09/10/21
From Sheriff Matthew A. Myers
Thursday Sept. 09/09/21, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Detectives, along with the Columbus Police Department, Indiana State Police, and the Bartholomew Co. Coroner’s Office located suspected human remains. The remains were found in a shallow grave just off of 400 N. between U.S. 31 and River Rd.
The remains located were removed from the location and turned over to the Coroner’s Office for further investigation. An autopsy was scheduled for identification and cause of death. The Sheriff’s Office is working in conjunction with the Coroner’s Office, identity of remains, cause of death will be released by that office.
The location of these remains occurred during an investigation of a missing person’s report. Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Detective, Kevin Abner, is lead investigator of the found remains.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by above agencies and offices. They are also being assisted by Indiana Conservation Officers and Columbus Township Fire Department. Road Deputies along with CPD Uniform Officers also assisted.
400 N between U.S. 31 and River Rd. was closed for multiple hours while the scene was being processed. Bartholomew County Sheriff, Matthew A. Myers, wanted to praise and thank all the agencies that assisted our Sheriff’s Office with this found body investigation. Myers Stated, “being able to use resources and manpower from other law enforcement agencies is the future of law enforcement, and is a big win for the communities these agencies serve.”
There will be no interviews at this time as investigation continues.
Update 09/11/21
Update on Human Remains Located on 09/09/10 by Bartholomew Sheriff’s Deputies.
This release is being prepared by the Bartholomew County Death Investigation Team. The team consist of, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Police Department, Indiana State Police, Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office and the Bartholomew County Prosecutors Office.
On 09/10/21 Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting announced the findings of the autopsy completed yesterday afternoon. The remains located have been identified as Ms. Heather Ann Steuver, age 37, of Columbus. “The Coroner’s Office has ruled cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head and manner of death to be homicide”, stated Coroner Clayton Nolting.
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office had taken a missing person’s report on August 26 for Ms. Steuver. The missing person report was assigned to Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Detective Kevin Abner. As the investigation was worked by Abner, he indicated that he thought there were suspicious circumstances around Ms. Steever’s disappearance.
As the investigation continued Det. Abner talked with Steuver’s boyfriend, Patrick Even David Doyle, age 38, of Columbus. After Abner spoke with Doyle and additional information was gathered, Doyle was preliminarily charged with Possession of Child Pornography a Level 5 Felony.
At that time a 48 hour hold, with no bond, was placed on Doyle after the arrest on 09/09/10. As the investigation went forward, Deputies went to the area of where the human remains were recovered. As a result of information obtained by Det. Abner, and Coroner Nolting’s findings from the autopsy of Steuver, Patrick Even David Doyle was preliminarily charged with the murder of Steuver. “Doyle is in the Bartholomew County Jail, not only with a preliminary charge of child pornography, he also faces a preliminary charge of Murder, a felony”, said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers.
Doyle has also been placed on a 72 hour hold, without bond, as the investigation is completed and sent to the Bartholomew County Prosecutors Office. Detective Abner had been working with Chief Deputy Prosecutor Greg Long after the human remains were located. Chief Deputy Chris Lane of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office has referred any further questions regarding information released to the Barth. Co. Prosecutors Office.
Major Lane also praised the work done by Detective Abner during this investigation.
“Abner put in long hours and worked diligently to obtain this result”, added Major Lane.
Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers said: “I again want to praise Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Greg Long for their assistance during this investigation”. “Again, I want to thank all of the agencies that assisted in this tragic outcome”, added Sheriff Myers.