LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Ten years after 18-year-old Ebby Steppach vanished from her Little Rock home, investigators with the Little Rock Police Department and the Arkansas Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit are pursuing a new lead in the unsolved homicide, offering a glimmer of progress to her grieving family.
Steppach disappeared on Oct. 25, 2015, after telling her stepfather she intended to report a sexual assault at the police station. She called her brother that evening, saying she was lost and unsure where she had parked her car. Her vehicle was later found abandoned in Chalamont Park in west Little Rock, containing her phone, purse and keys. In May 2018, her remains were discovered in a nearby drainage pipe, confirming the case as a homicide. No arrests have been made.
The new lead, shared with Steppach’s mother Laurie Jernigan by the Attorney General’s unit, centers on possible sightings of Ebby near 53rd Street and University Avenue on the night of Oct. 24 through early Oct. 25, 2015. Authorities are re-examining her final steps and urging anyone who may have seen or spoken to her in that area to come forward.
Jernigan, who has led tireless searches and advocacy efforts, expressed cautious optimism. “So we want to know if anyone saw her in the vicinity of 53rd Street and University Avenue,” she said. “I can’t not do anything about it… I’m fighting for my child.”
To amplify the case on its 10th anniversary, Jernigan launched the “Justice for Ebby Jane” social media campaign across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X, inspired by high-profile cases like that of Gabby Petito. The pages aim to connect with potential witnesses, share Ebby’s story and encourage tips. “I may never know what happened to Ebby, and I’m okay with that. She’s safe. She’s with the Lord. But Ebby deserves that answer, and we deserve that too,” Jernigan stated.
The partnership between Little Rock Police and the Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit, formed in 2024, has brought fresh momentum. The unit, one of the first cases it took on, is re-interviewing witnesses, reviewing files and applying advanced DNA testing to evidence. Attorney General Tim Griffin emphasized the commitment to closure, noting the collaboration provides “fresh eyes” on longstanding questions.
Little Rock Police Chief Heath Helton echoed the resolve. “I am grateful to Attorney General Tim Griffin’s team, whose support has been instrumental in moving this investigation forward. We remain steadfast in our commitment to justice for Ebby and closure for her family. This case, like every homicide, remains a priority, and we will follow every lead until answers are found.”
Tips can be submitted anonymously to ebbytips@gmail.com or through the Justice for Ebby Jane Facebook page. The investigation continues as authorities hope public assistance will unlock the answers that have eluded them for a decade.
MORE INFO: Link below contains photos and info at the location where Ebby Steppach was found
