All language subtitles for Disappeared.S04E02.WEBRip.x264-ION10

Narrator:
STEVEN KOECHER DISAPPEARED

ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2009.

WHEN A PERSON DISAPPEARS
WITHOUT A TRACE,

OFTEN,
THE MOST CRITICAL INFORMATION

IS HIDDEN
IN THEIR ACTIONS AND WORDS

FROM THE DAYS
BEFORE THEY VANISHED.

STEVEN KOECHER'S
LAST-KNOWN WHEREABOUTS

MAY HOLD THE CLUES
TO WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

A CHURCHGOING YOUNG MAN
GOES INEXPLICABLY MISSING,

AND HIS CAR IS FOUND ABANDONED
NEAR LAS VEGAS.

Rolf:
HIS CELLPHONE RECORDS,

HIS E-MAIL AND VOICEMAIL RECORDS
AND EVERYTHING STOPPED.

Narrator: HIS GRIEVING FAMILY
CANNOT MAKE SENSE OF IT.

IT WAS HORRIBLE --
A PUNCH IN THE STOMACH.

Narrator: A BLURRY VIDEO
MIGHT HAVE ANSWERS.

AND I THOUGHT,
"IS THAT HIM? IS THAT HIM?"

Narrator: AND SOME WONDER
IF HIS CASE IS LINKED

TO ANOTHER HIGH-PROFILE
MISSING-PERSONS CASE.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

Narrator: LABORIOUS SEARCHES
LEAD TO FRIGHTENING FINDINGS.

SOME OF THE OTHER SEARCHERS
FOUND BONES.

Narrator:
ONLY ONE THING IS CLEAR.

Olmstead:
RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO, WE KNEW

THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL,
THIS IS NOT COMMON.

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: IT'S WINTER, 2009,
IN ST. GEORGE, UTAH.

AN ECONOMIC RECESSION
IS IN FULL SWING.

30-YEAR-OLD JOURNALIST
STEVEN KOECHER IS STRUGGLING.

LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS,

HE'S BEEN LAID OFF
AND CAN'T FIND FULL-TIME WORK.

WE SAID, "WELL, AT LEAST
GET A TEMPORARY JOB

UNTIL YOU CAN
GET YOURSELF ON YOUR FEET."

AND EVERYWHERE HE WENT,
THERE WAS 150 APPLICANTS.

Narrator:
EARLIER IN THE YEAR,

STEVEN HAD GIVEN UP A NEWSPAPER
JOB IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH,

NEAR HIS PARENTS' HOME.

SO HE MOVED FIVE HOURS SOUTH.

THEY WISHED HE HADN'T RELOCATED
SO FAR AWAY.

WE KNEW HE WAS STRUGGLING,
AND, LIKE THEY SAY,

THAT'S WHY
WE WANTED HIM TO COME HOME.

Narrator: STEVEN'S ABSENCE
IS HARD FOR THE KOECHERS,

WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
A CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY.

THE SECOND OF FIVE CHILDREN,
STEVEN IS OUTGOING AND LIVELY.

Naegle:
STEVEN WAS A VERY CURIOUS KID.

HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE
WHERE THE ACTION WAS.

HE TOLD ME ONE TIME, "IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE'RE DOING.

"WE COULD BE PAINTING ROCKS,

AND AS LONG AS WE'RE DOING
SOMETHING TOGETHER, IT'S FUN."

HE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING OUT

FOR THE TENDER REASON
THAT YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING.

HE LIKED SPORTS...

...BUT HE WAS ARTISTIC.

HE LIKED TO DRAW,
AND HE LIKED TO SING,

AND HE LIKED TO PLAY HIS GUITAR.

Narrator:
FROM HIS YOUNGEST DAYS,

STEVEN WAS A CLEAN-CUT,
DUTIFUL SON.

HE WASN'T JUST A BOY SCOUT.
HE WAS AN EAGLE SCOUT.

A SCOUT IS
TRUSTWORTHY, LOYAL,

HELPFUL, FRIENDLY,
COURTEOUS, KIND...

HIS EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT WAS
IN THE COMMUNICATIONS FIELD.

HE CREATED A FLYER TO PROMOTE
A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.

Narrator: AFTER GRADUATING
WITH A DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS

FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH,

IT SEEMED STEVEN WOULD FOLLOW
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS FATHER,

A PUBLICIST
AND NEWSPAPER EDITOR.

HE HAD A LOT OF CONNECTIONS
THROUGH HIS DAD,

AND SO HE STARTED OUT WRITING
ARTICLES AND ADVERTISEMENTS --

FILLING ADS FOR THE NEWSPAPERS.

Narrator:
BUT ONE DAY IN 2009,

STEVEN LEFT HIS JOB
WITH THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

AND TOLD HIS PARENTS
HE WAS MOVING SOUTH.

Rolf: HE JUST SAID,
"I'M TIRED OF THE LONG WINTERS."

WE GREW UP IN TEXAS WHERE
THE WINTERS WEREN'T AS LONG,

AND THEY KIND OF
STARTED WEARING ON HIM,

AND HE SAID ST. GEORGE
WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

Deanne:
HE DID HAVE AN ENTHUSIASM

AND KIND OF A WANDERLUST
ABOUT LIFE.

HE WOULD JUST TRY ANYTHING.
HE HAD NO FEAR.

Narrator: THE TOWN HE CHOSE
IS WARM AND SCENIC,

BUT IT'S BEEN HARD-HIT
BY THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

THE BIG INDUSTRY
IS CONSTRUCTION,

AND WHEN THAT KIND OF WENT DOWN
WITH THE RECESSION,

BOY, IT JUST TORE THE GUTS
OUT OF THE ECONOMY.

Narrator: IN APRIL 2009,
STEVEN FINDS A ROOM FOR RENT

IN A HOUSE WHICH HE SHARES
WITH ANOTHER TENANT.

BUT THE TWO
HAVE LITTLE IN COMMON.

HE SAID HIS ROOMMATE
WAS KIND OF CRAZY.

Narrator: HE TRIES TO
MAKE FRIENDS WITH HIS ROOMMATE,

BUT THEIR VALUES DON'T MESH.

FOR ONE THING,
STEVEN IS A DEVOUT MORMON

WHO DOESN'T EVEN DRINK COFFEE.

STEVEN WOULD INVITE HIM
TO CHURCH ACTIVITIES

WHEN THEY WOULD PLAY BASKETBALL,

AND HE WOULD COME OCCASIONALLY,

BUT HE WAS NEVER INTERESTED
IN GOING TO CHURCH.

Narrator: ST. GEORGE
HAS A LARGE MORMON POPULATION,

ALSO KNOWN AS THE CHURCH OF
THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS, OR LDS.

STEVEN QUICKLY BECOMES INVOLVED

IN A LOCAL CONGREGATION
OF YOUNG PEOPLE, CALLED A WARD,

IN THE LDS.

FOR SINGLE ADULTS IN THE CHURCH,
YOUR WARD IS KIND OF YOUR LIFE.

THAT'S WHERE
YOU BASE EVERYTHING.

THAT'S WHERE YOU MEET PEOPLE

THAT, YOU KNOW,
HAVE SIMILAR VALUES.

THEY'RE GOING THE SAME DIRECTION
IN THEIR LIVES.

Narrator:
HIS CHURCH LIFE IS FULFILLING.

BUT THERE'S A BIG HOLE
IN STEVEN'S PERSONAL LIFE.

UNLIKE HIS SIBLINGS, MOST OF
WHOM ARE MARRIED WITH CHILDREN,

STEVEN DOESN'T EVEN HAVE
A STEADY RELATIONSHIP.

Deanne: THERE WAS A GIRL
THAT HE DATED FOR A LONG TIME,

BUT HE NEEDED TO BREAK IT OFF

BECAUSE HER INTEREST
IN THE CHURCH WASN'T THE SAME.

* I KNOW YOU LEFT ME

* WASTING AWAY

* BUT I KEEP HOPING

* FOR A BETTER DAY

ONE OR TWO BECAME
VERY CLOSE TO AN ENGAGEMENT,

BUT HE DIDN'T FEEL
IT WAS THE RIGHT ONE.

Naegle: I KNOW THAT FINDING
A WIFE WAS TOPS ON HIS LIST.

THAT'S A BIG THING IN OUR
CHURCH, AND TO HAVE A FAMILY.

WE BELIEVE THAT TO PROGRESS
TO OUR FULL POTENTIAL,

YOU NEED A FAMILY.

Narrator:
STEVEN IS FAR FROM REALIZING

THIS CRUCIAL LIFE GOAL,

AND AS THE YEAR GOES ON,
HE'S RUNNING OUT OF MONEY, TOO.

HIS COUSIN K.C. WORRIES
THAT STEVEN FEELS LIKE A FAILURE

COMPARED TO HIS SUCCESSFUL
SIBLINGS AND COUSINS.

WE HAVE SO MANY COUSINS, AND
ALL OF THEM ARE JUST SO AMAZING,

AND THEY ALL ACCOMPLISHED
GREAT THINGS.

AND IT'S NOT LIKE
WE EVER LOOKED DOWN ON HIM.

WE NEVER DID.

BUT IT'S STILL HARD
NOT TO COMPARE YOURSELF.

Narrator: STEVEN'S FAMILY
IS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS STRUGGLES

AND OFFERS FINANCIAL HELP.

BUT STEVEN IS RESISTANT.

HIS GRANDMOTHER
HAD GIVEN HIM A CHECK.

Narrator:
BUT STEVEN DOESN'T CASH IT.

HIS PARENTS TRIED TO GIVE HIM
MONEY FOR RENT,

AND HE NEVER USED IT.

SO IT REALLY SHOWS ME

THAT HE WAS STRUGGLING
WITH ACCEPTING HANDOUTS.

Narrator: BY THE FALL OF 2009,
THERE'S FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS.

STEVEN HAS LANDED
A PART-TIME JOB

DOING MARKETING
AND HANDING OUT FLYERS

FOR A WINDOW-WASHING COMPANY.

BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH
TO PAY THE BILLS.

ONE DAY, STEVEN'S FATHER, ROLF,

GETS A PHONE CALL
FROM HIS SON'S LANDLORD.

Rolf:
THE LANDLORD TOLD US

HE WAS ABOUT 2½ MONTHS BEHIND
IN HIS RENT,

AND SO I CALLED HIM ONE EVENING

AND SAID,
"I'M GLAD TO HELP YOU."

AND HE GOT A LITTLE OFFENDED

AND DID NOT WANT TO CONTINUE
THE CONVERSATION.

Narrator: ROLF IS UPSET
THAT HIS SON HAS HUNG UP ON HIM,

BUT HE GETS A REASSURING MESSAGE
THE NEXT DAY, DECEMBER 10th.

Narrator:
STEVEN SENT ME A TEXT BACK.

IT SAYS, "I'M OKAY, DAD.
JUST WANT TO DO IT ON MY OWN."

Narrator:
THEN STEVEN CALLS HIS MOM,

SOUNDING UPBEAT AND EAGER
TO MAKE PLANS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN HE WAS
GONNA COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

HE WAS SAYING, "WELL, I HAVE TO
WORK ON THIS DAY AND THIS DAY,

SO I THINK I CAN GET HOME
BY THE 23rd."

Narrator: CONTENT THAT THEY
WILL SEE STEVEN FOR CHRISTMAS,

THE KOECHERS RELAX.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA
THESE ARE THE LAST CONVERSATIONS

THEY WILL HAVE WITH THEIR SON
BEFORE HE DISAPPEARS.

JUST ONE WEEK LATER,
DISASTER STRIKES.

Rolf: I CAME HOME, AND MY WIFE
WAS SITTING IN THE DARK.

SHE WAS JUST
HUDDLED OVER THE PHONE,

AND SHE PLAYED BACK
THIS VOICE MESSAGE

FROM THE POLICE
IN HENDERSON, NEVADA,

SAYING HIS CAR HAD BEEN FOUND
ABANDONED SINCE DECEMBER 13th.

Narrator: HENDERSON, NEVADA,
IS TWO HOURS FROM ST. GEORGE

BUT JUST 20 MINUTES
FROM LAS VEGAS.

WHAT WAS STEVEN DOING IN
THE VEGAS AREA, OF ALL PLACES?

HIS PARENTS HAVE NO IDEA.

COMING UP, THE KOECHERS LEARN

THAT THERE ARE OTHER MYSTERIES
IN THEIR SON'S LIFE --

SECRETS FOR WHICH
THEY HAVE NO KEY.

LOOKING BACK,
WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING ON

WAS VERY DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

Narrator:
IT'S BEEN A WEEK

SINCE ROLF AND DEANNE KOECHER,
IN THE SALT LAKE CITY AREA,

HAVE HEARD FROM
THEIR SON STEVEN,

WHO LIVES IN ST. GEORGE, UTAH.

THEN, ON THURSDAY,
DECEMBER 17th,

THEY GET AN OMINOUS CALL
FROM POLICE IN NEVADA.

Deanne: HE SAID, "THIS IS THE
HENDERSON PARKING ENFORCEMENT.

"WE HAVE THIS CAR HERE.
WE'RE SORRY THAT IT'S HERE.

"IS THERE ANYTHING
YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT?

WE THINK IT'S
YOUR SON STEVEN'S CAR."

AND I COULD ALMOST NOT BREATHE.

Narrator:
THE CAR, THEY LEARN,

HAS BEEN PARKED IN A CUL-DE-SAC
SINCE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13th.

IT HAD BEEN ABANDONED THERE
FOR FOUR DAYS,

AND THAT'S A LONG TIME FOR
THAT CAR TO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED.

Narrator: HENDERSON
IS TWO HOURS FROM STEVEN'S HOME

IN ST. GEORGE, UTAH,

BUT 20 MINUTES FROM LAS VEGAS.

THE KOECHERS CAN'T IMAGINE
WHAT STEVEN, A DEVOUT MORMON,

MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOING
IN SIN CITY.

IT WAS HORRIBLE --
A PUNCH IN THE STOMACH.

FRANTIC, AND THEN I THOUGHT,
"WHAT DO I KNOW? I DON'T KNOW."

Narrator: THE KOECHERS
CAN'T REACH STEVEN ON HIS CELL,

AND ALTHOUGH
THEY SHARE A FAMILY PLAN,

THEIR CELLULAR PROVIDER
CAN'T LOCATE THE PHONE.

THEY SAID,
"IT'S NOT CHARGED UP."

STEVEN'S PHONE WAS DEAD.

Narrator: WHAT
COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO STEVEN?

DEANNE SUSPECTS ITS SOMETHING
WORSE THAN A JAUNT TO LAS VEGAS.

SHE'S AFRAID THAT LONELINESS
AND FINANCIAL TROUBLES

HAVE OVERWHELMED HIM.

I THOUGHT, "LIFE
GOT REALLY TOO TOUGH FOR HIM.

HE'S WALKED OUT
INTO THE DESERT,"

AND WAS HORRIFIED BY THAT,

BUT THAT'S KIND OF
WHERE I WENT IN MY HEAD FIRST.

Narrator:
STEVEN'S ANGUISHED PARENTS

CALL THE POLICE IN ST. GEORGE,

WHO ASSIGN DETECTIVE
ADAM OLMSTEAD TO THE CASE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A REASON

AS TO WHY HIS CAR
WOULD BE WHERE IT'S AT.

THAT WAS ONE THING THAT WAS
VERY SUSPICIOUS FROM THE GET-GO.

Rolf: WE FILED A MISSING-PERSONS
REPORT THAT EVENING.

LATER THAT EVENING,

WE GOT IN THE CAR
WITH MY TWO YOUNGEST SONS,

AND WE DROVE THROUGH THE NIGHT.

Narrator:
IN ST. GEORGE,

ROLF LETS HIMSELF
INTO HIS SON'S RENTED HOUSE

WITH A COPY OF THE KEY.

THE ROOMMATE IS GONE,
MOVED OUT A MONTH BEFORE.

STEVEN'S ROOM IS NEAT AND
LOOKS AS IF HE PLANS TO RETURN.

HIS LAPTOP WAS THERE.

HIS CELLPHONE CHARGER
WAS STILL IN THE WALL.

SO IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE

HE WAS PLANNING TO BE GONE
FOR A LONG TIME.

AND MOST OF HIS STUFF WAS THERE.

Narrator: ON THE OTHER HAND,
THEY CAN'T FIND HIS PASSPORT.

Rolf:
A MONTH BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED,

HE ASKED ME FOR THE PASSPORT
FOR HIS JOB APPLICATIONS,

AND THEN WHEN WE WENT THROUGH
HIS EFFECTS, IT WASN'T THERE.

THAT WAS HUGE, BECAUSE
IT MAKES THIS PREMEDITATED.

Narrator: BUT IF STEVEN
WERE PLANNING TO DISAPPEAR,

WOULD HE LEAVE HIS PHONE CHARGER
AND LAPTOP BEHIND?

Naegle: IN THE BEGINNING, NO ONE
KNEW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM,

AND THERE WERE SO LITTLE FACTS.

Narrator: ROLF GRABBED
STEVEN'S SPARE CAR KEY,

AND WITH MOUNTING ANXIETY,

HE AND TWO OF HIS OTHER SONS
HEAD FOR HENDERSON, NEVADA.

TWO HOURS LATER, THEY FIND
STEVEN'S ABANDONED CAR.

WHERE THEY FIND IT
ONLY DEEPENS THE MYSTERY.

IT WAS IN A CUL-DE-SAC IN THIS
VERY NICE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.

Narrator: RESIDENTS OF THE
COMMUNITY MUST BE OLDER THAN 55,

AND THE CUL-DE-SAC
IS QUITE FAR FROM A MAIN ROAD.

Rolf:
THIS IS NOT A PLACE

WHERE YOU WOULD ACTUALLY JUST GO
TO DROP A CAR.

IT'S JUST NOT, YOU KNOW,

WHERE YOU RUN OUT OF GAS
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S A VERY AFFLUENT AREA,

AND IT BECAME VERY CLEAR THIS
WAS NOT AN ORDINARY SITUATION.

Narrator: ROLF TRIES HIS KEY
IN THE IGNITION.

THE CAR STARTED,
AND IT HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS,

SO IT DIDN'T RUN OUT OF GAS,
IT WASN'T NOT FUNCTIONING.

Narrator: ROLF WONDERS

IF THE CAR HAD BEEN STOLEN
AND ABANDONED HERE

OR IF STEVEN HAD DRIVEN HERE,
EXPECTING TO MEET SOMEONE.

HE CALLS THE HENDERSON POLICE,
AND OFFICERS RESPOND QUICKLY.

THEY SPENT TWO HOURS LOOKING
AT THE SCENE AND FILING REPORTS,

AND THEY IMMEDIATELY SUSPECTED

ALL THE USUAL ALCOHOL OR DRUGS
OR WHATEVER.

Narrator: BECAUSE OF
HENDERSON'S PROXIMITY TO VEGAS,

LOCAL POLICE
HAVE A LOT OF PRACTICE

TRACKING MISSING PERSONS.

LAS VEGAS
IS ONE PLACE PEOPLE HEAD FOR

WHEN THEY WANT TO GET LOST,

AND ABOUT 2,500 PEOPLE
GO MISSING THERE EVERY YEAR.

SO IT'S NOT UNUSUAL.

BUT THEY DON'T GO MISSING
IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

Narrator:
ROLF FINDS IT HARD TO BELIEVE

THAT THE USUAL
VEGAS ATTRACTIONS --

GAMBLING AND PARTYING --

HAVE PLAYED A ROLE
IN HIS SON'S DISAPPEARANCE.

Rolf: WE CHECKED HIS CAR, TOO,
AND THERE WERE AUDIO RECORDINGS

OF SCRIPTURES
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

Narrator:
THEN HE SEES A POSSIBLE CLUE

TO WHY STEVEN
MIGHT HAVE COME HERE --

ADVERTISING FLYERS

FOR THE WINDOW-WASHING COMPANY
HE CURRENTLY WORKS FOR

ARE TOSSED ON THE DASHBOARD.

WE THOUGHT MAYBE
HE HAD DISTRIBUTED THE CARDS --

HE WAS TRYING TO ESTABLISH
THE BUSINESS THERE.

Narrator:
THEY ALSO SEE

MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS
FOR GAS AND FOOD,

A COAT, PILLOWS, AND BLANKETS
IN THE CAR,

AS IF STEVEN MIGHT HAVE TRAVELED
SOME DISTANCE

AND SLEPT IN THE CAR.

BUT ON THE BACK SEAT, THERE'S
SOMETHING THAT PUZZLES THEM.

AMONG THE THINGS WE FOUND IN
THE CAR WAS A BAG FROM K-MART.

Narrator: IT CONTAINS DECORATED
COOKIES AND A BABY BIB.

COULD THESE BE
CHRISTMAS GIFTS STEVEN BOUGHT

FOR ONE OF HIS BROTHERS
AND HIS FAMILY?

Naegle: HE BOUGHT
LITTLE ORNAMENTS FOR THE KIDS

AND A BIB FOR THE BABY AND JUST
LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT.

HE WAS FRUGAL ABOUT IT,
BUT IT WAS CUTE, YOU KNOW?

HE PUT SOME THOUGHT INTO IT.

AND SO, THAT SHOWS TO US THAT HE
WAS COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

HE HAD NO INTENTION
OF SKIPPING OUT.

Narrator: STILL, IN THE TRUNK,
THERE'S A DISTURBING REMINDER

OF THE TOUGH TIMES
STEVEN WAS GOING THROUGH.

Rolf: THE HEARTBREAKING THING
FOR US IN THE TRUNK --

THERE WERE DOZENS AND DOZENS

OF APPLICATIONS FOR JOBS
THAT HE'D MADE.

THEY WERE HIS COPIES, YOU KNOW?

THAT KIND OF TORE
MY HEARTSTRINGS TO SEE THAT,

[Voice breaking]
'CAUSE HE'D WORKED SO HARD

AT FINDING A JOB.

Narrator: THE POLICE
DO NO FORENSICS ON THE CAR

BECAUSE THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
THAT THE CAR WAS HIJACKED

OR THAT ANY HARM
HAS COME TO STEVEN.

THE KOECHERS
ACCEPT THEIR REASONING,

EVEN THOUGH
THEY DOUBT THEIR CONCLUSION.

Naegle: THE POLICE BELIEVE
THAT HE WOULD BE FOUND

IN A COUPLE DAYS, YOU KNOW --

HE WENT OFF WITH A FRIEND
TO VEGAS

OR JUST WANTED TO GET AWAY
FOR A WHILE,

FORGOT HIS CHARGER AT HOME

AND WAS OUT
DOING SOMETHING NORMAL --

ALL SORTS OF THEORIES.

Narrator: NONE OF THESE THEORIES
REASSURES THE KOECHERS,

WHO ARE RACKED WITH FEAR

THAT SOMETHING SINISTER
HAS HAPPENED TO THEIR SON.

COMING UP, SOME MYSTERIOUS VIDEO
MAY PROVIDE ANSWERS.

I THOUGHT, "THERE HE IS."

AND THEN I THOUGHT,
"IS THAT HIM? IS THAT HIM?"

Narrator: WHEN THEIR
30-YEAR-OLD SON, STEVEN,

GOES MISSING
IN A TOWN NEAR LAS VEGAS,

THE KOECHER FAMILY
IS DISTRAUGHT AND BEWILDERED.

BUT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF A CRIME,
OFFICIALS CAN'T OFFER MUCH HELP.

FOR THE FIRST NEARLY A WEEK,

WE GOT NO COOPERATION FROM
THE MEDIA OR THE POLICE, REALLY.

Narrator:
ODDLY, THE CAR HAS BEEN FOUND

IN A CUL-DE-SAC IN AN UPSCALE
RETIREMENT NEIGHBORHOOD,

SO THAT'S WHERE ROLF KOECHER
AND HIS SONS BEGIN THEIR SEARCH.

Rolf: IT TURNS OUT --
ON THAT VERY FIRST DAY

WE KNOCKED ON THE VERY FIRST
HOUSE NEAR THE CUL-DE-SAC,

AND THEY SAID THEY HAD
A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA SET UP.

Narrator:
THE HOMEOWNERS' CAMERAS

MIGHT HAVE CAPTURED IMAGES OF
STEVEN'S CAR, OR EVEN OF STEVEN.

BUT SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
WILL BE REQUIRED

TO LOCATE AND DOWNLOAD
THE FOOTAGE.

WE EVENTUALLY GOT
SOME PRIVATE DETECTIVES

THAT MY BROTHER-IN-LAW
HAD HIRED.

THEY WENT OVER THERE, AND
THEY WORKED THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

Narrator: IT COULD TAKE DAYS
FOR THE FOOTAGE TO BE ANALYZED.

MEANWHILE, ROLF AND HIS SONS
COMB THE NEIGHBORHOOD

AND THEN LOOK
FOR ANY PLACE THEY CAN THINK OF

WHERE SOMEONE WHO IS LOST
MIGHT TURN UP.

Rolf:
HE HAD TO BE EITHER

IN A SHELTER, IN A HOSPITAL,
IN A JAIL, OR SOMEWHERE.

WE THOUGHT, "THERE'S NO WAY

SOMEONE CAN JUST
TOTALLY DISAPPEAR LIKE THIS."

Narrator: AT HOME,

STEVEN'S MOTHER, DEANNE,
IS ALSO SEARCHING,

STARTING WITH
STEVEN'S CELLPHONE HISTORY.

I JUST STARTED TRYING TO FIND
ANYTHING --

ANY CLUE, ANY PERSON,

ANYTHING THAT WOULD GIVE US
WHY WAS HE THERE.

I WAS SURE
THAT SOMEONE WAS GONNA SAY,

"WELL, WE HAD AN ACTIVITY.

WE WENT DOWN TO VEGAS
TO DO SOMETHING."

Narrator:
SHE'S BEGINNING TO REALIZE

HOW LITTLE SHE KNOWS
ABOUT HER SON'S LIFE.

Deanne: I DIDN'T KNOW
WHO HIS FRIENDS WERE.

Deanne: DEANNE LEARNS
THAT THE LAST TWO PEOPLE

WHO SPOKE TO STEVEN
ARE MEMBERS OF HIS CHURCH,

CALLING TO TALK ABOUT
CHURCH BUSINESS FOR THAT DAY.

ONE MAN CALLED HIM AT 7:52 A.M.,
AND THE OTHER AT 9:53 A.M.

THE SUNDAY HE WENT MISSING.

A COUPLE
OF HIS WARD MEMBERS CALLED,

AND HE ANSWERED AND SAID,
"I'M IN VEGAS."

UNFORTUNATELY, HE NEVER SAID
WHY HE WAS IN VEGAS.

Narrator: WHAT THOSE CALLS
DO TELL THE FAMILY

IS THAT STEVEN APPEARED TO BE
CALM, RATIONAL, AND FORTHRIGHT

ON THE MORNING OF THE 13th.

HE DIDN'T HIDE WHERE HE WAS,

AND HE COULD HAVE JUST SAID
HE WAS ANYWHERE

IF HE WAS TRYING NOT TO BE FOUND

OR HE WAS
TRYING TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

Narrator: STEVEN'S MOTHER,
DEANNE, THEN LOOKS

AT HER SON'S CHECKING-ACCOUNT
AND DEBIT-CARD STATEMENTS,

TO WHICH SHE HAS ACCESS.

THERE'S BEEN NO ACTIVITY
SINCE THE DAY HE WENT MISSING --

A DISTURBING REVELATION.

NEXT, DEANNE TURNS
TO STEVEN'S LAPTOP.

STEVEN'S OLDER BROTHER
WAS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT

HIS YAHOO! ACCOUNT
AND READ HIS E-MAIL.

Narrator: THEY FIND ENDLESS
JOB APPLICATIONS AND REJECTIONS,

BUT NOTHING ABOUT APPOINTMENTS
IN VEGAS OR ANYWHERE ELSE,

NO VISITS TO SUICIDE WEBSITES,

AND NO INDICATION
HE WAS PLANNING TO LEAVE TOWN.

WITH CHRISTMAS APPROACHING,

THE FAMILY IS AT A LOSS
FOR WHERE TO LOOK NEXT.

THEY MISS THEIR SON DESPERATELY.

[ Voice breaking ]
STEVEN WAS HOME FOR THANKSGIVING

BEFORE HE WENT MISSING,

AND WE HAVE THIS EVERGREEN TREE
THAT'S OUT IN THE FRONT,

AND HE WRAPPED IT
WITH WHITE LIGHTS.

Naegle: THEY JUST NEVER
TOOK THE LIGHTS OFF,

AND DEANNE SAID,
"HE'S GONNA COME HOME,

AND HE'S GONNA
TAKE THOSE LIGHTS OFF."

AND SO THEY JUST LEFT IT ON.

Narrator: DEANNE CLINGS
TO THE PROMISE STEVEN MADE

THE LAST TIME THEY TALKED --
HE'D BE HOME ON THE 23rd.

Naegle: SHE TOLD ME
QUITE A FEW TIMES, YOU KNOW,

"EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

HE'LL JUST WALK IN THE DOOR,
AND IT WILL BE OKAY."

WHEN THAT DAY CAME AND WENT,
IT WAS WORSE THAN CHRISTMAS.

IT WAS WORSE.

THAT'S WHEN HE SAID
HE'D BE HOME, AND HE WASN'T.

Narrator: CHRISTMAS ALSO PASSES
WITH NO STEVEN AND NO NEWS.

JUST AS THE FAMILY
FEELS THEY'VE HIT ROCK BOTTOM,

THEY GET A CALL
FROM THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS

THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

THEY'VE FINALLY ANALYZED
THE SECURITY VIDEO

SHOT IN THE AREA
WHERE STEVEN'S CAR WAS FOUND.

IT SHOWS THE CAR
AND SOMEONE WALKING AWAY.

IT SHOWS HIS CAR PULLING UP
OUT OF VIEW OF THE CAMERA

IN THE CUL-DE-SAC.

AND HE'S IN HIS CAR
FOR SIX MINUTES.

AND ALMOST EXACTLY AT NOON, YOU
SEE HIM WALKING DOWN THE ROAD

RIGHT PAST
THE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.

IT LOOKED TO ME
LIKE HE WAS HOLDING

A LITTLE, LIKE, MANILA FOLDER,

LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RESUME
IN THERE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEN HE TURNS,

AND THE OTHER SURVEILLANCE
CAMERA ON THAT HOUSE

CATCHES HIM
WALKING ACROSS THE STREET.

Narrator: BUT IS THE PERSON
IN THE VIDEO REALLY STEVEN?

Deanne: AND I THOUGHT,
"IS THAT HIM? IS THAT HIM?"

BUT NOW THAT I'VE SEEN
A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PICTURES,

I'M PRETTY COMFORTABLE THAT
THAT'S MY SON.

Naegle:
IT LOOKS LIKE HIM --

THE WAY THAT HE WOULD WALK,
THE CLOTHES THAT HE WOULD WEAR.

I BELIEVE THAT IT IS HIM,
BUT IT'S HARD TO BE 100% SURE.

HE'S HEADING DOWN THE ROAD

TO WHAT LOOKS LIKE
ANOTHER NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE,

AND THEN HE GOES OFF CAMERA
AND OUT OF OUR LIVES.

Narrator: DID STEVEN
GO INTO A NEARBY HOUSE?

DID HE JUMP INTO ANOTHER CAR?

TAKE A BUS TO PARTS UNKNOWN?

OR DID HE JUST KEEP WALKING?

THE KOECHERS REALIZE THEY
NEED TO BROADEN THEIR SEARCH.

TWO WEEKS
AFTER STEVEN DISAPPEARS,

A RELATIVE
HAS A SURPRISING SUGGESTION.

MY WIFE'S COUSIN SAID, "I HAVE
A FRIEND IN THE LOCAL DAIRY,

AND MAYBE WE COULD PUT STEVEN'S
PICTURE ON MILK CARTONS."

Narrator:
THE DAIRY READILY AGREES

BUT FIRST CHECKS
WITH THE HENDERSON POLICE

ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE CASE.

THEY HAD TO FINALLY
LOOK AT HIS CASE AND SAY,

"YOU KNOW,
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"

AND I THINK
THAT PUTTING HIS PICTURE

ON THE ANDERSON DAIRY
MILK CARTONS

REALLY PUSHED THE POLICE

TO LOOK AT HIS CASE
FOR THE FIRST TIME

AND TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

Narrator:
IT TURNS OUT TO BE THE MOVE

THAT KICKS THE INVESTIGATION
TO A NEW LEVEL.

HENDERSON DETECTIVE ROBERT McKAY
IS ASSIGNED TO THE CASE.

McKay: WE STARTED GOING DOOR
TO DOOR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO LOCATE

ANYONE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT HAD SEEN HIM.

WE STARTED TO THINK

THAT MAYBE STEVEN HAD WALKED OFF
AND HIKED INTO THE DESERT.

MAYBE HE HAD FALLEN,
HE'D BEEN HURT,

SO AT THAT POINT, WE DECIDED
TO GET THE HELICOPTER OUT THERE

TO LOOK FOR HIM,
AND ALSO SOME ATVs.

Narrator: AT THE END OF
DECEMBER, THE HENDERSON POLICE,

TOGETHER WITH
THE LAS VEGAS METRO POLICE

AND MANY VOLUNTEERS,
STAGE A MASSIVE FOUR-DAY SEARCH.

McKay: THE DESERT AREA AROUND
THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD

IS QUITE HILLY AND ROCKY
AND NOT EASY TO WALK AROUND.

AFTER THAT LARGE
AIR-AND-GROUND SEARCH,

THE GROUND SEARCHERS
DID A SECOND DAY,

AND THEY WENT DOOR TO DOOR

WITH FLYERS
THAT THEY HAD CREATED --

PICTURES AND POSTERS --
AND WENT TO HUNDREDS OF HOMES.

A WEEK LATER,
OUR EXTENDED FAMILY CAME DOWN,

AND WE DID ANOTHER SEARCH
OF THAT AREA.

Narrator: IT'S AN ENORMOUS
EFFORT, AND IT YIELDS NOTHING.

THEN A STRANGER STEPS FORWARD
WITH A STARTLING THEORY.

COMING UP...

DID STEVEN RUN OFF
WITH A MISSING UTAH WOMAN?

THEY DISAPPEARED
WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER,

AND THEY'RE BOTH
VERY MYSTERIOUS.

Narrator: GET MORE
"DISAPPEARED" ONLINE AT...

Narrator:
AFTER HIS CAR IS FOUND ABANDONED

IN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
JUST OUTSIDE LAS VEGAS,

30-YEAR-OLD STEVEN KOECHER
HAS BEEN MISSING FOR A MONTH.

OFFICIALS HAVE THEORIES
BUT NO REAL LEADS.

McKay:
STEVEN COULD HAVE MET SOMEONE

ONLINE OR THROUGH A FRIEND

AND CAME HERE TO MEET WITH THEM

AND POSSIBLY
GONE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

OR SOMETHING EVEN MORE DIRE
MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO HIM.

THE ENTIRE INVESTIGATION,

ALL THE CLUES THAT WE'VE
UNCOVERED TALKING WITH PEOPLE...

Narrator:
HIS ANGUISHED FAMILY

REACHES OUT TO THE PUBLIC
FOR HELP.

AS YOU CAN SEE, HIS INFORMATION
IS ON THESE MILK CARTONS.

THE PRESS
PICKS UP THE STORY,

AND STEVEN'S COUSIN,
A SOFTWARE DEVELOPER,

USES SOCIAL MEDIA
TO ADVANCE THE INVESTIGATION.

Naegle:
I CREATED A FACEBOOK PAGE,

AND WE WOULD GET TIPS
FROM THERE,

AND THERE WAS ONE

THAT WAS VERY POSITIVE
THAT THEY SAW HIM IN IHOP.

AND SO WE CALLED THE IHOP,
AND THE MANAGER SAYS,

"YEAH, THERE'S THIS GUY
THAT COMES IN EVERY NIGHT,

"AND HE'S OBVIOUSLY HOMELESS,
AND HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY MONEY,

"SO WE GIVE HIM AN ICED TEA,

AND HE LOOKS LIKE
THIS GUY ON THE POSTER."

Narrator:
COULD STEVEN BE WANDERING,

HOMELESS AND CONFUSED,
AROUND LAS VEGAS?

THE FAMILY BELIEVES
THAT IS A POSSIBILITY --

THAT STEVEN
HAD SOME SORT OF MENTAL ISSUE.

Narrator: HIS MOTHER BELIEVES
HIS MENTAL INSTABILITY

COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED
BY DEPRESSION

OR A PHYSICAL INJURY,
SUCH AS A BLOW TO THE HEAD.

Deanne:
MAYBE HE WAS GOING TO WALK AWAY

FROM THE LIFE THAT HE KNEW,

AND SO THERE WAS
A MENTAL DISCONNECT,

AND HE WAS GOING TO --

HE WAS JUST GONNA DO
A TOTALLY DIFFERENT LIFE.

Narrator: CLINGING TO THIS SHRED
OF HOPE OF FINDING STEVEN ALIVE,

THE ENTIRE FAMILY
SPENDS TWO DAYS AT THE IHOP.

THEY SAID THAT THIS PERSON
HAD BEEN THERE ON A FRIDAY.

WE WENT DOWN WITH FAMILY.

WE SAT AND DRANK
HOT CHOCOLATE ALL DAY.

Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY, THE
HOMELESS MAN NEVER REAPPEARS.

MEANWHILE,
THE TIPS KEEP POURING IN.

QUITE A FEW OF THEM
INVOLVED SEEING STEVEN

AT A BUS STOP OR ON A BUS
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

Narrator:
WHILE POLICE INVESTIGATORS

FOLLOW UP ON EVERY LEAD,

THERE'S ONE FACT
THAT HAS THEM STUMPED.

LOOKING OVER
STEVEN'S CELLPHONE RECORDS,

DETECTIVE OLMSTEAD REALIZES

THAT, OMINOUSLY,
SOMEONE USED HIS PHONE

AT 6:04 A.M.
THE DAY AFTER HE DISAPPEARED.

BUT WHO?

THE PHONE GOT TO VOICEMAIL,
CHECKED HIS VOICEMAIL,

AND THERE'S NO WAY OF SAYING
WHO CHECKED HIS VOICEMAIL.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S WHERE THIS
CASE TAKES A DIFFERENT TWIST.

Naegle:
IF HE DISAPPEARED,

HE COULD HAVE DITCHED THE PHONE
AND SOMEONE PICKED IT UP.

IF HE WAS HURT BY SOMEONE,

THEY COULD HAVE TAKEN THE PHONE
AND DITCHED IT SOMEWHERE.

Olmstead: IF THERE WAS A CRIME,
IF STEVEN CAME UPON SOMETHING

THAT TURNED INTO
A BAD SITUATION,

IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT SOMEBODY
COULD HAVE DIALED THAT NUMBER

IN AN ATTEMPT
TO LISTEN TO MESSAGES.

THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS
WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANSWERS FOR.

Narrator: AS QUESTIONS
WITHOUT ANSWERS PILE UP,

A STARTLING HYPOTHESIS
COMES OUT OF LEFT FIELD.

Olmstead: I WAS CONTACTED
BY STEVEN POWELL,

WHO RESIDES IN WASHINGTON STATE

AND IS THE FATHER
OF JOSHUA POWELL,

WHOSE WIFE IS SUSAN POWELL,
WHO IS MISSING.

MORE THAN TWO WEEKS
AFTER A UTAH MOTHER,

SUSAN POWELL, DISAPPEARED,

POLICE ARE NOW
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS.

THEY HAD INFORMATION THAT THEY
WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT

AS FAR AS POSSIBLY
LINKING THE CASES.

Narrator:
THE CASE OF SUSAN POWELL

WAS PROMINENT IN THE MEDIA
IN DECEMBER 2009.

CONNECTING THE CASES SEEMS LIKE
A WILD IDEA TO STEVEN'S FAMILY,

BUT THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES.

Olmstead: SUSAN POWELL
CAME UP MISSING ON DECEMBER 7th,

AND STEVEN CAME UP WALKING AWAY
FROM HIS CAR ON THE 13th,

AND STEVEN USED TO LIVE
IN NORTHERN UTAH.

Narrator: SUSAN COX POWELL AND
STEVEN KOECHER ARE BOTH MORMON,

BUT SO IS
60% OF UTAH'S POPULATION.

THEY LIVED IN THE SAME CITY
FOR A COUPLE MONTHS,

BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE
LIVE IN WEST VALLEY CITY?

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE
IN THAT CITY ARE LDS?

Narrator: THE THEORY
IS THAT STEVEN AND SUSAN

RAN OFF TOGETHER,
POSSIBLY TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY.

STEVEN HAD LIVED IN BRAZIL
FOR TWO YEARS OF HIS LIFE,

AND HE SPOKE PORTUGUESE.

STEVEN HAD BEEN
A MISSIONARY IN BRAZIL

AND KNEW THAT COUNTRY WELL.

FRANKLY,
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY

TO KNOW
THAT HE'D GONE OFF TO BRAZIL.

THEN WE'D KNOW
HE WAS ALIVE AND OKAY.

Narrator: IT'S TRUE STEVEN'S
PASSPORT SEEMS TO BE MISSING,

BUT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
HE ACTUALLY LEFT THE COUNTRY.

McKay:
WE HAD STEVEN CHECKED

TO SEE IF MAYBE HE HAD
CAUGHT A FLIGHT OUT OF TOWN,

AND THEY WEREN'T
ABLE TO FIND HIM

ON ANY OF THE PASSENGER LISTS.

Narrator: THERE ARE NO CALLS
TO SUSAN ON HIS CELL

AND NO E-MAILS ON HIS LAPTOP.

THE POLICE CAN FIND NOTHING TO
CONNECT SUSAN POWELL AND STEVEN.

BUT THE ONLY WAY
TO RULE OUT A LINK

IS FOR DETECTIVES FROM
BOTH CASES TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER.

Olmstead:
I MET WITH DETECTIVES

FROM WEST VALLEY CITY,
IN NORTHERN UTAH.

WE CAME DOWN, AND WE SAT DOWN
AND WENT OVER BOTH CASES,

REVIEWED THE POSSIBILITIES
AND THE TIME LINES

AND THINGS LIKE THAT,

AND WE WERE VERY CONFIDENT TO
SAY THAT IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE

THEY'RE AT ALL
RELATED TO EACH OTHER.

Narrator: THE POSSIBILITY
THAT STEVEN HAS FLED THE COUNTRY

WITH SUSAN POWELL,
OR ANYONE, FOR THAT MATTER,

IS SOON DEALT ANOTHER BLOW.

THE KOECHERS
FIND STEVEN'S MISSING PASSPORT

ON A SECOND SEARCH
THROUGH HIS PERSONAL EFFECTS.

Rolf:
FRANKLY, THERE WERE DAYS

WE JUST
DID NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH

TO LOOK AT HIS MATERIALS.

BUT ONE DAY, WE SAID,
"LET'S LOOK

AT SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAD,"
AND WE FOUND IT IN A BINDER.

Narrator: NO SOONER HAVE THE
KOECHERS SET ASIDE ONE MYSTERY

THAN THEY'RE
CONFRONTED WITH ANOTHER.

INVESTIGATORS HAVE QUESTIONS

ABOUT SOME UNUSUAL RECEIPTS
FROM DECEMBER 10th,

JUST THREE DAYS
BEFORE STEVEN WENT MISSING.

WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING
AT SOME FINANCIAL RECORDS,

THERE WERE,
STRANGE FOR STEVEN'S LIFESTYLE,

THINGS THAT THE FAMILY
DIDN'T KNOW.

Narrator: THE FAMILY IS PUZZLED
BY THE FOOD-AND-GAS RECEIPTS.

THEY SHOW STEVEN
MAKING AN ARDUOUS DRIVE

OF OVER 1,000 MILES

THROUGH THE SALT LAKE AREA
TO NORTHERN NEVADA,

THEN BACK TO ST. GEORGE,

ALL WITHIN 14 HOURS,
ON DECEMBER 10th.

Olmstead: WE'D FOUND
HE HAD BEEN TO WENDOVER, NEVADA,

AND HAD MADE A GAS PURCHASE
WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS,

WHICH THAT NO ONE KNEW.

IT WAS WENDOVER,
IT WAS SPRINGVILLE,

IT WAS NEPHI.

I SAID, "WELL,
WHAT WAS HE DOING IN WENDOVER?"

Narrator: WEST WENDOVER, NEVADA,
LIKE LAS VEGAS,

IS A LEGAL GAMBLING TOWN.

COULD STEVEN HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO MAKE MONEY THROUGH GAMBLING?

PRIVATE DETECTIVES
THAT WE WORKED WITH SAID,

"WELL, THAT GOES THROUGH
WENDOVER.

THERE'S GAMBLING THERE.

"WENT TO LAS VEGAS.
THERE'S GAMBLING THERE.

SO HE MUST BE RUNNING MONEY OR
DRUGS OR GAMBLING OR SOMETHING."

Narrator: WHEN DETECTIVES
START THINKING ABOUT DRUGS,

THEY WONDER
ABOUT STEVEN'S ROOMMATE,

WHOSE LIFESTYLE WAS
RATHER DIFFERENT FROM STEVEN'S.

THEY DEFINITELY COULD BE
CONSIDERED THE ODD COUPLE.

Narrator: IN FACT, THE FORMER
ROOMMATE HAS A 2007 CONVICTION

FOR POSSESSION AND USE
OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.

COULD STEVEN HAVE SOMEHOW GOTTEN
CAUGHT UP IN A DRUG OPERATION?

COULD HE HAVE BEEN
SO DESPERATE FOR MONEY

HE WAS WILLING TO DELIVER DRUGS?

WE REALIZED
OUR GOAL IS HERE TO FIND HIM,

NOT TO HIDE INFORMATION
OR TO MAKE HIM WHAT HE WASN'T.

Narrator: SO ROLF HAS
STEVEN'S CAR CHECKED FOR DRUGS.

Rolf: WE HAD THE SALT LAKE
COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

COME WITH THEIR POLICE DOGS,

AND THEY SNIFFED HIS CAR
FOR AN HOUR,

AND THE POLICE OFFICER SAYS,

"I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 20 YEARS
IN THIS BUSINESS,

"AND THERE ARE NO DRUGS
IN THIS CAR.

THERE NEVER HAVE BEEN
DRUGS IN THIS CAR."

Narrator: AND WHEN ST. GEORGE
POLICE INTERVIEW THE ROOMMATE,

THEY CONCLUDE

HAT HE HAS NOT INVOLVED STEVEN
IN ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

Olmstead:
IN SPEAKING WITH THE ROOMMATE,

HE SAID
THAT AS OPPOSITE AS THEY WERE,

THEY ACTUALLY INTERACTED
VERY WELL

AND HE ACTUALLY ENJOYED
HAVING STEVEN AS A ROOMMATE.

Narrator:
IF STEVEN WASN'T GAMBLING

OR RUNNING DRUGS
IN NORTHERN NEVADA,

WHAT COULD HAVE INDUCED HIM

TO MAKE A 1,000-MILE ROUND TRIP
TO THE REGION ON THE 10th?

THEN, ON HIS COUSIN K.C.'S
WEBSITE,

SOMEONE FILLS IN
THE MISSING PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

Rolf: SOMEONE WROTE,
"WELL, I KNOW WHY.

"HE HAD BEEN THERE
IN RUBY VALLEY

"WITH A CHURCH PROJECT,
AND SO HE KNEW THAT AREA.

"AND HE CAME TO VISIT
WITH MY PARENTS,

AND HE HAD LUNCH
WITH MY PARENTS."

Narrator: IT TURNED OUT THAT
STEVEN'S LONG DRIVE CULMINATED

IN RUBY VALLEY, NEVADA,

WHERE HE VISITED THE PARENTS
OF AN OLD GIRLFRIEND

HE'D MET AT CHURCH.

I THINK HE THOUGHT
SHE WAS GONNA BE HOME THERE

SO HE COULD VISIT HER, TOO.

BUT SHE HAPPENED
TO NOT BE THERE.

Narrator: HIS PARENTS ARE STILL
A LITTLE PUZZLED BY THE TRIP.

THEY SAY
THE WOMAN IN RUBY VALLEY

WAS NOT A SERIOUS GIRLFRIEND.

I THINK HE REALLY THOUGHT
SHE WAS A WONDERFUL GIRL,

REALLY ENJOYED
GOING TO HER FAMILY FARM.

I DON'T THINK THERE WAS
ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT.

Narrator:
THE KOECHERS ARE GRATEFUL

FOR THE ANSWERS
THE SEARCH IS YIELDING,

BUT THEY'RE NOT GETTING
ANY CLOSER TO FINDING STEVEN.

THEY'RE BEGINNING TO DESPAIR
OF EVER SEEING THEIR SON AGAIN.

COMING UP, A NEW INVESTIGATOR
AND AN ANONYMOUS TIP

GIVE THE CASE FRESH MOMENTUM.

WE CAME ACROSS BONES AT ONE TIME
OUT IN THE DESERT.

Narrator: APRIL 2010.

IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS
SINCE STEVEN KOECHER

APPEARED TO HAVE WALKED AWAY
FROM HIS CHEVY CAPRICE

IN AN UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOOD
NOT FAR FROM LAS VEGAS.

THE SEARCH FOR HIM
HAS HIT A WALL,

AND HIS BEWILDERED FAMILY FEELS
THEY HAVE NOWHERE LEFT TO TURN.

IT'S JUST BEEN OVERWHELMING.

WE'D SAY, "DO WE HAVE
THE ENERGY TO KEEP GOING?

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?"

Narrator:
BUT THEN A STRANGER

EXTENDS THE KOECHERS
AN ADDITIONAL HAND.

THIS PRIVATE DETECTIVE
NAMED CRAIG RETKE

SAYS, "I'VE READ ABOUT YOUR SON.

I JUST WANT TO HELP.
I JUST WANT TO HELP."

Narrator:
RETKE, A FORMER POLICE OFFICER,

WAS MOVED
BY WHAT HE'D READ IN THE NEWS

ABOUT STEVEN'S DISAPPEARANCE.

I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT
I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO IT.

I DID NOT WANT TO CHARGE
ANY KIND OF A FEE.

I JUST -- PRO BONO --
AND HE AGREED.

Narrator:
RETKE LOOKS OVER THE EVIDENCE

AND OUTLINES HIS TAKE
ON THE CASE FOR THE KOECHERS.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE VIDEO.

HE'S DRIVING HIS CAR
DOWN THE STREET.

HE PARKS.

YOU WATCH HIM WALK BY.

HE KNOWS WHERE HE'S GOING.
HE HAS A PURPOSE.

THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO.

Narrator:
RETKE BELIEVES

STEVEN WAS HEADED TO A MEETING,
POSSIBLY SET UP

THROUGH AN EARLIER CHANCE
ENCOUNTER ON A STREET.

HE COULD HAVE RUN INTO SOMEBODY
WHEN HE WAS OUT THROWING FLYERS

THAT, FOR WHATEVER REASON,

GOT HIM DOWN TO LAS VEGAS.

HE WAS INTRODUCED SOMEHOW
TO THESE PEOPLE,

AND HE WAS WALKING
TOWARDS THAT MEETING.

Narrator: BUT THE APPOINTMENT
MAY HAVE LED STEVEN

INTENTIONALLY OR INADVERTENTLY
INTO MORTAL DANGER.

I THINK STEVEN NEVER MADE IT OUT
OF THE HENDERSON NEIGHBORHOOD.

Narrator:
STEVEN'S PARENTS AGREE.

Rolf:
HE LOOKED LIKE HE HAD A PURPOSE,

AND IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A JOB.

Narrator:
THIS IS NOT THE WALK OF SOMEONE

WHO'S FURTIVE, SUICIDAL,
OR DESPONDENT.

TO THE FAMILY
AND THE DETECTIVES,

IT'S THE WALK OF SOMEONE
WITH A LOT TO LIVE FOR

WHO MET AN UNKNOWN FATE.

SOMEHOW HE WAS LURED THERE
FOR SOME REASON.

AT SOME POINT,
SOMETHING WENT TERRIBLY WRONG.

AND EXACTLY WHAT,
IT'S HARD TO SAY.

Narrator:
RETKE BEGINS FOLLOWING UP

ON THE TIPS THAT ARE
BEING PHONED IN AND POSTED

ON STEVEN'S COUSIN
K.C. NAEGLE'S WEBSITE.

THERE'S ONE RETKE FINDS
PARTICULARLY CREDIBLE.

WHAT I HAD WAS
AN ANONYMOUS PERSON CALLING.

THIS PERSON SAID, "YOU KNOW, YOU
MAY WANT TO LOOK IN THIS AREA."

Narrator: THE TIP SUGGESTS
STEVEN, OR HIS REMAINS,

MIGHT BE FOUND
IN THE DESERT SOUTH OF VEGAS,

NEAR THE HENDERSON
EXECUTIVE AIRPORT.

Retke: I SPENT HOURS OUT
IN THE DESERT, LOOKING MYSELF.

AND THEN I CONTACTED ROLF.

AND SO HE ORGANIZED A SEARCH,

AND WE MADE CALLS
TO PEOPLE WE KNEW.

Retke: OVER 70 PEOPLE SHOWED UP.
IT WAS TREMENDOUS.

TO THIS DAY,
IT GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS,

BECAUSE THE PEOPLE
WERE FANTASTIC.

THE DETECTIVE THAT WAS
ON THE CASE FROM HENDERSON --

HE WAS OUT THERE,
OBSERVING THE ENTIRE AREA.

Rolf: THE POLICE DETECTIVES
AND THE PRIVATE DETECTIVES

WERE WORKING TOGETHER,

RATHER THAN
IN OPPOSITION TO ONE ANOTHER,

SO THAT TURNED OUT
VERY, VERY WELL.

I REALLY HAD TO -- I HAD TO
TAKE A STEP BACK THAT DAY

BECAUSE WE WERE
LOOKING FOR HIS BODY.

Narrator:
STREWN ACROSS THE DESERT,

THEY FIND THE REMAINS OF A TENT

THAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN
RECENTLY OCCUPIED.

SOMEONE HAD BEEN THERE
FOR TWO OR THREE MONTHS,

AND UNFORTUNATELY,
OF COURSE, IT'S EMPTY.

Narrator: BUT THEN
THERE IS AN OMINOUS DISCOVERY --

THE KIND
THAT MIGHT LEAD TO ANSWERS,

BUT THAT NO ONE
REALLY WANTS TO FIND.

WE FOUND -- SOME OF THE OTHER
SEARCHERS FOUND BONES.

THEY HAD THE CSI PEOPLE
COME OUT AND COLLECT THAT STUFF,

AND THEY TESTED IT.

THEY WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE
THOSE WERE ANIMAL BONES,

AND NO OTHER EVIDENCE WAS FOUND
DURING THAT SEARCH.

Narrator:
THE BONES WERE NOT STEVEN'S,

AND DNA TESTING FAILS TO LINK
STEVEN TO THE TENT.

BUT THE FAMILY IS BEGINNING
TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE IDEA

THAT NEXT TIME
MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT STORY.

THAT SOMEONE WANTED TO HURT HIM
OR KILL HIM --

THAT MAKES
EVEN LESS SENSE TO ME,

BUT THAT'S WHERE MY HEAD IS NOW.

HE WENT SOMEWHERE, AND
SOMETHING WENT TERRIBLY WRONG.

Retke: YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
HAPPENS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

HE COULD HAVE OPENED THE DOOR
AND WALKED INTO A MESS.

COULD HAVE
WALKED INTO A CRIME SCENE.

Narrator:
ALL THE DETECTIVES

ARE DETERMINED TO FIND OUT
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED

BUT ARE FRUSTRATED BY THE FACT

THAT THEY HAVE
ALMOST NOTHING TO GO ON.

McKay: WE'RE LOOKING
THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD

FOR ANY POSSIBLE SUSPECTS.

THERE IS A NEIGHBOR
THAT LIVES AROUND THE CORNER,

AND SHE ALSO HAD SOME SUSPICIONS

ON A PARTICULAR HOUSE
THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.

AT THIS POINT,
THERE'S NO PERSON OF INTEREST.

Naegle: WE KNOW EXACTLY AS MUCH
TODAY AS WE KNEW A YEAR AGO.

WE HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING
FOR A YEAR

EXCEPT FOR PLACES THAT HE'S NOT.

Narrator:
STILL, THE INVESTIGATION

HAS GIVEN THE FAMILY
SOME COMFORT.

UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES

OF THE DAYS
BEFORE STEVEN'S DISAPPEARANCE

HAS CONFIRMED THAT HE IS
EXACTLY WHO THEY THOUGHT HE WAS.

Naegle: WE HAVEN'T FOUND
ANYTHING IN HIS LIFE

THAT'S CONTRARY
TO WHAT WE BELIEVED HIM TO BE.

IF ANYTHING,
HE'S MORE OF A HERO TO ME NOW --

JUST THE THINGS THAT HE DID IN
HIS LIFE AND HOW STRONG HE WAS.

I LIKE TO THINK OF MY STEVEN
AS A TENDER SOUL.

HE HAD A REALLY, REALLY
TENDER HEART.

Narrator: ABOUT A YEAR
AFTER HE DISAPPEARED,

A FRIEND OF STEVEN'S
GIVES DEANNE AND ROLF

A RECORDING OF A SONG
STEVEN WROTE AND PERFORMED.

HEARING HIS VOICE
HELPS KEEP HIM CLOSE,

EVEN AS THEY HOPE
FOR HIS RETURN.

* THIS IS
WAY, WAY, WAY TOO FAR *

* AND I'VE NEVER

* FELT LIKE THIS BEFORE

* AND I'M STILL

* HERE ON THE FLOOR

Narrator: AND THEN,
LEAFING THROUGH A BIBLE,

THE KOECHERS FIND STEVEN'S NOTES
FOR A TALK HE'D GIVEN IN CHURCH.

THEY'RE CHEERED
BY WHAT STEVEN'S NOTES SHOWED

ABOUT HIS STATE OF MIND
JUST BEFORE HE DISAPPEARED.

AND HE TALKS
ABOUT WHAT HE LEARNED AT HOME,

AND HE SAYS, "HOME WAS
A PEACEFUL, WONDERFUL PLACE."

AND HE REALLY LIKED THE BOND
THAT HE FOUND WITH HIS FAMILY

AND HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS
AND HIS PARENTS.

Narrator: TRAGICALLY, JUST THREE
WEEKS AFTER THIS INTERVIEW,

ROLF KOECHER PASSED AWAY
AT THE AGE OF 61.

IT'S ANOTHER UNIMAGINABLE LOSS

FOR A FAMILY THAT HAS ALREADY
ENDURED SO MUCH GRIEF.

BUT NOTHING WILL LESSEN
THE KOECHERS' DETERMINATION

TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO
THEIR BELOVED BROTHER AND SON,

STEVEN.

IF ANYBODY SEES THIS YOUNG MAN,

IF ANYBODY KNOWS
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM,

I JUST WANT TO KNOW
FOR THE FAMILY.

LET'S FIND HIM.
THEY NEED TO KNOW.

Narrator:
UNTIL STEVEN IS FOUND,

THE LIGHTS ON THE KOECHERS'
CHRISTMAS TREE WILL STILL BURN.

Naegle:
THEY RE-LIT IT ON DECEMBER 13th,

ON THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY,
THE DAY THAT HE DISAPPEARED,

AND IT'S GONNA STAY LIT

AS LONG AS ANYONE
HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT,

UNTIL WE FIND HIM.