Three persons have been charged with the gruesome death of a missing Houston teenager after remains were found northeast of Cabool.
Andrew Vrba, and his girlfriend, Isis Schauer, both 18-year-old Houston residents, are charged with the first-degree murder of Joseph M. Steinfeld, 17, as well as armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse. Briana Calderas, 24, of Cabool, was charged with the first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse.
Texas County Prosecuting Attorney Parke Stevens Jr. said in court Monday afternoon he has not decided if he will seek the death penalty or life in prison without parole. All three are held without bond in the Texas County Jail.
A fourth person, James Thomas Gribsby, 25, of Thayer, was charged following the initial arrests with abandonment of a corpse and tampering with evidence. He is also held without bond.
The murder made regional and national headlines due to its hor horrific nature and Steinfeld’s sexuality.
Steinfeld’s sister, Ashleigh Boswell, told the Springfield News-Leader that the victim –– who also went by “Ally” and used the pronouns “she” and “her” on social media –– had talked to the family about being transgender and possibly having gender-reassignment surgery one day. Boswell said she didn’t know if her sibling’s gender identity might have been a factor in the murder.
Facebook messages between Schauer and Vrba gave officers a break in the teen’s death, which apparently occurred Sept. 3 –– six days before Steinfeld’s 18th birthday. Family members began reporting the teen was missing shortly thereafter.
A deputy with the Texas County Sheriff’s Department said Vrba confessed to stabbing Steinfeld in the living room of Calderas’ single-wide mobile home at 14551 Malberg Road in Cabool.
Vrba said the women helped him wrap the body, move it outside and burn it. Authorities are working to make a positive identification of the young victim.
Vrba, who along with Schauer graduated from Houston High School last May, told authorities he initially tried to poison Steinfeld before stabbing him.
“It is a grisly terrible series of heinous acts by the accused,” Stevens said.
Authorities said the knife that was allegedly used in the murder was recovered at the site of the tragedy, which is west of U.S. 63 and south of Highway H. A cell phone believed to be owned by the victim also was found.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said it was led during the investigation to Grigsby and his possible involvement. He said Vrba admitted to the murder and requested help disposing of the body. He said Vrba and the women picked him up from his Thayer home and transported him to the trailer north of Cabool.
Vrba and Schauer were questioned last Wednesday by the sheriff’s department. Schauer initially denied involvement but consented to a search of her cell phone, which revealed the social media messages. She and Vrba lived together at 319 Chestnut St. in Houston.
They were arrested, formally charged the following day and have since been indicted by a county grand jury. The cases were moved to circuit court.
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An online fundraiser for Steinfeld’s family has been established at https://www.gofundme.com/4gxr7u8.