Burial followed in Skurlock Cemetery.Jeremy and his friend Erin were reported missing on April 3, 2000. ul.searchbrowse {font-family:'Myriad W01 Regular', sans-serif; color: #676767; margin:0; text-transform: capitalize;} One person disappearing without a trace is mysterious enough. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. [4] On November 30, using sonar technology, Sides found a vehicle located thirteen feet below the surface of the Calfkiller River, next to Highway 84,[1] before running out of daylight. Try again later. Try again later. The investigator said there are other persons of interest. JERRY BECHTEL OBITUARY Bechtel, Jerry J. Try again later. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. Every lead we get, it seems like it becomes smoke that you can't hold in your hand. When he came upon the Bechtel and Foster case, he determined it was worth a trip to the small Tennessee town to see if he would have more success than previous efforts. Foster's parents said they held off holding a funeral for her when she went missing in the hopes that she may have still been alive. "Just a few months back, we dug up another well," Isom said. Try again. #searchbrowse-left {width:45%; float:left; margin: 0 2%; background: transparent;} By most accounts, Erin Foster, 18, and Jeremy Bechtel, 17, were childhood friends. And Ison said he is inclined to believe the sighting of Foster in Florida was accurate. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Those searches were sparked by a tip that came in several years ago, reporting the pair had been murdered and their bodies dumped in a well or an abandoned well site somewhere in White County. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. Janet Barsch (Bechtel) nee SidoffJanet A. Barsch (Bechtel) nee Sidoff, age 85, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, in Waukesha, WI. Later that night, around 10 p.m., they were seen together in her car, a sporty black Pontiac Grand Am. Numerous theories and speculations have arisen among law enforcement and the community as to what happened to Foster and Bechtel. Their bodies were found in Foster's vehicle in 2021 by Jeremy Sides, a volunteer civilian cold-case investigator and YouTuber. At the time, the article said the investigation was still ongoing but there was no forensic evidence about what may have happened to the teenagers. Editor's note: This story, pulled from our archives, was originally published onJan 15, 2012. "I hope that someday we can find them both and bring them home to rest," Jeremy's mother Rhonda Ledbetter said in a 2012 interview with the Knox News-Sentinel. it was all I could think about really. Erin Foster, 18, and her friend Jeremy Bechtel, 17, disappeared on April 3, 2000. Donations are accepted but not expected; the site remains free-access to all. "I don't believe they got out of White County that night," she said. To use this feature, use a newer browser. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. There was an error deleting this problem. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. November 7, 1982 - 2 Jeremy Bechtel and Erin Foster may have been found after two decades Credit: Facebook/Justice for Jeremy Bechtel and Erin Foster What happened to the teenagers? Jeremy called his father, Ronnie Bechtel, to tell him he was with Erin and some other friends. Jeremy's mother, for one, doesn't believe the teens ran away. When it was pulled from the river, human remains were found inside it and in February they were identified as Erin and Jeremy's. Resend Activation Email. However, of Bradley, Isom added: I would not call him a suspect. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. #searchlist {width:100%; border-bottom: 2px #e5e5e5 solid; margin: 3% 0 5% 0;} Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. [1] Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Closer to home, authorities have periodically dug up wells in White County. One person disappearing without a trace is mystery enough. He was born November 7, 1982 in Smithville, Tennessee to Ronnie Lee Bechtel and to the late Rhonda England Bechtel Ledbetter. I dont have an easy way to say it, Sides told Page in hisYouTube video, "but I found them.. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. And the families of both teenagers are left grappling with more questions than answers. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. The Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. It was the last anyone ever saw either of them. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. On April 3, 2000, Jeremy Bechtel, 17, and Erin Foster, 18, both of Sparta, attended a party. We always kind of thought through the years that something happened, but I just didnt know what.. When we asked him to take a polygraph, he did not hesitate, and he passed it.". Isom said Erin's ex-boyfriend is a person of interest in the case, but he has cooperated with investigators including passing a polygraph test. Isom said a routine review of the case with the 13th District Attorney General's office is scheduled for this month, but that there are no suspects and no solution in sight. And he said he is inclined to believe the sighting of Foster in Florida was accurate. Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel were two American teenagers from Sparta, Tennessee, who disappeared in April 2000. Neither the teenagers nor the black two-door 1998 Pontiac Grand Am, Tennessee license plate number 473EJR, haven't been credibly seen since. Jeremy Lee Bechtel, age 17 at the time he went missing on April 3, 2000, was found on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 in Sparta, Tennessee. Erin Foster's car discovered in river 21 years later: Decades-old cold case of missing Tennessee teens reopened after diver finds car underwater. If they are still alive, the investigator said he puts most credence in the reported sightings of Erin in Florida. COLD CASE: Searching Lake For Two Teenagers That Vanished 20 Years Ago! [4] Sides found a submerged vehicle, but it was not Foster's Grand Am. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. You can always change this later in your Account settings. [1][2][6][7], Police have theorized that Foster lost control of her vehicle while driving on Highway 84, which did not have a guardrail along that section in 2000. Oak Lawn Funeral H-Cremation Cntr-Meml Cemetery. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Bechtel's mother, Rhonda Ledbetter, did give DNA. Ledbetter said that while she no longer believes her son is alive she thinks about him and the case every day. Their bodies were found in Foster's vehicle in 2021 by Jeremy Sides, a volunteer civilian cold-case investigator and YouTuber. Burial will follow in Skurlock Cemetery. Oak Lawn Funeral Home 1786 Smithville Hwy, Sparta, TN 38583. "We had several people ID her photo, and one of them was a retired police officer," Isom said. The police reportedly followed leads that did not have a connection to Bechtel or Foster, leading to multiple dead ends. Page asked Sides to use his side-scan sonar to help find Bechtel and Foster. ul.searchbrowse li {margin:0 0 5%; font-size:0.75em; /* 12/16 */ } White County teenagers Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel should have come home the night of April 3, 2000, but they disappeared, along with Erin's prized two-door 1998 Pontiac Grand Am. He reached out to Sides and asked him to work with investigators, suggesting he search Calfkiller River. He was born November 7, 1982 in Smithville, Tennessee to Ronnie Lee Bechtel and to the late Rhonda England Bechtel Ledbetter. He found their car submerged in the Calfkiller River. Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share memories of Jeremy in the Guest Book below. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. "It all depends on who you talk to," Isom said. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. It just shattered my heart again. [4] Foster was 18 at the time of her disappearance, while Bechtel was 17. They went missing on April 3, 2000 in Sparta, Tennessee, and were last seen in Foster's 1998 Pontiac Grand Am.. Later that night, around 10 p.m., they were seen together in her car, a sporty black Pontiac Grand Am. I am just now getting around to wishing you a happy birthday but it's not because I didn't think about you that day. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. "How many young blond girls do you think there are in Florida?" If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. When she got home, she asked her mother if she could go out on a school night. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. 7 talking about this. The parents of both missing teens said their children's rooms had never been searched and other kids from the party had not been brought in for questioning. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Through a family member, Foster's parents declined to be interviewed for this story. Some theories include robbery or drug deal gone wrong, silenced by local criminals, accidentally drove into a body of water, killed out of jealousy, or simply ran away. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. globalnews.ca comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment [deleted] . Knox News reported in 2012 that wells in White County wereperiodically dug up after they received reports that Bechtel and Foster had been murdered and their bodies were abandoned near a well site. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/235383836/jeremy-lee-bechtel. Jeremy disappeared with his childhood friend Erin Foster. [2][3] The remains were later confirmed to be Foster and Bechtel, found in the vehicle after missing for 21 years. It was the last time he talked to his son. Write your message of sympathy today. Now that he can finally give his son a burial, he said, Ive prayed that if hes not on this Earth, that hes with Jesus and with mama, and theres no doubt theyve all seen him by now and know whats happened.. The family will welcome friends on Saturday from 11:00 AM until time of the service at the funeral home. Please try again later. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. [1] Bechtel spoke to his father Ronnie Bechtel by telephone on the evening of April 3, 2000. You can point to literally any scenario as to what happened that last night, and I cannot prove that any are right or wrong. [4] The following day, on December 1, 2021, Sides returned to the vehicle he had seen in the river and went diving to film the car. Ledbetter believes the girl in Florida was someone else who resembled Foster. [2], Foster and Bechtel attended a party that night but returned to Foster's parents' home before leaving again. On the Facebook page set up for him and Erin- 'Justice for Jeremy Bechtel and Erin Foster'- you can see the number of people that cared about him and share photographs of him. Ways to honor Jeremy Bechtel's life and legacy. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. Jeremy Bechtel, 17, and Erin Foster, 18, disappeared without a trace on April 3, 2000, in White County, Tennessee. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. Mary Eleanor "Ellie" Sedwick Bechtel, 95, a longtime Emlenton resident and former business owner, passed away following a brief illness on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in the comfort of her home she. The last person to see the teenagers was Foster's brother, Will. Failed to remove flower. Failed to delete memorial. Learn more about merges. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Jeremy loved music, and he enjoyed playing sports in school. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Nine times out of 10 theyre in the water.. Missing from Sparta, Tn since 4/3/2000 Erin Foster & Jeremy Bechtel. Failed to report flower. Jeremy was also very well-liked. Some reports call them more than friends. Gerald Bechtel Obituary It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Gerald Bechtel (New Albin, Iowa), who passed away on January 15, 2023, at the age of 62, leaving to mourn family and friends. But we are not giving up on this case. He. Sides didn't inform anyone when he visited Sparta in late November and although he was unsuccessful, he posted a video to his YouTube channel that he would return to try again. No specific tip has led to them, but investigators followed a reported sighting of Erin in 2005 and 2006 in Pensacola, Florida. #searchbrowse-right {width:45%; float:left; margin: 0 2%; background: transparent;} (But) it was right under our noses the whole time. Recommend Jeremy's obituary to your friends. Bob Lowery, executive director for NCMEC's missing children's division, said some parents "are reluctant to give DNA because they do not want to face the reality that their children could be dead. Just a few months back, we dug up another well, Isom said. Obituary Jeremy Lee Bechtel, age 17 at the time he went missing on April 3, 2000, was found on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 in Sparta, Tennessee. We have set your language to Isom said there is one witness who said she is certain she saw Foster without Bechtel late on the night they disappeared. "I hope that someday we can find them both and bring them home to rest," she said. When two vanish together, the case can be more than twice as difficult. Anyone with information on the case can contact Isom at 931-836-2700; or by email at chris_isom@hotmail.com. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Middle Tennessee Mysteries is dedicated to shining a light on cold cases, unsolved murders and missing people in Tennessee. "We've explored all the well avenues that we know of unless some more information is developed. On April 3, 2000, Jeremy Bechtel, 17, and Erin Foster, 18, both of Sparta, attended a party. In Memory of Jeremy Bechtel and Erin Foster | Sparta TN In the beginning, investigators thought the pair ran away together but the years since have made this theory less likely. Verify and try again. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Be the first to post a memory or condolences. They visited a mutual friend that day, then left the friend's house in Erin's black two-door 1998 Pontiac Grand Am. Ronnie said his wife passed away from cancer four years ago and he believed it was the stress and worry that took a toll on her life. And none of their personal belongings are missing, except what they had with them, Ledbetter said. Witnesses saw Jeremy and Erin in the car outside of Sparta, Tennessee at approximately 10:00 p.m. on April 3, 2000. She was last seen wearing long pants, sandals and three sets of earrings. And none of their personal belongings are missing.". White County Sheriff Steve Page said he saw the video and realized that Sides was using a scan-sonar technology their department didn't have access to. Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel were residents of Sparta, Tennessee. "This is a case with two victims and many possibilities, but no crime scene and no forensic evidence," White County Sheriff's Office Detective Chris Isom said in an interview with the Knox News-Sentinel. The highway likely didn't have a guardrail in 2000, and police suspect Foster and Bechtel lost control of their vehicle and landed in the water. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Isom said that even if Foster and Bechtel meant to leave, something has since happened to them. [2] As of July 2022, the police investigation was not closed, but foul play was ruled out from police lines of inquiry. 20, Photos: ET Farmers Markets celebrate 40 years. "You need money to go on the run," she told the News-Sentinel in 2012. In 2000, Jeremy Bechtel and Erin Foster left Foster's home in Sparta, Tennessee, and attended a party in White County but they never made it home. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. He was born November 7, 1982 in Smithville, Tennessee to Ronnie Lee Bechtel and to the late Rhonda England Bechtel Ledbetter. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Survivors include: Parents- Ronnie and Karen Bechtel of McMinnville, TN Step-Father- Hunter Ledbetter of Sparta, TN Brothers- Rickey Fox of McMinnville, TN and Dusty Fox of McMinnville, TN Nieces- Cloe Fox and Lillian Fox Several cousins and other family members also survive. February 28th, 2019 would have been Erin's 37th birthday. He was born November 7, 1982 in Smithville, Tennessee to Ronnie Lee Bechtel and to the late Rhonda England Bechtel Ledbetter. We are sad to announce that on April 3, 2000, at the age of 17, Jeremy Lee Bechtel (Sparta, Tennessee), born in Smithville, Tennessee passed away. Decades-old cold case of missing Tennessee teens reopened after diver finds car underwater, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Jeremy is also white with dark hair and light eyes. Hamilton County: Carmella Maria Gutierrez. And none of their personal belongings are missing," except what they had with them, Ledbetter said. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the teens were last spotted around. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. (CQ), .searchbrowse-wrap {width:100%; margin: 0 0 10%; padding: 0 0 5% 0; border-bottom: 1px #e5e5e5 solid;} Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Jeremy Lee Bechtel, age 17 at the time he went missing on April 3, 2000, was found on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 in Sparta, Tennessee. White County teenagers Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel should have come home the night of April 3, 2000, but they disappeared, along with Erin's prized two-door 1998 Pontiac Grand Am. Its heart-wrenching to know it was that simple, and it was made that hard because of all the rumors and horror stories through the years.. "I need that closure.". https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Disappearance_of_Erin_Foster_and_Jeremy_Bechtel&oldid=1140306445, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Remains discovered after missing for 21 years, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 13:31. Bob Lowery, executive director for NCMEC's missing children's division, said some parents are reluctant to give DNA because they do not want to face the reality that their children could be dead. [4] He called White County Sheriff Steve Page to report his discovery and to confirm that it was Foster's car with two human remains found inside. Survivors include: Parents- Ronnie and Karen Bechtel of McMinnville, TN Step-Father- Hunter Ledbetter of Sparta, TN Brothers- Rickey Fox of McMinnville, TN and Dusty Fox of McMinnville, TN Nieces- Cloe Fox and Lillian Fox Several cousins and other family members also survive. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. I cant explain it.. And she fears that if it is ever used, it will be to identify her son's body. Michelle Willard. But we are not giving up on this case.". Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Erin Foster, 18, and Jeremy Bechtel, 17, disappeared in April of 2000, in White County. On April 3, 2000, Jeremy Bechtel, 17, and Erin Foster, 18, both of Sparta, attended a party. Twenty-one years ago in 2000, Erin Foster (18) and Jeremy Bechtel (17) were last seen in Erin's 1998 black Pontiac Grand Am. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. "You can point to literally any scenario as to what happened that last night, and I cannot prove that any are right or wrong. Year should not be greater than current year. A scuba-diving YouTuber solved the cold case", "After 20 years, Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel laid to rest after YouTube star finds car", "A 'baffling case' with few leads 12 years ago, 2 Sparta teens disappeared", "Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel cold case: What we know after car found by YouTuber", "Meet the YouTube Scuba Divers Solving Cold Cases -- And Racking Up Views". Anyone with information is asked to call the White County Sheriff's Office at 931-836-2700 orthe Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. Funeral arrangement under the care ofOak Lawn Funeral Home-Cremation Center and Memorial Cemetery. The two teens, Jeremy Bechtel, 17, and Erin Foster, 18, went missing without a trace in the small town of Sparta in 2000. They picked Will up earlier that night from an arcade before leaving for a party. [2] Searches were undertaken locally, and also in Pensacola, Florida, during 2005 and 2006 following reports that Foster was living and working there. He would not say who, how many or how they are connected to the case. In the same article, Isom said it's odd for missing people, especially teens, to be gone nearly 20 years with no contact with their friends and family. All rights reserved. There is no photo or video of Jeremy Lee Bechtel.Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute. Neither families have heard from them, there has been no activity on either of their Social Security numbers, and Erin's driver's license has never been renewed. she asked. ul.searchbrowse li a {color:#676767; text-decoration:none; } she asked. Would you like to offer Jeremy Lee Bechtels loved ones a condolence message? You have funeral questions, we have answers. Erin went to a party at a friend's house where she saw Jeremy. When Foster didn't return home the following morning, her mother Leigh Anne reportedly called her husband, Cecil, who reassured her that their daughter would probably be back in a few days. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. ", "It is a very baffling case," said Knoxville lawyer Tom Snapp, who helped Ledbetter review information and some records in an effort to look for leads to pursue. If anybody knows anything at all, please, please call, said Leigh Ann Foster said in a 2002 interview with SpartaLive.com. There was a problem getting your location. There is also no evidence of the car. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. She does not believe either her son or Foster ran away. Later that night, around 10 p.m., they were seen together in her car, a sporty black Pontiac Grand. [3][4], On November 24, 2021, scuba diver Jeremy Sides searched a lake near the location of the party attended by the teenagers.