The fugitive suspected of shooting and killing a man in a Facebook video over the weekend is, most likely, either dead or hiding from the law with someone’s help, according to one investigator.
Steve Stephens, 37, who made his living mentoring teens in the midwest city, posted a video on Sunday of himself killing Robert Godwin Sr., a former foundry worker who had 10 children, according to police.
His motivation remains unclear. Stephens is the subject of a nationwide search and police have posted a $50,000 reward for information leading to his capture and prosecution.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, police Chief Calvin Williams said local, state and federal authorities are using “every tool in our tool bag,” to find Stephens. But he and other investigators offered few new details.
Stephens’s vehicle does not have a GPS or any other locator device, he said, and the roughly 400 tips from the public have included scattered, supposed sightings as far away as Texas.
Police say Steve Stephens, left, shot Robert Godwin Sr., right, on Sunday and posted video of the killing on Facebook. (Cleveland Police via AP, Facebook via AP)
Manhunts can take days, weeks or even years to conclude, he said, and the fugitive is not always taken alive.
U.S. Marshal Peter Elliott said, based on his experience, there are two possibilities: “Either he’s dead somewhere or someone has holed him up somewhere, in a house.”
Williams seemed to agree. “When people go on the run like this, at some point in time they need help,” he said.
“We’re telling people the only assistance in this case is to call us.”
Investigators also said Stephens might have left the U.S., though border officials have been told to watch for him.
Police said earlier his cellphone signal was last detected on Sunday afternoon in Erie, Penn., roughly halfway between Cleveland and Buffalo, N.Y., which borders Ontario.
‘Just snapped’
Prior to the killing, Stephens’s life appeared to be unravelling under the weight of gambling debts and trouble with his girlfriend.
In other, rambling videos on Facebook he said he was out of options and wanted to kill as many innocent people as he could, though authorities have not found any evidence of other killings.
The video in which police say he killed Godwin was taken down by Facebook after a few hours. In it, he said “I snapped, I just snapped.” But police would not speculate on his motivation.
Stephens also mentioned a woman’s name and told Godwin, “She’s the reason that this is about to happen to you.” Godwin did not seem to recognize the name.
The woman Stephens spoke of, Joy Lane, said in a text message to CBS that “we had been in a relationship for several years. I am sorry that all of this has happened.”
She also said Stephens was “a nice guy” who was good to her and her children.
Police say Stephens had a permit to carry a concealed weapon.