigation. What happened to Kurt Sova? Was his death indeed a tragic accident? Was he the victim of foul play, perhaps by someone at the party or even his close friend? Could Kurt's death and that of Eugene Kvet show the work of a killer in the area? Or were corrupt police officials somehow involved in Kurt's death? Join host Steven Pacheco as he explores this utterly baffling and tragic case in a re-investigation of the first ever episode of Trace Evidence, in episode 40 - The Mysterious Death of Kurt Sova - Revisited. This episode brought to you by Sudio. Use promo code TRACE to earn 15% off your new headphones today: https://goo.gl/nwVv7W For more information please visit: https://www.trace-evidence.com https://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Episode sponsored by: www.fiuonline.com/podcast

 Bonus - Q&A Episode | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:15:07

I recently conducted a series of Q&A videos in which I answered listener questions. This is the audio from these sessions. If you want to see the videos, visit the Trace Evidence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPFbLcFipff2OVJC2KdARbw https://www.trace-evidence.com https://www.patreon.com/traceevidence

 039 - The Mysterious Death of Elisa Lam | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:40:19

Twenty-one year old Elisa Lam decided to take a break from college. She wanted to take a trip, out of Canada and down into the United States to see California. Her trip involved stops in San Diego, Los Angeles and Santa Cruz. Embarking on her trip in January of 2013, Elisa visited San Diego and then went to Los Angeles where she had booked a three day stay in the notorious Cecil Hotel, at that time known as the Stay on Main Street. She shared a room with two roommates, but was moved after reports of 'odd behavior.' Having maintained contact with her family every day, they grew worried when on January 31st, she failed to call and they couldn't reach her. Elisa was reported missing, and a fervent search began. When no trace of Elisa could be found, police released surveillance footage from an elevator at the Cecil showing Elisa behaving erratically. The video sparked a wide array of theories, and a heated debate about whether Elisa was hiding from someone, or perhaps, on drugs. Nearly three weeks after she vanished, Elisa's body was discovered inside one of the water tanks on top of the hotel. Guests had complained of foul tasting, discolored water. How Elisa ended up in the water tank and whether or not foul play was involved has sparked controversy ever since. What led to Elisa's death? Theories abound including government cover ups, an urban legend about an elevator game and rumors of a cursed hotel possessing her. Was it purely an accident, as the autopsy report would state? Did Elisa's mental illness contribute to her death? Did someone murder the young woman and get away with it? Join host Steven Pacheco as he navigates the baffling twists and turns of one of the most confusing and captivating true crime cases ever, examining the haunting question: What happened to Elisa Lam? This episode brought to you by Sudio. Use promo code TRACE to earn 15% off your new headphones today: https://goo.gl/nwVv7W For more information please visit: https://www.trace-evidence.com https://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Episode sponsored by: www.fiuonline.com/podcast

 038 - The Murder of Sonia Varaschin | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:25:00

This week's episode brought to you by Zola.com To sign up with Zola and receive a $50 credit towards your registry, go to ZOLA.com/Trace Forty-two year old Sonia Varaschin was a pediatric nurse living in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. A hard working woman with a zest for life and a love of adventure, she had a lovely personality and was often found dancing whenever she had the time. In August of 2010, Sonia vanished from her home and her blood stained car was found abandoned not far away. Investigators found a grisly scene inside her townhouse and a desperate search was launched to find her before it was too late. Sadly, one week after she disappeared, Sonia's remains were recovered from a remote area on the outskirts of town. The nurse had been murdered in a violent fashion, though police have never revealed her cause of death. Her family was devestated and for nearly eight years they have fought to find justice for Sonia. Police believe Sonia fell victim to someone she knew and are in possession of the culprit's DNA. Some believe that Sonia did not know her killer, and was victimized at random, possibly by a serial killer. Join host Steven Pacheco as he explores this complicated and tragic story examining the question: Who murdered Sonia Varaschin? For more information please visit: https://www.trace-evidence.com https://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Episode sponsored by: www.fiuonline.com/podcast

 037 - The Disappearance of Danielle Stislicki | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:19:14

On December 2nd, 2016, twenty-eight year old Danielle Stislicki made dinner plans with her best friend. She left her office building, located in Southfield, Michigan, at 5pm, and sent a text saying that she was going to be stopping at her apartment, and would meet for dinner around 6pm. Danielle never arrived. Within 24 hours, friends, family and police were conducting exhaustive searches for Danielle. Her Jeep was found parked just feet away from her apartment door. Her wallet and ID were found inside, but her cell phone and keys were missing. Investigators began to believe that Danielle was not the one who parked there, and foul play was suspected. Over the next year, their investigation would lead them all across the state of Michigan while witnesses would name a suspect - a man who worked as a security guard in the building where Danielle worked and who was seen talking to her the night she vanished. A man who would later be convicted of an attempted sexual assault which took place just four months before Danielle vanished. While investigators collected evidence, including a mattress and floor boards from his home, he has never been named an official suspect and is only a person of interest. The community rallied around the Stislicki family, and to this day, they are searching for the answers. Join host Steven Pacheco as he explores this disturbing case, asking the question: What happened to Danielle Stislicki? For more information please visit: http://www.trace-evidence.com http://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music Courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Episode sponsored by: www.fiuonline.com

 036 - The Disappearance of Suzanne Lyall | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:29:31

*For $30 off your first week of HelloFresh, visit http://bit.ly/2qQRi8G and enter Trace30 Nineteen year old Suzanne Lyall was an accomplished poet and computer whiz attending the State University of New York at Albany. Majoring in computer science, she was cutting the path for a bright future full of joy and love. Along with her boyfriend, Richard, she was setting her goals high and looking to achieve all of her dreams. On March 2nd, 1998, Suzanne took an important mid-term and then reported to her job for her 4pm shift. She seemed a little more relaxed this day and was focused on getting her work done. She had another mid-term the next day. She left the Crossgates Mall at 9:20pm, boarding a bus to drop her off on campus at 9:45. A witness saw Suzanne exiting the bus that night, but she was never seen again. Over the next twenty years, investigators have struggled to solve her bizarre disappearance with little evidence and even less witnesses. Everyone in her life would become a suspect with many zeroing in on her long time boyfriend, Richard Condon. In the wake of her disappearance, her broken family found a way to fight through and developed a non profit charity designed to help the families of missing persons. They have also helped usher in several laws which change the way Universities handle violent crimes and disappearances. The one question on everyone's mind is, what happened to Suzanne Lyall? Did she elect to run away and start a new life? Does her boyfriend Richard know more than he is telling police? Or could Suzanne have been the victim of a random act of violence for which an unknown killer has evaded justice for more than twenty years? Join host Steven Pacheco as he explores this bizarre and frustrating case, asking the question: What happened to Suzanne Lyall? For more information please visit: http://www.trace-evidence.com http://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music Courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

 035 - The Disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:24:10

Thirty-four year old Danielle Imbo was going through a divorce and raising her eighteen month old son. Through her best friend, Christine, she reconnected with her high school crush, Christine's older brother, thirty-five year old, single father Richard Petrone. The two clicked instantly. Their relationship was going well when Danielle's ex-husband began attempting to rekindle their romance. Unsure of what to do, Danielle decided it was more important for her to be single and provide a life for her son, and so she told both men that she needed space and time to work on herself. Five weeks later, on February 19th, 2005, Richard reached out to Danielle asking if she'd like to come out for a drink and see some bands perform. Needed a night out, Danielle agreed and the two headed down to South Street, in Philadelphia, where they met up with Richard's friends Anthony and Michelle. After a the music ended, they decided to call it an early night. Both were picking up their kids the next day and didn't want to be too tired. At 11:45pm, they walked out of the bar and were never seen again, nor was Richard's 2001 black Dodge Dakota that he drove that night. For thirteen years their families have wondered what happened to them, and the Philadelphia and New Jersey police, as well as the FBI, have been heavily involved in attempting to solve this bizarre disappearance. How can two people and a three thousand pound truck simply vanish? Did the two single parents choose to run off and start a new life? Could there have been an accident which resulted in the couple sinking into the Delaware river? Did Danielle's ex-husband, Joe Imbo, play a role in her disappearance? Or could the couple have been murdered, either in a random act of violence or in an orchestrated murder for hire scenario? Join host Steven Pacheco as he explores the confusing details of this utterly baffling case and attempts to answer the question: What happened to Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone? For more information please visit: http://www.trace-evidence.com http://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music Courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

 034 - The Murder of Dana Bradley | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:22:26

This episode is brought to you by Zola.com To sign up with Zola and receive a $50 credit towards your registry, go to ZOLA.com/trace Fourteen year old Dana Bradley has gone to a friends house after school on December 14th, 1981 in St. John's, Newfoundland. She couldn't stay for too long, as it was her mother's birthday that night and she needed to get home. She planned to walk to a nearby bus stop and arrive home by 5:30pm. When 5:30 came and went, and Dana hadn't returned home, her mother and stepfather became concerned and began making calls. When they could find no sign of Dana, they reported her missing. Search efforts for Dana came up empty, though two witnesses came forward and reported seeing Dana hitchhiking the day before and ultimately getting in to a sedan, either a Dodge or a Plymouth, with extensive body damage and rust. Four days later, Dana's body was discovered in a remote, wooded location known as Maddox Cove. For the next thirty-six years, the search for Dana's murderer would lead investigators through thousands of interviews, hundreds of suspects and nearly one thousand vehicle searches. One man would come forward and confess to comitting the murder, though he would later recant and no evidence could be found to prove it. Another man would come forward and say he witnessed the murder, though his story was inconsistent and contrary to evidence. Many theories have risen up in the past three and a half decades, resulting in one of the most complex, expensive and complicated cases in the history of Canada. Who murdered Dana Bradley? Was it the man who once confessed to the crime? Did she fall victim to a suspected serial killer? Was a witness present who saw her murdered by a later convicted pedophile? Could it have been a stranger passing through and looking for trouble? Or is it possible that Dana was murdered by someone she knew and trusted? Join host Steven Pacheco as he attempts to unravel what has been dubbed the most expensive and exhaustive investigation in Canadian history in Episode 34 - The Murder of Dana Bradley. For more information please visit: http://www.trace-evidence.com http://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music Courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

 033 - The Disappearance of Heather Elvis | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:15:33

In the summer of 2013, twenty year old Heather Elvis had an affair with Sidney Moorer, a much older married man she met through her job. When Sidney's wife, Tammy, found out, the relationship was severed and Heather became the subject of threats and insults. By December, Heather was moving on with her life and hoping to leave Sidney and Tammy in the past. She went out on a date and was excited for her future. In the early morning hours of December 18th, Heather mysteriously vanished. Her car was found abandoned at a remote boat landing not far from the Moorer's home. Over the next few weeks, Police investigated the possibility that Sidney and Tammy may have been involved in Heather's disappearance. The two were charged with murder, as well as indecent exposure, kidnapping and obstruction of justice. Most of the charges were dropped before going to trial, leaving the Elvis family wondering why. The Moorer's pointed the finger at Heather's father, accusing him of murdering his own daughter. The Elvis family felt the Moorer's were responsible. Others began to wonder if Heather could have run off, or if her date that night may have had dark intentions. What happened to Heather Elvis? Did she choose to run away from a troubled life to start over? Does her date know more than he is saying? Did Heather's father lash out against his own child? Or, do Sidney and Tammy Moorer possess all of the answers investigators have been seeking? Join host Steven Pacheco as he explores this complicated and confusing case in hopes of answering the question: What happened to Heather Elvis? For more information please visit: http://www.trace-evidence.com http://www.patreon.com/traceevidence https://www.facebook.com/groups/232601153862937/ Music Courtesy of: "Lost Time" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

 032 - The Disappearance of Steven Koecher | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:13:28

*For $30 off your first week of HelloFresh, visit http://bit.ly/2qQRi8G and enter Trace30 Thirty year old Steven Koecher was born into a large family, to two loving parents in November of 1979. A quiet child who enjoyed laughing, sports and music, Steven was raised up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His faith was strong, and as he grew into an adult, he became even more devout. Between his large family, his church and his community, Steven was surrounded by the love and support of a great many people who thought extremely highly of him. In the winter of 2009, Steven went on a series of strange road trips which he never told anyone about. Then, one morning, he got into his car and drove out to a quiet neighborhood, where he parked his car and walked away from it, never to be seen again. His family was floored by his disappearance, and investigators were perplexed about the highly mysterious nature of it. Over the years, countless searches were conducted and there was even an attempt to link Steven's disappearance to that of a woman who had vanished just a week prior. Left with little evidence outside of cell phone pings and locations near Las Vegas, the case fell cold. Nearly six years after, there was a renewed vigor and new searches began, but again, they turned up nothing new. What happened to Steven Koecher and why was his vehicle left behind on a quiet neighborhood street? Did Steven choose to leave on his own to start over? Did all of the pressure in his life add up to the point that he made the dark choice to end his own life? In desperation for financial stability, had Steven become tangled up with sinister characters? Is it possible that illegal drugs crept into Steven’s life and lead him down a dark road? Or was Steven the victim of a random act of violence, or perhaps a violent act from someone he knew and trusted? Join host Steven Pacheco as he examines this baffling case and studies the question: Where is Steven Koecher?

 031 - The Murder of Joel Lovelien | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 00:55:15

Joel Lovelien took his fiancee to a Halloween party at the Broken Drum bar and grill in Grand Forks, North Dakota on Saturday, October 27th, 2007. The party was big, and a bus pulled up pouring out 40 to 50 twenty-somethings making it even busier. Joel took a call outside, and when he returned, explained to his fiancee that he was going to check on someone he saw outside who may have been left behind. Moments later, a woman came in screaming to call 911 and Joel's fiancee made the grisly discovery of Joel's beaten body. He was rushed to the hospital, but died as a result of his wounds. The investigation began, but it contained a sordid cast of characters like you'd find in a bad comic book. Identities were unknown, but Police were looking for men dressed as a cowboy, hunter, lion, construction worker, gangsta rapper and a clown. When all was said and done, the Lion - a man named Travis Stay was arrested and tried for the murder, but ultimately, was found not guilty. While many believe Stay was the perpetrator, others feel that some of the other men from the party bus may have actually committed the crime in a drunken rage. Join host Steven Pacheco as he attempts to maneuver through this confusing case in an attempt to answer the question: Who murdered Joel Lovelien? Today's sponsor is True Crime Magazine has a special offer for Trace Evidence listeners which you can find at: thecrimemag.com/traceevidence

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