The Texas County prosecutor will seek the death penalty for one of four persons accused in the brutal death of a Houston teenager last year north of Cabool that drew national attention.
Parke Stevens Jr. announced his intention to seek the sentence against Andrew Vrba in a court filing Monday in Crawford County Circuit Court, where the case is expected to be heard on a change of venue. A trial date could be set as early as Tuesday, when it appears on a docket.
Vrba, 18, of Houston, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse in the September death of Joseph M. Steinfeld, who went by “Ally” and planned to transition to a female, according to family members. Authorities allege the victim was stabbed and the remains burned.
Stevens’ decision also will likely trigger the involvement of a special prosecutor from the Missouri attorney general’s death penalty case team. Vrba is defended by the Missouri public defender system.
Three other defendants were charged in the stabbing death of Steinfeld:
• Isis Schauer, 18, entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse. She was sentenced to 20 years on the murder count and four years on the second charge in December. The terms are to run concurrently in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
• Brianna Calderas, 24, is also charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse. A pretrial conference is June 19 in Pulaski County, where her case will be heard. The trial is Oct. 9-12.
• A fourth person, James Grigsby, of Thayer, 25, is accused of abandonment of a corpse and tampering with evidence.