Coroner says 'human remains' appear to be in box seized from garage in East Toledo

9/5/2013

The Blade
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A box that was removed from a detached garage where missing 19-month-old Elaina Steinfurth was last seen June 2 contains human remains, Lucas County Dr. James Patrick said today.

"We have received a box that appears to contain human remains," Dr. Patrick said. Dr. Diane Barnett, a deputy coroner, went to the scene after police notified the coroner's office about a discovery earlier in the garage at 704 Federal St. in East Toledo, which is the home of Elaina's mother's estranged boyfriend, Steven King II, 23.

"She felt that initially that's what it appears to be," Dr. Patrick said of Dr. Barnett's findings of human remains. An autopsy will be performed Friday.

The apparent remains were in a computer box, which was removed by the coroner's office about 4:40 p.m.

Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp today said Mr. King is talking with detectives at the Safety Building in downtown Toledo.

Mr. King’s attorney, Pete Rost, said his client was in court today for a previously scheduled pretrial hearing before Judge Ruth Ann Franks. The hearing confirmed a Sept. 16 trial date set earlier.

After the hearing, Mr. King returned to jail, his attorney said.

Mr. Rost would not comment on whether his client had spoken to prosecutors or provided any information to authorities.

“It’s pending and still in the investigative stage. I can’t comment on that,” he said.

Toledo police said they executed a search warrant at the Federal Street home at 3:16 p.m. today. They said new information was obtained in the case but they would not provide specifics.

A news conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Safety Building downtown.

The baby's father, Terry Steinfurth, would not comment today.

Toledo police at 5:20 p.m. began responding to the same neighborhood after a fight broke out where a crowd had gathered looking for answers in the case of missing Elaina.

Mr. King is charged with obstruction of justice in the case of the missing girl.

Mr. King is the boyfriend of Elaina’s mother, Angela Steinfurth. He is accused of providing false information to investigators during the two months after the girl was last seen.

Angela Steinfurth, 25, also is charged with obstructing justice in the case.

Jeff Lingo, a Lucas County assistant prosecutor, declined to comment.