Missing toddler's mom charged with obstruction of justice

6/24/2013
BLADE STAFF
Angela Steinfurth appears in Toledo Municipal Court today.
Angela Steinfurth appears in Toledo Municipal Court today.

An East Toledo mother was indicted by a Lucas County grand jury today on a charge of obstructing justice stemming from the disappearance of her 18-month-old daughter.

Angela Steinfurth, 25, of 329 Valleywood Dr., had been charged in Toledo Municipal Court with child endangering for failing to get medical attention for her daughter, Elaina Steinfurth, after she knew the toddler was seriously injured. That charge was dismissed earlier today in municipal court because of the grand jury proceedings.

Elaina has been missing since June 2.

After an appearance in municipal court last week, Mrs. Steinfurth's stepfather, Richard Schiewe, and her estranged husband, Terry Steinfurth, Jr., got into a shouting match which nearly escalated into a physical altercation.

Today, the families were seated on separate sides of the courtroom -- Mr. Schiewe behind the public defender and the Steinfurths behind the prosecutors.

Despite a large crowd outside the courtroom doors, only the families and a handful of other people, were initially permitted into the courtroom.

Mr. Schiewe was first led out of the court, after Judge William Connelly called a brief recess, and the Steinfurth family followed shortly after.

Mr. Steinfurth declined to comment after court. Another relative of Elaina's, Ginger Smith, said she was glad the case was going to Lucas County Common Pleas Court and she hoped for additional information to come to light.