Mom's boyfriend arrested in baby Elaina case
NEED TO KNOW
- 18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth has been missing since June 2
- Police arrested the boyfriend of Elaina's mother Monday on a charge of obstructing justice
- Boyfriend told reporters, 'I'm innocent'
The boyfriend of missing toddler Elaina Steinfurth’s mother appeared in an Ohio court Tuesday morning, one day after being arrested on a charge of obstructing justice.
A criminal complaint accuses 23-year-old Steven W. King of purposely making “numerous false statements” to Toledo police during the investigation of Elaina’s June 2 disappearance.
“The statements were found to be false after reviewing video and paperwork collected during the aforementioned investigation,” the complaint states.
At the court appearance Tuesday in Toledo Municipal Court, King's bond was set at $25,000. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for August 2.
Sergeant Joe Heffernan of the Toledo Police Department declined to release any information Monday on what specific evidence led to King’s arrest, but he told HLN that police and prosecutors met and decided now would be the appropriate time to file the charge.
Heffernan would not say whether the arrest indicated police were any closer to finding Elaina Steinfurth.
Asked by reporters where Elaina is after his arrest, Steven King told WNWO, "I don't know obviously. You guys will find out when I'm innocent.”
The attorney who represented King at his arraignment could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
Elaina’s mother Angela Steinfurth was indicted last month on an obstruction of justice charge in the case. She is being held on $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a pretrial hearing.
Aside from the obstruction charges, no charges have been filed in connection with Elaina's disappearance.
Angela Steinfurth told police Elaina vanished after she put the 18-month-old down for a nap at King’s family’s Federal Street home on June 2.
The family of Terry Steinfurth Jr., Elaina’s father, held a vigil Monday night.
At the event, relative Ginger Smith told the Toledo Blade the family was happy about King’s arrest and optimistic that it will “bring justice for Elaina.”
Another vigil is planned for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the intersection of Federal and Leonard Streets in the city.
A criminal complaint accuses 23-year-old Steven W. King of purposely making “numerous false statements” to Toledo police during the investigation of Elaina’s June 2 disappearance.
“The statements were found to be false after reviewing video and paperwork collected during the aforementioned investigation,” the complaint states.
At the court appearance Tuesday in Toledo Municipal Court, King's bond was set at $25,000. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for August 2.
Sergeant Joe Heffernan of the Toledo Police Department declined to release any information Monday on what specific evidence led to King’s arrest, but he told HLN that police and prosecutors met and decided now would be the appropriate time to file the charge.
Heffernan would not say whether the arrest indicated police were any closer to finding Elaina Steinfurth.
Asked by reporters where Elaina is after his arrest, Steven King told WNWO, "I don't know obviously. You guys will find out when I'm innocent.”
The attorney who represented King at his arraignment could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
Elaina’s mother Angela Steinfurth was indicted last month on an obstruction of justice charge in the case. She is being held on $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a pretrial hearing.
Aside from the obstruction charges, no charges have been filed in connection with Elaina's disappearance.
Angela Steinfurth told police Elaina vanished after she put the 18-month-old down for a nap at King’s family’s Federal Street home on June 2.
The family of Terry Steinfurth Jr., Elaina’s father, held a vigil Monday night.
At the event, relative Ginger Smith told the Toledo Blade the family was happy about King’s arrest and optimistic that it will “bring justice for Elaina.”
Another vigil is planned for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the intersection of Federal and Leonard Streets in the city.
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