Toledo, Ohio Elaina Steinfurth 18 Month old

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Friends and neighbors search for little Elaina Steinfurth


TOLEDO, Ohio -A neighbor of little Elaina Steinfurth's father, Terry, organized a search for the missing 18-month-old on Sunday.

The toddler was reported missing last Sunday when her father came to pick her up at her mother's home for a custody exchange and her mother could not find the little girl.

Police and the FBI conducted extensive searches throughout the week, including a water search of the Maumee River. But so far, they've found no clues.

Dozens of concerned people showed up to search in and around the East Toledo neighborhood where baby Elaina lived with her mother.

The search started in alleys near the Federal Street home where Elaina was last seen and extended as far out as the Marina District.Searchers did a complete sweep, from the Maumee River to the tracks.

Search organizer Dan Clay said, "We're all parents, we're all grandparents and we're just here to show this guy that we care. We're not just gonna sit by and see what happens. Hopefully we can find some type of evidence. We don't want to find something we don't want to find, but we're here to look for whatever we can."

Searchers wore white T-shirts to identify themselves as members of the search party.

Patricia Duffer brought her dog along to help with the search. "I think everybody here has been praying and hoping for a good outcome and we'll just keep looking until we find something."

Christy Renau, a friend of Elaina's father, said, "It's a baby. She deserves to be at home with her family, not out there lost somewhere."

www.13abc.com/story/22543407/friends-and-neighbors-search-for-little-elaina-steinfurth

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TPD/FBI announce $10,000 reward in Elaina Steinfurth case

Posted: Jun 12, 2013 2:09 PM CDT
Updated: Jun 12, 2013 3:12 PM CDT

TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) -According to the Toledo Police Department's Facebook page they, in conjunction with the FBI, are offering a $10,000 reward to anyone providing credible information leading to the current whereabouts of Elaina Steinfurth.

Elaina Steinfurth has been missing since Sunday, June 2nd, when her family reported her missing during a custody hand-off.

Anyone with information is now being encouraged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Please Share.

To read the whole story of the disappearance, including full interviews and an interactive timeline, click here.

www.toledonewsnow.com/story/22573289/tpdfbi-announces-10000-reward-for-elaina-steinfurth

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Day 11: No sign of missing 1-year-old Elaina Steinfurth

TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) -
The FBI has joined forces with TPD and have announced a 10,000 dollar reward for information as to Elaina Steinfurth's whereabouts.

The missing girl's case is also getting national attention, with segments appearing on the Nancy Grace show.

Although they are still following leads, no active search efforts were made by Toledo Police for missing 1-year-old Elaina Steinfurth over the weekend, so people formed their own citizen search parties and fanned out across the area.

Efforts stretched from East Toledo to Genoa to Curtice, even to Pearson Metropark in Oregon.

Elaina Steinfurth has been missing since Sunday, June 2nd, when her family reported her missing during a custody hand-off.

Kim Bundick of Maumee has helped to organize search efforts.

Bundick had been involved in similar massive search efforts three years ago for Nevaeh Buchanan, a missing Monroe, Michigan girl who was eventually found murdered.

"I hate to say we're out searching for a body. But we're just out searching for Elaina. We just want to bring her home," said Bundick.

Dan Clay, Sr., also helped organize search parties. Although many search party members have work responsibilities, Clay says the volunteer searches won't end until Elaina is found.

"It's like, you don't know where to go next," he said. "I'm still trying to think up...where can we go? And it's like we've kind of run out of leads."

Visit the Facebook page Clay created for the search.

Last week, water rescuers, divers, and police searched the area near the High Level Bridge to look for clues about the little girl's whereabouts. They combed the wooded areas below the bridge as well as the water using sonar equipment to detect anything below the surface.

Several agencies have joined the search for the missing 18-month-old. Police say they're pulling out all the stops to find this little girl, using resources from their department, the fire department, and the FBI.

Police say they are going through electronics for tips, and questioning sex offenders.

Searchers Tuesday focused on several homes, including one abandoned house, as well as trash cans in the area of Federal and Leonard in east Toledo.

This development Tuesday afternoon happened as police released little information about the state of the investigation.

A prayer vigil was held Tuesday night in hopes that the little girl will be returned safely. Hundreds of people attended.

"I just want her home in one piece, I wanna know that she's okay," said Angela Steinfurth, Elaina's mother. "It's very hard not having her around. My other daughter's going insane without her sister. They need to be together."

Watch the full interview with Angela Steinfurth

Read the transcript of the interview with Angela Steinfurth

Police got involved in the young girl's disappearance Sunday afternoon when Elaina's father, Terry Steinfurth, showed up at a home in east Toledo to pick up the girl and her older sister.

The children had been with their mother, Angela, and her boyfriend Steven King. Terry says Angela had taken the girls to the home, belonging to Steven's mother, Julie King.

Click here for an interactive timeline of events in the search for Baby Elaina

"She told me she was staying at her father's house," Terry explained, but that wasn't the case. "I went to pick them up Sunday…they told me she was back over [at Julie King's house], where she promised me they weren't going to be."

According to Julie, Angela called Saturday evening, asking if she and the girls could stay at Julie's for the night. Julie tells WTOL 11, Angela claimed they had no place else to go.

"I believed everything she told me, I thought she didn't have a place to stay," Julie said. "She lied to us."

Julie says she allowed them to stay the night, but says she didn't see baby Elaina all day Sunday.

Watch the full interview with Julie King here

When Terry came to pick up his daughters, he says Angela allowed their oldest to go with him, but refused to let him see Elaina. He says he persisted, and she refused.

That's when he says the children's grandfather, Terry Steinfurth Sr., arrived on scene. He says he wanted to help Terry Jr. get Elaina when Angela wouldn't give her up. Steinfurth Sr. says when he showed up, Angela told him the baby [Elaina] was napping, and she didn't want to wake her.

SLIDESHOW: Missing 1-year-old Elaina Steinfurth

"I heard [Angela] inside, [crying and screaming], ‘I don't wanna give him my baby, I'll never see her again,'" he said. Eventually they talked her into letting them see the baby. "Twenty minutes later, she comes running out, [saying,] ‘The baby's not in the house, the baby's gone.'"

Steinfurth, Sr. says he and his son wanted to call the police and others to look for the child, but Angela sat down on the porch "like nothing was wrong…no tears, no nothing."

Watch the full interview with Terry Steinfurth Sr. here

Julie says when Angela announced the baby was gone, she and her son, Steven, immediately went out the back door to begin looking in the pool, the garage, and nearby.

Steinfurth says his family, friends, even his boss, have helped him canvass the neighborhood and put up fliers, but they have seen no sign of Elaina. He says the police currently have no leads, either.

Angela told Toledo News Now she thinks the baby was kidnapped. Her boyfriend, Steven, refused to comment.

"I personally think someone's hiding her," Steinfurth Jr. said. "I don't know who, I don't even care, I just want my baby."

His father, however, has his guess as to who is responsible.

"I feel the mother and the boyfriend know what happened to that baby," Steinfurth Sr. said. "The way they're acting, I think they know where she's at but they don't want any of us to know."

Watch the full interview with Terry Steinfurth Jr. here

The Steinfurths, Angela, her boyfriend, have all been questioned by Toledo Police. Steinfurth says Angela claims she passed a lie detector test, but police say they cannot confirm that.

Elaina's father says there is a cash reward for any information that leads to finding his daughter.

"You don't ever expect to go through something like this, it doesn't seem real," he said.

Elaina was last seen wearing orange shorts with flowers. Anyone with information is urged to call Toledo Police at 419-936-8995 or CrimeStoppers at 419-255-1111. Although no tips have panned out yet, just one tip could help her return home safely.

"I don't care who's got her," Steinfurth Sr. added. "We just want her back safe."

www.toledonewsnow.com/story/22481101/still-no-sign-of-missing-toddler

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RAW: Full interview with Elaina Steinfurth's grandfather, 6/13


TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) -This is the full raw interview of Richard Schiewe, the grandfather of baby Elaina Steinfurth. This happened at Toledo Municipal Court, right after Angela Steinfurth was arraigned for her one charge of child endangering.

In the interview, Richard speaks his mind on missing Elaina and what his thoughts are on the pending criminal case.

Mobile users, click on the "Video" button in the app to watch this story. Download our app here.

www.toledonewsnow.com/story/22584085/raw

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Mother of missing Toledo toddler arrested on child endangering charge


Angela J. Mories, 26, was booked into the jail at 10:55 p.m. Wednesday.

The charge is a third degree felony.

She has typically been referred to in media reports recently as Angela Steinfurth.

But a birth of a girl on Dec. 20, 2011, at Bay Park Community Hospital was reported to Angela Mories and Terry Steinfurth.

Shortly before the arrest, the FBI and Toledo Police Department searched multiple homes in the 600 block of Federal Street for the missing 18-month girl, suspending the search about four hours later.

The search for Elaina at 660 Federal St. -- just blocks from where she was last seen June 2 -- started at about 5 p.m. Most investigators left the scene by 9 p.m. Three other residences alongside that home were also searched.

Elaina Steinfurth Enlarge
Authorities did not comment on the search, which included a cadaver dog brought in from Geauga County Sheriff's Office, and a visit from the TPD chaplain. The dog searched a GMC Safari van parked on the street multiple times, before the van was towed away by authorities.

The home at 660 Federal St. has been vacant for years, according to authorities and neighbors. The residence is owned by Gerald and Doris Apthorpe, according to the Lucas County Auditor's Office Web site.

Kyle Lewis, who was visiting his brother's house on Federal Street, said he believes the missing girl is still alive. Mr. Lewis said he heard that authorities were searching a residence on the street because they found a “crawlspace on a blueprint.”

Kimberly Dunahoo, who lives on Federal Street, said she hopes the girl is found safe.

“It's been a horrible situation. It's heart-wrenching,” she said.

The search came just hours after Toledo police announced that they were offering a $10,000 cash reward to anyone who could provide information that leads to the girl's whereabouts. Anyone with information should call 1-800-225-5324.

The girl was reported missing after her father, Terry Steinfurth II, went to pick up his daughters from his estranged wife, who was staying at a house in the 700 block of Federal Street, and the girls' mother, Angela Steinfurth, said the younger girl was missing.


Read more at www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2013/06/13/Mother-of-missing-Toledo-toddler-arrested-on-child-endangering-charge.html#8uyS6jY6tCTpfYZT.99

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Justice for Nevaeh joins search for missing East Toledo toddler


The group called Justice for Nevaeh has joined the search for missing 18-month old Elaina Steinfurth in East Toledo.

The new volunteers remember the search drill all too well.

On Thursday they set up station at what has become the command post for volunteers in East Toledo.

It's a vacant lot on Federal Street just down the block from the place the toddler was last seen on June 2nd.

The searchers fanned out to parks and other wooded areas, like the banks of the Maumee River near the bridges, to hunt for clues.

Back in 2009, five-year-old Nevaeh Buchanan disappeared from her Monroe apartment, only to be found nearly two weeks later encased in cement, buried alive, on the banks of the River Raisin.

Nevaeh's case remains unsolved.

Thursday marks four years since family and friends held the funeral for Nevaeh.

Justice for Nevaeh volunteers are optimistic they can help find Baby Elaina still alive.

"It's about finding this baby and getting her home," says Kim Cundick with Justice for Nevaeh. "That's what we're going to do. We're not going to stop. We'll be here every day. I don't care if it's Day 50 or Day 100. We're not going to stop until she's brought home."

"There's not much I can do, but what I can do, I will," says Angel Pringle of South Toledo who brought her dog to help search.

"I love the volunteers," says Terry Steinfurth, Sr., Elaina's grandfather who believes the 18-month-old is still alive. "In my stomach, I still have the feeling she's safe somewhere. That's the positive I'm trying to keep. I don't want to think of the worst."

www.13abc.com/story/22586148/justice-for-nevaeh-joins-search-for-missing-east-toledo-toddler

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Baby Elaina’s mother indicted for obstruction

A Lucas County grand jury has indicted the mother of missing 18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth on a charge of obstructing justice.

Angela Steinfurth of Toledo, Ohio had been scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday in Toledo Municipal Court on a child endangerment charge, but court records show prosecutors dropped the charge and said they would bring the case before the grand jury for an indictment.

The indictment for obstructing justice does not include specific details of the allegations against Steinfurth, but it accuses her of communicating false information to "hinder the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for crime or to assist another to benefit from the commission of a crime."

The Lucas County Prosecutor's Office declined to comment on the indictment Monday.

Ginger Smith, a relative of Elaina’s father Terry Steinfurth Jr., told WTOL Monday morning that the family is happy to see the case moving forward.

Municipal court documents had alleged that Angela Steinfurth failed to seek medical attention for the 18-month-old after she suffered an injury. Angela initially told police she last saw Elaina when she put her down for a nap at her ex-boyfriend Steven King’s home around 12:30 p.m. on June 2.

After Terry Steinfurth Jr. arrived at the house to pick up Elaina and her sister later that afternoon, Angela claimed Elaina was missing.

Angela Steinfurth was arrested on June 12. Her preliminary hearing had originally been scheduled for June 20 but was delayed at the request of police.

Her attorney has not returned calls seeking comment on the case.

A police report obtained by HLN Monday reveals details of a possible sighting of Elaina hours before she was reported missing that could alter the reported timeline of the case.

An employee at a Gas-N-Go station about a mile from the house where Elaina was reportedly last seen told Toledo police that she believed Angela and Elaina came in sometime between 7 and 9:45 a.m. on June 2.

The employee said she was certain it was Angela because Angela also used to work at the gas station. She said Angela bought some glazed honey buns and juice and paid with her food stamp card.

According to the employee, Elaina was grabbing for items but was not talking.

She said Angela should have been caught on the station’s video system, but the report stated they were having problems with the system and a detective was unable to view the video to confirm it.

Previously, family members of Angela’s ex-boyfriend have indicated that no adults besides the two of them saw Elaina at all that morning.

Angela’s sister and a family friend claimed last week that Angela told them Elaina had a black eye and broken nose when she woke up that day.

The Gas-N-Go employee told HLN that the baby who was with the woman she believed to be Angela Steinfurth did not appear to be injured.

Captain Brad Weis of the Toledo Police Department told HLN Monday that there are no active searches planned today, but investigators are following up on credible leads as they come in.

Weis said police searched near the Anthony Wayne Bridge after receiving a tip Friday, but they found nothing. He would not comment on the tip from the Gas-N-Go employee.

www.hlntv.com/article/2013/06/24/baby-elainas-mother-indicted-obstruction?hpt=hln10_4

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Baby Elaina’s mom: Bond set at $100K


Angela Steinfurth will remain in jail on a $100K bond

Her daughter Elaina was reported missing on June 2

Mother indicted for obstructing justice; pre-trial set for July 24

The mother of missing 18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth was ordered to remain behind bars on a $100,000 bond Wednesday, despite her attorney’s request for supervision instead of jail.

A Lucas County grand jury indicted Angela Steinfurth Monday on a charge of obstructing justice.

Wednesday marks 25 days since 18-month-old Elaina vanished from Toledo, Ohio, on June 2.

Angela Steinfurth initially told police she last saw her daughter when she put her down for a nap at her ex-boyfriend Steven King’s home around 12:30 p.m. that day.

After Terry Steinfurth Jr., the missing girl’s father, arrived at the house to pick up Elaina and her sister later that afternoon, Angela Steinfurth said Elaina was missing.

The missing girl’s mother was arrested on June 12 on a charge of child endangering. Municipal court documents had alleged the mother failed to seek medical attention for the 18-month-old after she suffered an injury. Prosecutors dropped that charge earlier this week and said they would bring a case before the grand jury for an indictment.

A pre-trial date in the case is scheduled for July 24.

HLN’s repeated calls to Angela Steinfurth’s attorney for a comment have not been returned.

Elaina Steinfurth has blue eyes and brown hair. She’s approximately 2 feet tall and weighs 21 pounds. She was last seen wearing orange shorts with flowers.

Anyone with information regarding her disappearance is urged to call the tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI. There’s a $10,000 reward.

www.hlntv.com/article/2013/06/26/baby-elaina-mom-angela-steinfurth-bond-100-thousand-pre-trial-date

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Fisherman snags hair on line, Baby Elaina's family waits for answers


Divers are expected to hit the Maumee river on Monday, after a fisherman found some hair in the water.

Searchers for Baby Elaina Steinfurth have urged boaters and fishermen to be vigilant and look for evidence. This weekend, Patrick Howard was out fishing with a friend underneath the Anthony Wayne Bridge when his line got snagged and nearly snapped his pole.

"I finally got my hook to come unloose, then once I got that out and was getting ready to cut it and call it a day and head home, that's when I discovered hair wrapped around my fishing hook."

After calling police, Howard says he flagged down search volunteers in the area. Police officers collected the tuft of brownish blonde hair.

It's still no known if the hair is human or animal.

Elaina's grandfather Terry Steinfurth says, "We're hoping it proves something one way or the other. We just need to find her and bring her home. It's getting harder the longer it goes." He says the family was frustrated when authorities told them the discovery did not warrant a dive team.

The family said divers will be back in the water on Monday.

www.my13abc.com/wap/news/text.jsp?sid=1005&nid=1208648180&cid=284&scid=-1&ith=0&title=Local+News&headtitle=Local+News

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Diver searches Maumee River under High-Level Bridge


A diver searched the Maumee River under the High-Level Bridge the morning of July 3. In the last 10 days, two different fishermen have reported finding what they believe to be human hair in the same spot the diver was searching.


A Coast Guard boat on the Maumee River on July 3. Photo Courtesy of 1370WSPD.

Toledo Police Department Sgt. Joe Heffernan confirmed that there was human hair found in the river, but a DNA test matching the strands to missing toddler Elaina Steinfurth could take weeks.

More than a dozen Toledo Police Department and Coast Guard officials were on scene July 3. They declined to comment.

When the second hairs were found, relatives of missing 18-month-old Steinfurth petitioned the Toledo Police Department to dive the river. Earlier reports indicated that the missing toddler’s body could have been placed in the river under the High-Level Bridge.

Fisherman Greg Boswell is one of the two fishermen who reported the hair strands. He found them June 23. Other strands were reportedly found June 29.

“Well, I was fishing with my granddaughter and we pulled something up and I said, ‘Hey, I think this is human hair,’” Boswell told Toledo Free Press on July 2.

Boswell said he handed the sample, which consisted of three strands varying from 3-5 inches long, to police officers stationed on the bank of the river.

A detective later approached Boswell about his discovery.

“He said, ‘Hey, I hate to interrupt your fishing trip but I need to get some information,’” Boswell said.

Boswell said the police told him they were getting the strands tested and would get back to him. He said they haven’t contacted him since.

Elaina was reported missing June 2 when her father Terry Steinfurth Jr. came to pick up his daughter between noon and 1 p.m. at a home on Federal Street. An argument ensued when Elaina’s mother Angela refused to give him their youngest daughter, according to several witnesses.

Almost an hour after the start of the argument, Angela went in to get Elaina but came out “crying and screaming” that Elaina was gone, according to Steinfurth Sr.

The family began searching the area for Elaina. They called the police when she could not be found.

Angela was arrested June 12. She was indicted for obstruction of justice and her pretrial is set for July 24.

Richard Schiewe, Angela’s stepfather, said at the scene, “They’re gonna find [Elainia], but she’s not gonna be alive.”

Other relatives at the scene included Steinfurth Jr., his father Terry Steinfurth Sr. and Steinfurth Jr.’s cousin Ginger Smith.

www.toledofreepress.com/2013/07/03/divers-prepare-to-search-maumee-river-under-high-level-bridge/

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Pre-trial set for missing Elaina Steinfurth case

TOLEDO -- The mother of missing Elaina Steinfurth returned to jail Wednesday after being denied supervised bond.

A pre-trial date was scheduled for Wednesday, July 24 in the case against Angela Steinfurth.

A judge denied the bond of $100,000 (no ten percent) in court Wednesday.

A Lucas County Grand Jury indicted Angela Steinfurth on a charge of obstruction of justice Monday afternoon in connection with the disappearance of her daughter, Elaina, who has been missing for more than three weeks.

If convicted on the obstruction of justice charge, Steinfurth could face a sentence from one-to-five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

www.northwestohio.com/m/news/story?id=914308#.Ue1M1_fCurc

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Angela Steinfurth's boyfriend arrested in connection to missing Elaina case

TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) -
Steven King has been arrested in connection to the case of missing baby Elaina.

MORE
SLIDESHOW: Missing 1-year-old Elaina Steinfurth

Elaina Steinfurth, 1, has been missing from east Toledo since Sunday, June 2.
More >>
He is charged with felony obstruction of justice.

Elaina Steinfurth, a 1-year-old toddler from Toledo, went missing June 2. She was last seen on Federal Street in east Toledo.

Police got involved in her disappearance that afternoon when her father, Terry Steinfurth Jr., showed up at a home in east Toledo to pick up the girl and her older sister. The children had been staying with their mother, Angela Steinfurth, and her boyfriend, Steven King. When Terry came to pick up his daughters, he said Angela allowed their oldest to go with him, but refused to let him see Elaina. He says he persisted, yet she refused.

That's when he says the children's grandfather, Terry Steinfurth Sr., came to the house. He says he wanted to help Terry Jr. get Elaina when Angela wouldn't release her. Steinfurth Sr. says when he showed up, Angela told him Elaina was napping, and she didn't want to wake her.

Family, friends, and community members have helped search the neighborhood, even posting fliers, but they have seen no signs of Elaina.

Angela told Toledo News Now she thinks the baby was kidnapped. Her boyfriend, Steven, refused to comment.

Soon after Elaina's disappearance, police went through electronics for tips, and questioned sex offenders.

Local and FBI crews expanded their search to woods and areas surrounding the Maumee River, but were unsuccessful finding any signs after numerous attempts.

Elaina's mother, Angela, was arrested within two weeks of her disappearance. She has appeared in court multiple times on felony child endangering and obstructing justice charges.

At the beginning of July, a fisherman pulled out a clump of human hair while fishing in the Maumee River. DNA test results on if the hair is a match to Elaina are expected back this week.

After more than 50 days since last seeing baby Elaina, Elaina's family says they are not giving up hope, but feel they need to be realistic about the situation. Family members say they are now slowing down their search efforts and focusing on recovery.

Just days after Elaina vanished, a family friend created a Facebook page to keep Elaina in everyone's news feed. The goal is to make sure no one forgets.

The family has created a bank account where donations can be made to help fund search efforts. You can make a donation at any PNC bank branch under the account name "Bring Elaina Home."

There is still a $10,000 reward being offered for information on this case. If you have any information that can help investigators, call 1-800-CALLFBI.

www.toledonewsnow.com/story/22902471/angela-steinfurths-boyfriend-arrested-in-connection-to-missing-elaina-case

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Elaina Steinfurth News: Missing Ohio Toddler Case 'Highest Priority' For Toledo Police; What Do Investigators Know About Baby Elaina? [REPORT]

It's been 50 days now since Ohio toddler Elaina Steinfurth disappeared, and while a Toledo Police spokesman says the Baby Elaina disappearance is "their highest priority case right now," the lack of news and updates has left Elaina's father and family frustrated.

"They have not been in contact with us," said Ginger Smith, Baby Elaina's aunt. "Hopefully, we're going to say, they're doing their job out there."

Elaina's father T.J. Steinfurth has repeatedly raised concerns over the lack of communication between the Toledo Police Department and Elaina's family members, saying that detectives have failed to keep in touch with him regarding their progress on the case. "I actually went down to the Mayor's office and spoke to the Mayor of Police and Fire," Steinfurth said, "and she was supposed to get in touch with the two lead detectives to have them contact me more. Have they been? No."

A spokesperson for Mayor Mike Bell's office begged to differ with the family's claims, claiming that a Toledo Police detective reported having spoken with the family as recently as last week. Mayor's spokesperson Jen Sorgenfrei added that the family was briefed on the case in early July, but that police only revealed information that would not compromise their investigation.

"Mr. Steinfurth and his aunt met on Monday, July 8th with Shirley Green, deputy mayor of public safety and personnel, who further explained the investigatory process to them," Sorgenfrei said. "Their request on that date was for the mayor to make a public statement because the media was losing interest in the case -- again, the Mayor will not interfere with an ongoing investigation."

RELATED: Elaina Steinfurth Search Losing Hope? DNA Test Of Human Hair In River To Take Weeks

The Steinfurth family's concern is understandable. Early in the investigation, the case seemed poised to become a new case for Nancy Grace and the HLN network, which covered Elaina's disappearance and the suspicions surrounding her mother Angela Steinfurth heavily. But within a matter of weeks, as no new developments were reported, all signs of the case had disappeared from HLN's homepage.

As for the Sorgenfrei's claim that the mayor does not weigh in on police investigations, WNWO has pointed out that Mayor Bell has made public statements and appearances regarding other investigations, even pleading for community involvement following the murder of 81-year-old Fannie Mae Smith in January 2012. But Sorgenfrei countered that the mayor's statements in such cases were "a call to stop the violence in the city," rather than remarks on active investigations.

Perhaps there is some comfort in the suggestion that police do know more than they are letting on regarding Elaina Steinfurth's case. "We are keeping [T.J.] informed with what we can say," said Toledo Police Spokesman Sgt. Joe Heffernan, "but as in all criminal cases we have to do what's best for the case." Heffernan added, "Let us do our job."

Elaina Steinfurth's mother, Angela Steinfurth, is still behind bars facing charges of obstruction of justice in connection with the case. Authorities say Angela and her ex-boyfriend Steven King were the last people to see Elaina on June 2nd. Police say that King is not a suspect, and thus far he has not been charged with any crimes in connection with Elaina's disappearance.

www.idesigntimes.com/articles/6796/20130722/elaina-steinfurth-news-missing-ohio-toddler-case-baby-angela-murdered-toledo.htm

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Mother's boyfriend arrested in connection to Elaina Steinfurth's disappearance


Toledo Police say they arrested Steven King in connection to the disappearance of 18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth.

He is charged with obstruction of justice.

We're told King is the boyfriend of Elaina's mother, Angela Steinfurth.

Elaina Steinfurth was last seen June 2 at her mother's home on Federal Street.

Police searched the Federal Street home and the Coast Guard searched the Maumee River with no luck.

The child's father says he was picking up his daughter at his estranged wife's home.

The same day he reported the child missing.

The child's mother, Angela Steinfurth, was arrested on child endangerment charges.

She is charged with lying to police.

www.13abc.com/story/22902459/breaking-news-man-arrested-in-connection-to-elainas-disappearance

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Missing toddler’s mom wants court to hire private eye

Posted: Jul 24, 2013 1:47 PM CDT
Updated: Jul 24, 2013 1:49 PM CDT

The mother of a missing Toledo toddler wants a private investigator to look into her case.

Angela Steinfurth is charged with obstructing justice. She was back in court Wednesday morning for a pre-trial hearing.

Police say she lied to investigators looking into the disappearance of 18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth.

We've learned Angela has asked the court for money to hire the private investigator.

Court documents show the private investigator is needed for the defense counsel to properly prepare for trial.

Steven King, Steinfurth's ex-boyfriend, appeared before a judge on obstruction charges on Tuesday.

www.13abc.com/story/22922502/missing-toddlers-mother-wants-court-to-hire-private-eye#.UfAv-sIeKJU.facebook

[meme]

Published: 8/9/2013 - Updated: 3 weeks ago

Police: Missing tot’s case called homicide probe



Saying the disappearance of an East Toledo toddler was now considered the subject of “a homicide investigation,” an assistant Lucas County prosecutor Thursday asked a Lucas County Common Pleas Court judge to keep bond for a man accused of misleading police at $250,000.

“The allegations include that the defendant lied to police in the course of what is regarded now as a homicide investigation,” Brad Smith told Judge Ruth Ann Franks. The judge agreed to continue the $250,000 bond for Steven King II, 23, of 704 Federal St., who is charged with obstructing justice in the June 2 disappearance of 19-month-old Elaina Steinfurth.

Mr. King, the boyfriend of Elaina’s mother, Angela Steinfurth, is accused of providing false information to investigators during the two months after the girl was last seen. Angela Steinfurth, 25, also is charged with obstructing justice in the case.

Mr. King’s attorney, Pete Rost, asked the court to release Mr. King from jail on a recognizance bond, possibly with electronic monitoring.

“As you can see, this is a nonviolent offense, although it is connected to the investigation that involves a missing 18-month-old child,” he said. “The defendant’s record is not extensive.”

Mr. Rost said Mr. King had been talking with investigators since the child went missing and was at home when police arrived to arrest him.

Relatives of Elaina’s father, T.J. Steinfurth, said after the hearing that this was the first time they had heard the case referred to as a homicide investigation.

“We don’t want to look at it that way, but if we have to accept it, we will. We need closure,” said Ginger Smith, a cousin of Elaina.

Terry Steinfurth, Sr., Elaina’s grandfather, said the same, adding that if the child was killed, someone is responsible and needs to talk to police.

When asked after the hearing about his reference to the homicide investigation, Mr. Miller declined to comment further. Toledo police Sgt. Tim Campbell said investigators would continue to treat Elaina’s disappearance as a missing-person case unless or until remains are discovered.

Ms. Smith asked that people “just keep praying, keep coming to our vigils, keep helping us keep our hopes up. That’s what we need right now.”

Read more at

www.toledoblade.com/Courts/2013/08/09/Police-Missing-tot-s-case-called-homicide-probe.html#5K5Vfobgr9eZdkbR.99

[meme]

Mother of missing baby Elaina due in court for third pre-trial hearing

Posted: 09.04.2013


TOLEDO -- The mother of missing baby Elaina Steinfurth will make her third court appearance at a pre-trial hearing Wednesday morning.


Her case is scheduled at 9 a.m. Angela Steinfuth faces charges of obstruction of justice for her daughter, Elaina Steinfurth, who has been missing for more than three months. The attorney of Steinfurth in the previous pre-trial hearings asked for additional time to review evidence in the case. In a hearing back in mid-August, Steinfurth's attorney asked to analyze nearly 30 hours of video interviews taken with Steinfurth and Toledo Police.

READ: Latest updates on #SearchForElaina

Angela and her ex-boyfriend, Steven King, were the last two people seen before Elaina's disappearance. King was also charged with obstructing a police investigation. In a court appearance mid-August, King pleaded not guilty. He is accused of making numerous false statements to police.

Toledo Police filed a complaint against King on Jul. 22 after an extensive review of evidence in the case.

In late June, a report surfaced that Angela Steinfurth confessed to a fellow Lucas County Jail inmate that she and King threw Elaina's body in the Maumee River. "She told me they wrapped her up in blanket and took her down by the High Level Bridge," said a relative of the inmate. "And, he (King) stood behind her and she [Angela] threw this baby in the river."

READ: Follow the timeline for the #SearchForElaina


Family members and friends gathered last week Thursday at a bi-weekly vigil near the home where Elaina was last seen. Pastor Steve Salyers of North Point Church of the Nazarene spoke about keeping faith during the difficult times.

"We don't know what's going to be the outcome, but we believe that the truth is going to come out one way or another," said Salyers. "And we're just going to continue as long as we can, Lord willing, to keep the faith up, to encourage and do whatever we can."

Another march and vigil for Elaina Steinfurth will be held outside the Lucas County Courthouse on Sept. 8 at 3 p.m.

www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?id=942166#.Uiph8rOm8b_

[meme]

Angela Steinfurth's pretrial postponed again

Posted: Sep 04, 2013 5:19 AM CDT
Updated: Sep 04, 2013 10:10 AM CDT

TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) -
The mother of a missing Toledo toddler appeared in Lucas County Common Pleas Court for another pretrial hearing.

MORE
SLIDESHOW: Missing 1-year-old Elaina Steinfurth

Elaina Steinfurth, 1, has been missing from east Toledo since Sunday, June 2.
More >>
However, Angela Steinfurth waived her right to a speedy trial and her pretrial was pushed back again to Sept. 25.

Wednesday's pretrial hearing was scheduled in mid-August after Steinfurth's defense attorney told the court they needed time to look over video evidence of Steinfurth speaking with police.

Steinfurth is being charged with obstruction of justice in connection to the disappearance of her 1-year-old daughter, Elaina. She is currently being held in the Lucas County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

Steinfurth's former boyfriend, Steven King, is also being charged with obstruction of justice in the case. He will be in court for a pretrial hearing Thursday. His trial date is set to start Sept. 16. King remains in jail on a $250,000 bond.

www.kltv.com/story/23333428/angela-steinfurths-pretrial-postponed-again

[meme]

Police activity reported in Baby Elaina Neighborhood

Posted: Sep 05, 2013 1:40 PM PDT
Updated: Sep 05, 2013 1:43 PM PDT
13abc.com Brian Trauring, News Director

Toledo police are on the scene near Federal Street and Prentice Avenue late Thursday. Police are not releasing details, but this is the area where Baby Elaina lived.

www.13abc.com/story/23352660/police-activity-reported-in-baby-elaina-neighborhood#.Uijs3reic1M.facebook

[meme]

Coroner: DNA analysis necessary to identify remains

Posted: Sep 05, 2013 3:40 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 06, 2013 4:59 PM CDT

Toledo police confirmed that "immature human remains" were discovered inside a box related to the case of missing baby Elaina Steinfurth.

An autopsy was conducted Friday, but, because the skeletal remains are so immature, it is not possible to determine the sex of the deceased, and DNA analysis will be necessary to identify the body.

Information about the cause and manner of death will not be released until the autopsy has been completed.

During a 12-minute news conference Friday morning, Toledo Police Chief Derrick Diggs said, "We wanted to find a body. We wanted to find that baby, which we did. We want to bring justice for Elaina." Police declined to provide details of the case as the investigation continues.

The box was discovered Thursday in a garage at 704 Federal St. Police say the box was found on a shelf located behind other boxes filled with trash in the rafters.

Chief Diggs called the case "high profile," generating a great deal of emotion. "We're pulling all our resources together to solve this case."

18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth was first reported missing on June 2. Ten days later, her mother, Angela, was arrested and charged with obstructing justice. On July 22, Ms. Steinfurth's ex-boyfriend, Steven King, was also arrested and charged with obstruction. The garage where the remains were found is on property where Mr. King lived.

Police say the garage was searched previously. Due to the condition of the property, search dogs were not allowed to go in. They added due to the condition of the property, it was a difficult location to search.

Chief Diggs, asked whether the body should have been found sooner, said, "We didn't drop the ball. We found what we believe may be baby Elaina."

Prosecutor Julia Bates says providing speculation into specifics of the case would be "silly and foolish" and not serve the public interest.

Police refused to say whether a tip from Mr. King led them to the box in the garage. King faced a judge Thursday morning for a pre-trial, with a trial date set for September 16. Just hours after that court appearance, sources at the jail say he was taken to the TPD Safety Building for another round of questioning.

A search warrant was issued for the garage property Thursday afternoon which led to the discovery of the box.

Ms. Steinfurth was scheduled to be in court Wednesday morning, but her pre-trial was moved to September 25. Her stepfather, Richard Schiewe, told 13abc on Friday that he met with Ms. Steinfurth in the Lucas County jail on Friday. He added that he was in the garage after Elaina was reported missing and that the box was not there.

Family and friends say they're ready for the ordeal to be over and to finally know what happened to little Elaina. Elaina's father, T. J., told 13abc that he remains hopeful, but "at the same time, you have to be realistic."

The Ohio Bureau of Investigation will be working through the weekend to assist with the identification of the remains.

A vigil for Elaina was planned for 7:00pm Friday at the corner of Federal and Leonard, not far from Elaina's home.

Stay with 13abc and 13abc.com for updates.

www.13abc.com/story/23352660/police-activity-reported-in-baby-elaina-neighborhood

[meme]

Facebook posts say Elaina found deceased


An unconfirmed post on Facebook has stated missing 1-year-old Elaina Steinfurth was found deceased on Thursday.

A Facebook user posted to the page of Elaina's father TJ Steinfurth, saying her heart was breaking for her cousin TJ, and "RIP Baby girl! You will always be in our hearts!"

Another Facebook user asked if Elaina was found, and the cousin replied, "Yes, they found her buried in a box."

This has not been confirmed by officials or the Steinfurth family at this time, but the Lucas County Coroner has confirmed that a box with human remains was removed from a garage near King's home by police.

www.toledonewsnow.com/story/23353801/facebook-posts-say-elaina-found-dead?utm_source=buffer&utm_campaign=Buffer&utm_content=buffer18a84&utm_medium=facebook

[meme]

Baby Elaina case: Coroner says apparent human remains found in search

The Lucas County coroner says human remains appear to have been found in a box taken by police during a search on Federal Street Thursday afternoon.

Police say they received new information regarding the Baby Elaina case Thursday. Detectives executed a search warrant based on the information at 704 Federal.

A press conference has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday at Toledo Police headquarters.

www.13abc.com/story/23352660/police-activity-reported-in-baby-elaina-neighborhood#.Uijs3reic1M.facebook

[meme]

Baby Elaina's father 'Irate' over new developments, Coroner confirms 'apparent human remains' found

TOLEDO -- Lucas County Coroner Dr. James Patrick has confirmed to WNWO that a box containing "apparent human remains" was removed from a home where a missing toddler, Elaina Steinfurth, was last seen in June.

An official autopsy is scheduled for Friday morning, but Patrick said that it may take several weeks to definitely determine the identity of the remains. However, Patrick said his office may be able to speed the process up with help from the state.

Sources at the scene in east Toledo, where box was recovered, said the evidence was taken from inside a detached garage at 704 Federal Street. The home is the former residence of Steven King, the ex-boyfriend of Elaina's mother, Angela Steinfurth, and has already been previously searched by Toledo Police and federal officials several times.

The home where the remains were discovered is also just feet away from where dozens have gathered for more than three months to hold vigils praying for Baby Elaina's return.

READ: Latest updates on #SearchForElaina

Elaina's Father, T.J. Steinfurth, said the details surrounding Thursday's discovery makes him 'Irate" but did not reveal what police said to him during a meeting this afternoon. "It's hard to be optimistic now," said Steinfurth.

Toledo Police are scheduled to hold a press conference Friday morning to discuss findings from the Thursday search of King's home. VIEW press conference live Friday beginning at 10:30 a.m. on WNWO and northwestohio.com.

The news follows two hours of breaking developments in the case and follows a Thursday morning court appearance by Steven King on an obstruction of justice charge in connection to Elaina's disappearance.

Thursday afternoon, WNWO was the first to report that Toledo Police had returned to Federal Street to execute another search warrant in connection to the girl's disappearance. Shortly after, several of the dozens gathered at the scene became engaged in an altercation as tensions flared over what Toledo Police may have found. Additional officers were dispatched to the scene to break up the fight. It is unclear who started the fight and if any family members were injured.

WNWO also learned that Toledo Police had been meeting with Steven King for several hours since his morning court appearance.

Toledo Police issued a statement that said "At 3:16 p.m., September 5th, Toledo Police Detectives executed a search warrant based on new information at 704 Federal".

At this time it is still unclear if King provided the "new information" that Toledo Police say lead to the most recent search at King's former residence.

King and Elaina's mother, Angela Steinfurth are facing charges of obstruction of justice in Elaina's disappearance.

www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?id=942991#.Uipkn7Om8b-

[meme]

Baby Elaina's family addresses court postponements and homicide label

TOLEDO -- Nearly 2 and a half months since 1-year-old Elaina Steinfurth was last seen, in an East Toledo neighborhood, her family is still holding out hope that she is alive.

On Wednesday night, Baby Elaina's family and their supporters gathered at the corner of Federal and Leonard for another bi-weekly prayer vigil.

Since June 2nd, the day Elaina was reported missing, her family has been on an emotional roller coaster as they attend every court hearing for the two people charged in the toddler's disappearance.

One of those people is Elaina's mother, Angela Steinfurth, who appeared in court on Wednesday on a charge of obstructing justice.

Again, the hearing was postponed but this time at the request of Steinfurth's attorney who asked for more time to review nearly 30 hours of video interviews taken with Steinfurth and Toledo Police.

"You know if they get this case closed....take all the time in the world you need," Elaina's cousin Ginger Smith said of the delay granted by a judge on Wednesday.

"When they actually said they had something they had to go over and her attorney had to talk to her about that...we were happy. We were really happy because [Angela Steinfurth] came in [court] smiling, but when she left she wasn't smiling," Smith added.

Steinfurth's latest court appearance was the first since a Lucas County Assistant Prosecutor revealed that they now considered the case a homicide investigation.

It was surprising revelation to Elaina's family and father, TJ Steinfurth, particularly since Toledo Police still maintain they are working Elaina's disappearance as a missing person investigation.

"They did apologize for the way it happened. I guess maybe if they would have possibly called TJ [Steinfurth] and said 'Hey. This is what we’re going to do and how we are going to do it.' But for TJ to just have it thrown out there in the court...yeah it was a big blow," Smith said.

On Thursday, Angela Steinfurth's ex-boyfriend will appear in court on a charge of obstructing justice as well.

Authorities allege that Steven King lied and hindered their investigation into Elaina's disappearance.

www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?id=934187#.UiplD7Om8b8

[meme]

'We found what we believe may be baby Elaina' says TPD Chief Diggs

Posted: Sep 06, 2013 9:42 AM CDT
Updated: Sep 06, 2013 4:00 PM CDT

TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) -
In a press conference Friday morning, Toledo Police Chief Derrick Diggs says they believe they have found the remains of missing baby Elaina Steinfurth.

MORE
SLIDESHOW: Missing 1-year-old Elaina Steinfurth

Elaina Steinfurth, 1, has been missing from east Toledo since Sunday, June 2.
More >>
"We wanted to find the body and we wanted to find that baby and we did," said Diggs.

Police, FBI agents, and Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates were at the press conference, but were unable to disclose specific details because the case is still active. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation is also taking part in the active investigation.

"It is an ongoing investigation, and it is an active investigation at this time, and there's many things that we can't discuss at this time," said Diggs. "The bottom line is, we found what we believe may be baby Elaina. We're going to continue to conduct our investigation to bring those responsible to justice."

On Thursday, Toledo Police removed a box containing human remains from a garage near Steven King's home at 704 Federal Street in east Toledo. King is the estranged boyfriend of Angela Steinfurth, mother of 1-year-old Elaina, who has been missing since June 2, 2013. An exclusive Toledo News Now source with knowledge of the investigation, said investigators removed a package from a garage in an alley off Prentice Street in east Toledo and turned it over to the Lucas County Coroner's Office.

Search warrants had been conducted at the house in the past, but Thursday's search warrant - based on information obtained during the investigation - led them to the garage for reasons unknown at this time.

"We're not going to get into all of this how many times we checked that. You know, we had a lot of deception taking place, being told to us by a variety of sources in this community, and because of that, we took the investigation where we thought it should go," explained Diggs.

Police say the home, garage, Maumee River and every place in between had been searched, and although the remains in the house may prove to be a big piece in the puzzle, there is still more work to be done.

At the press conference Friday, police said the area was "tough to search," and the box was located in the far corner on a shelf in rafters. Cadaver dogs were brought to the scene, but due to the condition of the property, dogs were not allowed to go inside.
Later Thursday, Lucas County Coroner James Patrick confirmed that the box did contain human remains. At the press conference Friday, police said they found "immature skeletal remains."

The remains were autopsied Friday morning at the Lucas County Coroner's Office to determine the identity.

Dr. Diane Scala-Barnett and Dr. Julie Saul, from the Lucas County Coroner's Office, released the following statement Friday afternoon:

"The box, recovered from the upper level of the garage located at 704 Federal, contains immature human skeletal remains. Because the skeletal remains are so immature, it is not possible to determine the sex of the deceased therefore DNA is necessary.

"DNA samples have already been submitted to BCI for analysis. DNA is the most accurate and scientific procedure to confirm identity and sex in this case.

"Anthropologic examination is still ongoing.

"Toxicology is pending.

"Cause and manner of death will be assigned when all parts of the autopsy have been completed."

While the investigation continues and the coroner works to get an official identification, Steven King and Angela Steinfurth remain behind bars on obstruction of justice charges. At this time, no additional charges have been filed against either.

King had his final pretrial hearing Thursday. His trial is set for Sept. 16.

Steinfurth appeared in court for a pretrial hearing Wednesday, but it was postponed again. Her trial date still has not been scheduled.
Elaina's father, Terry Steinfurth Jr., is just hoping for closure.

"I'm still holding onto hope it's not her, but if anything, you have to be realistic to some degree too...Just being hopeful," said Steinfurth.

Steinfurth understands that police are doing whatever they can so justice will be served, but family members still want answers.

"I'm hoping for answers to know exactly what's going on right now. Everything's speculation, so I'm hoping for the best," said Steinfurth.

www.toledonewsnow.com/story/23359411/we-found-what-we-believe-may-be-baby-elaina-says-tpd-chief-diggs

[meme]

Coroner: DNA analysis necessary to identify remains


Toledo police confirmed that "immature human remains" were discovered inside a box related to the case of missing baby Elaina Steinfurth.

An autopsy was conducted Friday, but, because the skeletal remains are so immature, it is not possible to determine the sex of the deceased, and DNA analysis will be necessary to identify the body.

Information about the cause and manner of death will not be released until the autopsy has been completed.

During a 12-minute news conference Friday morning, Toledo Police Chief Derrick Diggs said, "We wanted to find a body. We wanted to find that baby, which we did. We want to bring justice for Elaina." Police declined to provide details of the case as the investigation continues.

The box was discovered Thursday in a garage at 704 Federal St. Police say the box was found on a shelf located behind other boxes filled with trash in the rafters.

Chief Diggs called the case "high profile," generating a great deal of emotion. "We're pulling all our resources together to solve this case."

18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth was first reported missing on June 2. Ten days later, her mother, Angela, was arrested and charged with obstructing justice. On July 22, Ms. Steinfurth's ex-boyfriend, Steven King, was also arrested and charged with obstruction. The garage where the remains were found is on property where Mr. King lived.

Police say the garage was searched previously. Due to the condition of the property, search dogs were not allowed to go in. They added due to the condition of the property, it was a difficult location to search.

Chief Diggs, asked whether the body should have been found sooner, said, "We didn't drop the ball. We found what we believe may be baby Elaina."

Prosecutor Julia Bates says providing speculation into specifics of the case would be "silly and foolish" and not serve the public interest.

Police refused to say whether a tip from Mr. King led them to the box in the garage. King faced a judge Thursday morning for a pre-trial, with a trial date set for September 16. Just hours after that court appearance, sources at the jail say he was taken to the TPD Safety Building for another round of questioning.

A search warrant was issued for the garage property Thursday afternoon which led to the discovery of the box.

Ms. Steinfurth was scheduled to be in court Wednesday morning, but her pre-trial was moved to September 25. Her stepfather, Richard Schiewe, told 13abc on Friday that he met with Ms.

Steinfurth in the Lucas County jail on Friday. He added that he was in the garage after Elaina was reported missing and that the box was not there.

Family and friends say they're ready for the ordeal to be over and to finally know what happened to little Elaina. Elaina's father, T. J., told 13abc that he remains hopeful, but "at the same time, you have to be realistic."

The Ohio Bureau of Investigation will be working through the weekend to assist with the identification of the remains.
A vigil for Elaina was planned for 7:00pm Friday at the corner of

Federal and Leonard, not far from Elaina's home.

www.my13abc.com/autojuice?targetURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.13abc.com%2fstory%2f23352660%2fpolice-activity-reported-in-baby-elaina-neighborhood

[meme]

Test of DNA sample to confirm if remains are that of missing toddler Elaina Steinfurth

Elaina Steinfurth's grandfather says box not initially in garage

Toledo Police believe human remains found Thursday in an East Toledo garage may be missing toddler Elaina Steinfurth.

"We had a lot of deception taking place being told to us by a variety of sources in the community," Toledo Police Chief Derrick Diggs said during a news conference today. "The bottom line is we found what we believe may be Baby Elaina."

In a written statement, Lucas County Deputy Coroner Dr. Diane Scala-Barnett said the remains from 704 Federal are so immature it's not possible to determine the sex of the remains.

A DNA sample has already been sent to the state's Bureau of Criminal Investigation lab in London, Ohio; a BCI spokesman said test results should be available early next week.

Dr. Scala-Barnett also said the cause and manner of death will not be ruled on until all parts of the autopsy -- including a toxicology report and an anthropological study -- are completed.

snip

Angela Steinfurth's stepfather, Richard Schiewe, does not believe the remains found on Federal Street were there the entire time that Elaina has been missing.

Mr. Schiewe said he was with police on June 3 searching through the garage; the computer box where the skeletal remains were found was not there, he said after the Toledo Police Department's news conference today.

“That body was not in the rafters the day after Elaina came up missing,” Mr. Schiewe said. “I was in the garage with police … I searched the garage. All that was in that garage was junk bicycle parts, plumbing parts, electrical parts, and two turtles, and a bunch of musted-up boxes.

“That body was not in that garage.”

Mr. Schiewe said he believes someone told someone else where the toddler's body was being kept and then put the body in the box and tucked it onto a shelf on the rafters.

www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2013/09/06/Toledo-police-believe-human-remains-may-be-missing-toddler.html

[meme]

Test of DNA sample to confirm if remains are that of missing toddler Elaina Steinfurth

Elaina Steinfurth's grandfather says box not initially in garage

Toledo Police believe human remains found Thursday in an East Toledo garage may be missing toddler Elaina Steinfurth.

"We had a lot of deception taking place being told to us by a variety of sources in the community," Toledo Police Chief Derrick Diggs said during a news conference today. "The bottom line is we found what we believe may be Baby Elaina."

In a written statement, Lucas County Deputy Coroner Dr. Diane Scala-Barnett said the remains from 704 Federal are so immature it's not possible to determine the sex of the remains.

A DNA sample has already been sent to the state's Bureau of Criminal Investigation lab in London, Ohio; a BCI spokesman said test results should be available early next week.

Dr. Scala-Barnett also said the cause and manner of death will not be ruled on until all parts of the autopsy -- including a toxicology report and an anthropological study -- are completed.

The Toledo Police Department and others today held the news conference to discuss new breaks in the case of the missing baby, who was last seen at 704 Federal St. about three months ago. Police found a computer box containing the suspected human remains in a detached garage at that address Thursday.

Authorities today said the box contained immature skeletal remains.

RELATED ARTICLE: Suspected human remains seized from site where tot lived

Police officials said that the garage had been searched soon after the baby went missing, but that it was initially searched for a missing child. Ultimately, Chief Diggs said, what was important was that police found the baby.


He refuted a question when asked whether police dropped the ball while searching the Federal Street property for the child.

"We didn't drop the ball," he said.

Rob Miller, chief of the special units division for the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, said today that depending on the outcome of an autopsy, he would anticipate presenting the case to a Lucas County grand jury next week.

"We're hoping to know the cause of death after the autopsy, which should occur today," Mr. Miller said.

"Depending on the evidence, we would evaluate whether [the indictment] would be against one or both of them," Mr. Miller said, referring to the girl's mother, Angela Steinfurth, and her then-boyfriend, Steven King II.

Missing toddler Elaina Steinfurth's grandfather Richard Schiewe got this tattoo of Elaina on Wednesday at White Trash Tattoo in East Toledo.

Chief Diggs said during the news conference that the state Bureau of Criminal Investigations will work over the weekend to try and determine the identity of the remains. He said that the investigation is still ongoing, and there were many details of the case he could not discuss.

Mr. King spent several hours at the downtown Safety Building Thursday talking to detectives.

Chief Diggs would not comment whether Mr. King provided the tip that led police to the garage.

A search warrant for the garage where the remains were found was filed in Lucas County Common Pleas Court under seal and therefore was not made public.

Police officials said that the box containing the remains was in the rafters of the garage with other boxes.

Angela Steinfurth's stepfather, Richard Schiewe, does not believe the remains found on Federal Street were there the entire time that Elaina has been missing.

Mr. Schiewe said he was with police on June 3 searching through the garage; the computer box where the skeletal remains were found was not there, he said after the Toledo Police Department's news conference today.

“That body was not in the rafters the day after Elaina came up missing,” Mr. Schiewe said. “I was in the garage with police … I searched the garage. All that was in that garage was junk bicycle parts, plumbing parts, electrical parts, and two turtles, and a bunch of musted-up boxes.

“That body was not in that garage.”

Mr. Schiewe said he believes someone told someone else where the toddler's body was being kept and then put the body in the box and tucked it onto a shelf on the rafters.

Lit candles join toys, balloons, and signs outside of the house at Federal and Leonard streets in East Toledo. This house is alongside the gathering site used by searchers for Elaina.
THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER Enlarge | Buy This Photo
“That box was not up there,” Mr. Schiewe said. “There was nothing. I took everything out of the rafters. Somebody put that body up there. Somebody went and got that body and put that body up there.”

Mr. Schiewe said he was going to meet with his daughter at the Lucas County jail at 11:20 a.m.

"I just hope there's closure," said Terry Steinfurth, Sr., the grandfather of missing toddler Elaina Steinfurth, "I'm here just for her. We did not want it to end this way."

"All we can hope for is that those who are responsible get a fair punishment. We still have a lot of questions. We are waiting for answers," he said.

Mr. Steinfurth spoke earlier today as he sat in his car parked by a boarded-up house at the intersection of Federal and Leonard Streets. A sign at the porch, which was half-filled with toys, said, "Bring Elaina home." There were also several spirit burners left aflame near the porch.

Mr. Steinfurth was one of several people who stopped by today at the home that had been used as an informal search headquarters for the missing girl this summer. A Toledo police officer was also present at the scene, just yards from the house on Federal, from which the toddler went missing. Two more officers remained in police cruisers parked near the house - one on the street and one in the alley behind it.

Terry Steinfurth, Jr., the girl's father, who came to the scene later, said he "just came down to see what was going on," adding that he was sure more people would come to Federal and Leonard later in the day.

"I'm still holding on to the hope that it's not her," he said. "But you've got to be realistic to some degree, too."

"So I'm just being hopeful," he said. "The police are doing what they can do, hopefully, you know. Justice will be served in the long run."

Elaina was 18-months-old when she last was seen in early June at the Federal Street home owned by the family of her mother’s estranged boyfriend.

Her mother, Mrs. Steinfurth, stayed overnight in the home the night of June 1 with her two daughters and then-boyfriend Mr. King, 23. The girls’ father, Terry Steinfurth II, 25, went to Federal Street at about 2 p.m. on June 2 to pick up the girls, but was only given their 4-year-old daughter, Kylee.

Mrs. Steinfurth, 25, who is estranged from Mr. Steinfurth, but still legally married to Mr. Steinfurth, said she didn’t know where the toddler was, police have reported.

Mrs. Steinfurth and Mr. King remain in the Lucas County jail charged with obstructing justice for allegedly lying to police during the ongoing investigation. Police have said that until they find Elaina or her remains, they consider the case to be a missing persons investigation. In Lucas County Common Pleas Court last month, Brad Smith, an assistant county prosecutor, referred to the investigation as a homicide.


Read more at

www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2013/09/06/Toledo-police-believe-human-remains-may-be-missing-toddler.html#pOvc872j7UudXbbL.99

[meme]

Baby Elaina case delayed while awaiting possible murder charges

The trial against an east Toledo man who led investigators to the remains of missing baby Elaina Steinfurth has been rescheduled until December.

Steven King, the ex-boyfriend of Elaina's mother, Angela Steinfurth, was in court Tuesday morning for a pretrial hearing. His new trial date has been set for Dec. 9.

Both the prosecution and the defense said they are waiting on the results of forensic results to determine if possible homicide charges should be brought against King.

Earlier in September, a breakthrough in the investigation into the disappearance of the toddler happened when King tipped investigators off to the location of Elaina's body, according to his mother.

READ: Steven King tells Toledo Police where to find Elaina Steinfurth remains.

Toledo Police executed a warrant that same day to search the detached garage at 704 Federal St., where they found a box containing "immature human skeletal remains." Results confirmed they belonged to those of baby Elaina.

Currently, King and Angela Steinfurth remained behind bars on charges of obstruction of justice. They were the last two people seen with Elaina before she was reported missing. No charges have been filed in Elaina's death.

Angela's court date has been pushed back Nov. 20. Her attorney asked for more time to review evidence.

Elaina's family and friends said their final goodbyes in late September.

www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?list=194900&id=964523#.UnAPzbOm8b_

[meme]

Coroner rules death of Baby Elaina homicide


Posted: Nov 06, 2013 1:46 PM CST
Updated: Nov 06, 2013 2:06 PM CST


The coroner has ruled the death of Toledo toddler Elaina Steinfurth to be a homicide.

Five of the young girl's bones were fractured, and, according to the location and nature of the injuries, the injuries are consistent with "non-accidental trauma" or "inflicted injuries," according to the coroner's report.

Elaina's mother, Angela Steinfurth, and her ex-boyfriend, Steven King, are both behind bars, charged with obstructing justice. No one has been charged with the child's death.

www.13abc.com/story/23895886/coroner-death-of-baby-elaina-ruled-homicide#.UnqenYX5oyM.facebook