WADE STEFFEY MYSTERY -- HOW COULD THEY NOT KNOW?!?

Nevermind that Wade Steffey was tragically electrocuted in which this could have been prevented. This post is focused on the fact that no one picked up on Wade's remains until two months later.

I smell a wrongful death lawsuit brewing.

There are obvious lies and contradictions made here by Purdue Spokesperson Norberg. First of all, if Wade was immediately electrocuted there would have been an electrical short to whatever mechanism those transformers were connected to. There would have been some "disconnection" in which maintenence would have been aware and should have remedied the problem. In addition, during an electrocution there would be a firey spark. It is reasonable to assume that his shirt or pants would have caught on fire, therefore alerting others to the smell of smoke.

The Electrocution

...Norberg said police believe the popping noise was the body conducting electricity into the ground. (Source)

The transformers in the rooms are similar to ones found on outdoor electric utility poles. They have metal bolts with insulators where wires are connected. The exposed bolts are high-voltage points. (Source)

Locked door? Not locked during search!

Norberg’s Contradiction!

"…Norberg said that when the building was searched for clues into Steffey’s disappearance the utility room was apparently not examined because it was locked." (Source)

Ever heard of a FLASHLIGHT???

"…Norberg said the dangerous nature of the room prevented a thorough search…The room in which Steffey was found had been searched once from the inside entrance shortly after he disappeared. Because of poor lighting and the position of the body, however, searchers could not see him from that doorway." (Source)

...School officials said Tuesday they would investigate why a door that opens to the outdoors was unlocked and why numerous searches for Wade Steffey since he went missing Jan. 13 did not include a full inspection of the room.


In any case, Norberg said workers did not go far enough inside the dark room about the size of a one-car garage to spot the body. The dangerous high-voltage wiring would have required them to cut power to the entire building to fully examine the area, which they did not do, she said." (Source)

The FBI Cadaver Dogs

Cadaver dogs are trained to find the scent of a decomposing body through the worst terrain and obstacles. The stench of a decomposing body can emit fumes through many ways. Cadaver dogs can sense through dirt, walls, cement, steel…

Example:

"…In fact, it was the presence of decomposition odor that led cadaver dogs in Philadelphia in August 2001 to the body of Kimberly Szumski, 36, a woman missing from her home three months earlier. She had been wrapped in plastic and duct tape, buried under cinder blocks, and cemented into a wall reinforced with steel bars." (Source)

…Because of poor lighting and the position of the body, however, searchers could not see him from that doorway. Eight K-9 units also failed to uncover the location of the body, despite several searches in the building's vicinity…The employee did not immediately see Steffey, but was drawn into the room by an unusual odor.

...Norberg said the odor of the body may have been masked by the odor emitted from the transformers, which is sealed from the inside of Owen by a thick door. The room also maintained a slightly higher temperature than outside, which may have postponed the decomposing process. (Michelle's note: A warmer temperature would increase decomposition!)

...The coroner said Steffey's body may have been preserved by the cold temperatures outside." (Source)

This makes NO sense. Steffey was found INSIDE. It was also just stated above “the room maintained a slightly higher temperature”. This is either a badly stated sentence by the writer or something doesn’t seem right.

Rate of Decomposition

"From this point on, nature is very efficient at breaking down human corpses. Decomposition is well under way by the time burial or cremation occurs. However, the exact rate of decomposition depends to some extent on environmental conditions.

Decomposition in the air is twice as fast as when the body is under water and four times as fast as underground. Corpses are preserved longer when buried deeper, as long as the ground isn't waterlogged.

If there are no animals to destroy the body, hair, nails and teeth become detached within a few weeks, and after a month or so the tissues become liquefied and the main body cavities burst open." (Source)

"...Eventually, gas pressure within the body reaches its maximum and the abdominal cavity bursts open. It is now weeks after death." (Source)


"I don't know how no one could smell a body in there after all this time, especially since it's right next to a laundry room," said 19-year-old freshman Steve Denor. (Source)

How could have the room been searched…

even if it was for a "peek" and still NOT smell anything?

"…Norberg said workers did not go far enough inside the dark room." (Source)



So, no one saw Wade behind the transformer? It was said in the Indianapolis Star that this transformer was about the size of a hot water heater. I would think that a body would be seen behind something that size. Hot water heaters are cylinder size.


Why had no one been in the room since January? It would seem that there would or should have had some routine maintenance. If there was, who was last in the room?