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After searching for three months for baby Elaina across East Toledo and along the Maumee River, police said Friday that they have discovered human remains in the home where the missing toddler was last seen alive with her mother.
While serving a search warrant Thursday afternoon at the home where the 19-month old had been staying with her mother, Angela Steinfurth, and the mother's boyfriend, Steven King, police say they found a computer box containing "immature human remains" in the rafters of an attached garage, next to other boxes.
"We found what we believe is Baby Elaina," says Toledo Police Chief Derrick Diggs.
He said it might take a few days to definitively identify the remains. An autopsy was set for Friday.
Elaina was reported missing after her father – Angela Steinfurth's estranged husband, Terry Steinfurth Jr. – went to King's house on June 2 to pick her up. After spending several minutes inside the house, Angela Steinfurth ran into the street yelling, "They took my baby!" several sources have said.
On Friday, Steinfurth Jr. told CNN he's struggling with a range of emotions, including frustration that the remains didn't turn up during previous searches of the house.
"I'm upset with the whole situation and really don’t know how to feel right now," Steinfurth tells CNN.
Diggs insisted that police "didn't drop the ball," by not finding the remains sooner and that the investigation was stymied by false leads.
"We had a lot of deception taking place being told to us by a variety of sources in the community," Diggs said.
Angela Steinfurth's stepfather, Richard Schiewe, told the Toledo Blade the computer box was not in the rafters during initial searches of the house. "Somebody went and got that body and put that body up there," Schiewe said.
The discovery came after King spent several hours talking with detectives, but police wouldn't say whether King told them where to find the remains.
Attorneys for King and Angela Steinfurth did not return calls Friday seeking comment.
While serving a search warrant Thursday afternoon at the home where the 19-month old had been staying with her mother, Angela Steinfurth, and the mother's boyfriend, Steven King, police say they found a computer box containing "immature human remains" in the rafters of an attached garage, next to other boxes.
"We found what we believe is Baby Elaina," says Toledo Police Chief Derrick Diggs.
He said it might take a few days to definitively identify the remains. An autopsy was set for Friday.
Elaina was reported missing after her father – Angela Steinfurth's estranged husband, Terry Steinfurth Jr. – went to King's house on June 2 to pick her up. After spending several minutes inside the house, Angela Steinfurth ran into the street yelling, "They took my baby!" several sources have said.
On Friday, Steinfurth Jr. told CNN he's struggling with a range of emotions, including frustration that the remains didn't turn up during previous searches of the house.
"I'm upset with the whole situation and really don’t know how to feel right now," Steinfurth tells CNN.
Diggs insisted that police "didn't drop the ball," by not finding the remains sooner and that the investigation was stymied by false leads.
"We had a lot of deception taking place being told to us by a variety of sources in the community," Diggs said.
Angela Steinfurth's stepfather, Richard Schiewe, told the Toledo Blade the computer box was not in the rafters during initial searches of the house. "Somebody went and got that body and put that body up there," Schiewe said.
The discovery came after King spent several hours talking with detectives, but police wouldn't say whether King told them where to find the remains.
Attorneys for King and Angela Steinfurth did not return calls Friday seeking comment.
I simply hate this so much. I never post news and I know to some this may not be important. But for woman like me who have wanted a child but can't have one, this hits home. How can someone do that to a child, anyone for that matter. It's a baby for christ sake!! Stuff it in a box and hide it.. I don't understand why some horrible people are blessed with babies but the good one's have to suffer without. What makes me even more mad is the false leads and such, this happens all the time in Ohio. Communities keep things secret, It's how things have been here for years. I don't know why...I really don't but we have this thing, "What happens in the community, stays in the community." Let me tell you, If they want something covered, It will be. I mean I know people will point out " they believe It's her remains". Trust me they know It's her, but for the sake of everything they won't say. I don't know anymore but I have really lost faith in Humanity. It's just gone.
