One month ago tomorrow, our lives took an unexpected twist. While I was visiting teaching on Thursday, December 17th, Dallin received a phone call from his family telling him that his older brother Steve was missing. His parents were called by a Henderson police officer to let them know that Steve's car had been abandoned in Henderson Nevada in a nice, upscale retirement community for several days. Steve hadn't been heard from since that Sunday, December 13th. His cell phone was dead and his answering mailbox was full and not accepting messages. No one had any idea why he would be in the Las Vegas area, let alone a retirement community in Henderson. The Koechers don't have any ties to that area. Dallin and I immediately packed up our stuff and tood off with Jackson to Bountiful to be with his parents while we continued to do our own investigation and detective work. Dallin and his dad left at 3:00 the next morning to drive to St. George, where Steve was living, and then on to Henderson. They spoke to police officers, neighbors, his landlord and boss on their way while Dallin's mom and I continued to follow up from Bountiful. Bank accounts were checked, cell phone records and text messages were looked at, people from Steve's ward and his friends were talked to, and no one had any answers. Everything related to Steve stopped on December 13th. This last month has been hard. We don't know what has happened. We all keep on asking ourselves if there was something we could have or should have done and keep coming up blank. Sometimes it is still mind boggling that this is happening to us. This is the kind of thing that happens to other people, or people far away on the news, not to you, your family, and your brother-in-law. We have felt an outpouring of love from family, friends, ward members, and people we hardly know. Thank you all for your love, phone calls, hugs, and offers of help. Everyone is so willing to help, we just wish there was something we could do ourselves. For now, all we can do is pray and hope and keep on going as normally as possible. To know more about what is going on, you can check out the Help us Find Steven Koecher facebook group or one of the following articles and news reports. The first one is written by Dallin's dad, who is also the editor of the Davis County Clipper.http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705356478/Powell-isnt-only-missing-Utahn.html
http://www.abc4.com/content/news/slc/story/Exclusive-ABC-4-talks-to-parents-of-missing-Utah/774hcIASHE2bx66oAVVAMg.cspx
