Honk News (Jasper County, IN) – In a surprising turn of events, prosecutors in Indiana have decided to dismiss murder charges against a couple accused of the tragic deaths of two children, whose bodies were reportedly burned in a firepit in their backyard.
Steven Valle, 31, and Samantha Sebella, 25, are currently charged with serious offenses including murder, neglect resulting in death, abuse of a corpse, and failing to report a deceased individual. However, the Jasper County Prosecutor’s Office has submitted a motion to dismiss. On Wednesday, a judge dismissed the charges, allowing prosecutors the option to refile the case in the future.
Taulman indicated that one reason for the prosecutors’ decision to drop the case was to allow anthropologists to keep examining the ashes, debris, and other materials found by the police at the firepit. He characterized the process as a “challenging and laborious endeavor” due to the tiny size of much of the material. Authorities are currently examining digital information from mobile phones and various electronic devices.
However, Valle’s lawyer argued that the charges should not be reinstated, stating that there is “no evidence that a crime even occurred.”
According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, deputies initiated an investigation on September 20 following a report from a friend of the couple. The friend revealed that Valle had confided in him, stating, “I killed my two kids,” as detailed in the affidavit acquired by Law&Crime. Upon further questioning, Valle reportedly claimed they had “smothered their first born but had drowned the second born and burned their bodies in the firepit at their house.”
Image: Samantha Sebella; Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities described the deceased children as “undocumented,” indicating they were born at home and did not obtain any official documentation such as a birth certificate or social security number.
Authorities located Valle and Sebella at a hotel in Newton County. They claimed ignorance, yet authorities seized their phones as part of the investigation. In the meantime, a third child without documentation was taken from their care.
According to earlier reports, authorities including the Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, and Jasper County Coroner’s Office, accompanied by two cadaver dogs, arrived at the Wheatfield property on September 30, where Valle and Sebella previously resided, as stated in the probable cause affidavit. Reports indicate that the couple was evicted from the property in July. The canines signaled three distinct areas on the premises, leading investigators to discover bone fragments.
Authorities transported the remains to an expert in Indianapolis for analysis to establish whether they originated from a baby or an animal. The Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the bones in question are human.
On October 1, data extraction from Sebella’s phone revealed compromising text messages exchanged between her and Valle. She reportedly sent him a message shortly after 11 a.m. on September 17: “GUESS WHAT BABY KILLER.” Approximately an hour later, she sent him a message: “You took my children from me because you never cared. You never loved me.”
Image: Steven Valle; Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.
The following day, Valle reportedly replied, “I’m aware that the fire will be remembered for your actions.”
Sebella allegedly sent messages stating: “YOU KILLED OUR BABIES I HAVE THEIR DNA IN MY BODY FOREVER” and “They will know everything you took me to the doctor in 2017 to prove that I was pregnant THEY WILL KNOW.”
Authorities reportedly discovered a “Baby Center” application on her device, which tracked her pregnancy milestones and synced important dates to her Google calendar.
“Steven said he cleaned him up to make him look ‘pretty,’ wrapped him in a baby blanket, face exposed, and placed him in a box,” the affidavit said. “Steven said after three days, he knew the child wouldn’t be coming back to life so he wrapped him completely in the blanket and buried him in the backyard near a shed.”
“According to the affidavit, Steven stated that he tidied him up to present him as ‘pretty,’ swaddled him in a baby blanket with his face visible, and positioned him in a box,” the document revealed. “After three days, Steven realized the child wouldn’t return to life, so he wrapped him in a blanket and buried him in the backyard near a shed.”
Valle allegedly informed investigators that “some time” following the boy’s death, Sebella became pregnant once more. On this occasion, she welcomed a “premature” daughter in the bathtub while he was away at work. The affidavit states that he asserted the girl was deceased upon his arrival home. He mentioned that he laid her to rest beside the boy.
The authorities reported that the children remained interred for a period ranging from three to five years before being exhumed and incinerated in the firepit. He reportedly searched through the remains and discovered some bone fragments.
“Steven stated that he kept some of the ashes to make a necklace as a memento,” the affidavit said.
