On September 30th, Jami met Steven after he begged her to reconsider. She called her mother twice that morning. The first time, she said Steven had grabbed her purse and run off. The second time, she said he was at their home and she was going to get lunch before returning to her parents’ house. That was the last time anyone heard from her.

Steven’s behavior after Jami’s disappearance was very suspicious:

* **His actions:** He acted strangely, attempted suicide (but called 911 before serious harm), quickly started dating other women, wore Jami’s underwear and necklace, and falsely claimed she died in an accident or was a victim of the Green River Killer. He also took control of her finances.
* **Physical evidence:** Jami’s car was found abandoned, her purse missing, but her underwear was missing from her suitcase in the car. A suspicious red stain was found and cleaned from their carpet. A shovel, unusual for his truck, was seen in it the day after Jami disappeared.

Steven had a history of violence and a criminal record, including assaulting a former girlfriend so badly she needed hospitalization. He was controlling and abusive towards Jami, influencing her appearance and even causing her job loss. He also engaged in unusual sexual activities and used multiple aliases.

Years later, Steven’s sister revealed he’d wanted to confess to a priest for doing “something bad.” He continued to have legal problems, including cocaine use and a bar brawl.

Despite a lack of direct evidence initially, Steven was eventually charged with Jami’s murder in 2000, found guilty, and sentenced to 60 years in prison. He later faced additional charges for trying to burn down his in-laws’ house, where his son lived. Jami’s body has never been found, but her disappearance is presumed to be a murder. The case is detailed in Ann Rule’s book, *Empty Promises*.