Pictured is Joseph Steinfeld, who was allegedly murdered on September 3, six days before his 18th birthday. Steinfeld was found in a mobile home near Cabool, Texas County, Missouri
A man and two women are charged in the killing of a 17-year-old whose burned remains were found in southern Missouri after his family reported him missing.
Eighteen-year-old Andrew Vrba, 18-year-old Isis Schauer and 24-year-old Briana Calderas were charged Thursday with first-degree murder in Joseph Steinfeld’s death.
The trio is also charged with abandonment of a corpse. Vrba and Schauer are also charged with armed criminal action, reports the Houston Herald.
Steinfeld’s family reported him missing September 14. The family says the last people he was with were the suspects. He was last heard from on September 1.
Court records say Vrba admitted to killing Steinfeld at Calderas’ mobile home near Cabool, Texas County, Missouri, and that the women admitted to helping dispose of the body.
Vrba allegedly stabbed Steinfeld and all three helped to burn the body. The two women traveled to a local Walmart to buy burning aids, reports the Herald.
Some of Steinfeld’s bones were placed in a chicken coop on the property.
Pictured is Andrew Vrba, 18, who is charged with first-degree murder in Steinfeld’s death. Vrba allegedly stabbed Steinfeld and also allegedly bragged about sexually mutilating his body and gouging his eyes out
Pictured are Isis Schauer, 18 (left), and Briana Calderas, 24 (right). Both are also charged with first-degree murder for their roles in the death. The trio is also charged with abandonment of a corpse. Vrba and Schauer are also charged with armed criminal action
Vrba also allegedly told the two women that he had sexually mutilated Steinfeld’s body and gouged out his eyes.
Investigators believe the death occurred on September 3, six days before Steinfeld would have turned 18.
Steinfeld’s family told KY3 that he ‘sometimes’ identifies as female, going by the name Ally Matthew Steinfeld on social media.
Police say they are not yet treating the murder as a hate crime but also note that the investigation is ongoing.
Vrba and Schauer are both of nearby Houston, Missouri.
The trio are being held without bond.
Pictured is a photo from the GoFundMe page that is raising funds for Steinfeld’s funeral. Steinfeld’s family said he sometimes identified as female on social media. Police say they are not considering the murder as a hate crime for the time being
Vrba’s attorney declined comment. No attorney is listed for either woman in online.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family deal with funeral expenses.