Merrillville Police Are Searching For A Missing Female After Pursuit
On March 13, 2021 at approximately 11:37 pm, Merrillville Police Officers responded to the 1300 block of East 86th Pl. in reference to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area, according to Assistant Chief Kosta Nuses.
Upon arrival, Officers attempted to make contact with the occupied vehicle in question, at which time the vehicle fled from the area. Merrillville Officers pursued the vehicle which left the roadway and drove into a field in an attempt to evade officers. The suspect vehicle eventually stopped and a foot pursuit and search of the surrounding areas was conducted utilizing K9 and drone deployments, during which a male party was apprehended, Nuses said. The male driver indicated after several minutes that a second person had been in the vehicle, however no additional individuals were located at that time by K9 or the accompanying drone.
Two days later on March 15, 2021, a missing person report was filed at the Merrillville Police Department indicating that a female identified as Steffani Sanders had not been seen or heard from since March 13, 2021. It was learned that Sanders was possibly a passenger in the vehicle that had been involved in the pursuit on 3-13-2021. Family of Steffani Sanders met with investigators and the Merrillville Chief of Police at the Merrillville Police Department on 3-17-2021 to discuss the investigation and to share information regarding Steffani’s disappearance. On that same day, drones were once again deployed to search the area where the pursuit had occurred with no results. Subsequently, a search for Steffani Sanders was coordinated to take place on 3-20-2021 utilizing search and rescue K9’s trained in human detection along with their handlers, in coordination with search and rescue professionals and volunteers on foot accompanied by law enforcement officers on ATV and UTV assisting in the search. This search was coordinated and executed in the areas both where the initial pursuit began as well as the location where the vehicle came to rest.
After the plans had been organized for Sanders, investigators learned that the area to be searched coincided with the area that a male subject had been reported missing on 3-01-2021. To better utilize resources, the missing male subject was then added to the search area. The search yielded no results for Steffani Sanders in either of the locations listed above.
It was brought to the attention of investigators on 3-23-2021 that Steffani had possibly stopped at a gas station in the Michigan City area on 3-13-2021. Investigators were able to make contact with the business and confirm through video surveillance that Steffani and two males had been seen inside the gas station on the night of 3-13-2021, prior to the pursuit.
Investigators have been in constant contact with Steffani’s family throughout the investigation. Steffani Sanders is an African American female, approximately 5’06 and 120 pounds, last seen wearing camouflage pants and jacket, dark boots with rubber soles, a black face covering, and a head scarf.
The investigation is active and if anyone has any information regarding the whereabouts of Steffani Sanders, please contact the Merrillville Police Department at (219) 769-3722. The Merrillville Police Department remains steadfast in their mission to protect and serve members and visitors of our community, Nuses added.
