Father of Baby Elaina appears in court

Steinfurth’s assault case continued

3/25/2014
BLADE STAFF

The father of a little girl whose remains were found in an East Toledo garage last year was in court Monday on unrelated assault and domestic violence charges.

The case against Terry “TJ” Steinfurth, Jr., 26, of 2027 Bakewell St., was continued in Toledo Municipal Court until March 31.

His bond of $2,500, which he posted, also was continued. Mr. Steinfurth was arrested Saturday morning in the 2000 block of Bakewell for allegedly choking and slapping his girlfriend, Rebecca Navaugh, 25. He was booked into the Lucas County jail just before 3 a.m. and released before 10 p.m., according to jail records. On June 2, Mr. Steinfurth’s daughter, Elaina, was reported missing from 704 Federal St. where her mother, Angela Steinfurth, was staying with her then-boyfriend, Steven King II. After months of searching in vacant houses, the Maumee River, fields, and trash bins, the girl’s decomposed remains were found Sept. 5 in a computer box in a detached garage at the Federal Street home.

Ms. Steinfurth, who was estranged from her husband, Mr. Steinfurth, and Mr. King are now serving life sentences.

Ms. Steinfurth was found guilty in Lucas County Common Pleas Court of obstructing justice and murder; Mr. King was found guilty of aggravated murder, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and obstructing justice.