Authorities in Jasper County are investigating the possibility that two children were killed and their bodies disposed of in a backyard fire pit.
The investigation began after a tip was received, leading to the arrest of two individuals believed to be the parents of the children. However, key questions remain unanswered as the case develops.
The Incident
The investigation was set in motion on September 20, 2024, when the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office received a tip from an individual claiming that a man had confessed to killing his two children and burning their bodies in a fire pit behind a house in Wheatfield, Indiana.
According to reports from WANE 15, FOX 59, and The Kansas City Star, the informant alleged that the man had not only killed the children but had also attempted to conceal the crime by cremating their remains in the backyard.
Authorities immediately launched an investigation and identified the man involved as 31-year-old Steven Valle. His partner, 25-year-old Samantha Sebella, was also implicated in the case.
Both Valle and Sebella were located at a hotel in nearby Newton County. The couple was reportedly cooperative during questioning but denied any involvement in or knowledge of the alleged murders.
Jason Wallace, Chief Deputy of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, said, “They just denied it. They were cooperative but had nothing to share on the topic.”
Despite this, law enforcement officers obtained their cell phones for evidence, which uncovered new information that further fueled the investigation.
A breakthrough in the case came on September 30, when authorities executed a search warrant at the Wheatfield residence where Valle and Sebella were previously believed to have lived.
In a joint operation involving multiple agencies, including the Jasper County Coroner’s Office, Indiana State Police, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, cadaver dogs alerted investigators to three separate locations on the property.
In these areas, police discovered bone fragments that were immediately sent for forensic analysis to determine their origin.
At the time of discovery, it remained unclear whether the bones were human or animal or if they were indeed connected to the children reportedly killed.
Investigators are mainly focused on determining whether the remains belong to infants or young children, as the alleged victims are believed to be between the ages of 0 and 6 years old.
As of now, it has not been confirmed whether Valle and Sebella are the parents of the deceased children.
According to Wallace, the children are described as “undocumented” in the state system, meaning there are no official records of their existence, which has further complicated efforts to verify their identities and determine the scope of the case.
It was also clarified that “undocumented” refers to the lack of birth or medical records and is unrelated to immigration status.
Despite their initial denials, Valle and Sebella were arrested on October 3, nearly two weeks after receiving the tip.
According to court records cited by WANE 15, FOX 59, and NBC Chicago, the pair now face a series of serious charges, including murder, neglect of a dependent causing death, abuse of a corpse, obstruction of justice, and failure to report a dead body.
These charges indicate that the investigation is centred around the belief that the children are deceased, though an official confirmation is still pending the results of forensic analysis.
In addition to these charges, authorities have reportedly removed another child from the couple’s care. This child is also considered “undocumented,” raising concerns about the couple’s overall involvement with children whose existence has not been formally recognized by any government system.
The case has raised numerous questions that remain unanswered. First and foremost is the issue of bone fragments—whether human or animal remains- and whether they belong to the children at the centre of this investigation.
Investigators are working diligently to analyze the evidence, but as of now, the identities of the deceased, if there are indeed deceased individuals, have not been confirmed.
There is also the question of how Valle and Sebella were able to care for children without any official records of their existence.
While Wallace clarified that the term “undocumented” refers to the absence of state records, it is unclear how this went unnoticed by authorities until the tipster came forward.
Additionally, investigators are still piecing together the timeline of events, including when and where the alleged murders took place and how Valle and Sebella were able to move freely despite the severe nature of the accusations.
Law enforcement officials have urged anyone with information relevant to the investigation to come forward, emphasizing that even small details could prove crucial in unravelling the truth.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office has set up a dedicated line for tips related to the case, urging members of the public to contact them at (219) 866-7334 and ask to speak with a detective if they believe they have information that could aid in the investigation.
