Pair indicted in death of toddler Elaina Steinfurth

12/2/2013
BLADE STAFF
  • n5elaina-2

    Elaina Steinfurth

  • Elaina Steinfurth
    Elaina Steinfurth

    The mother of a slain East Toledo toddler and her boyfriend both were indicted today for the death of the little girl who came to be known as Baby Elaina.

    Angela Steinfurth, 25, of 329 Valleywood Dr., was indicted by a Lucas County grand jury for murder in the death of Elaina Steinfurth, who was 18 months old when she was last seen June 2.

    Steven King II, 24, of 704 Federal St., was indicted on charges of aggravated murder, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse in the child’s death.

    Angela Steinfurth, left, and Steven King II, right.
    Angela Steinfurth, left, and Steven King II, right.

    The well-publicized missing persons case, which prompted a massive manhunt, became a homicide investigation Sept. 5 after Toledo police, acting on a tip, found the little girl’s badly decomposed remains in a box inside a detached garage at the Federal Street address where Mr. King lived.

    Two months later, the Lucas County Coroner’s Office issued a ruling in Elaina’s death, concluding that the little girl died from “non-accidental trauma.” Her death was ruled a homicide.

    Both Ms. Steinfurth and Mr. King previously were indicted for obstructing justice for allegedly lying to police investigating Elaina’s disappearance. Ms. Steinfurth has been held in the Lucas County jail since her arrest June 12, while Mr. King has been in jail since July 22.

    Mr. King, who appeared briefly in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Monday, is to be in court again at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday before Judge Ruth Ann Franks. Ms. Steinfurth has a pretrial hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday before Judge Gary Cook.

    Jeff Lingo, chief of the criminal division for the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, declined to comment on the indictments.