Erin Foster, 18, and her friend Jeremy Bechtel, 17, disappeared on April 3, 2000. Online condolences may be made to the family at oaklawnmemorial.com. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The police reportedly followed leads that did not have a connection to Bechtel or Foster, leading to multiple dead ends. [1] Bechtel spoke to his father Ronnie Bechtel by telephone on the evening of April 3, 2000. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. [8], Both Foster and Bechtel were buried in 2022. COLD CASE: Searching Lake For Two Teenagers That Vanished 20 Years Ago! Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. And he said he is inclined to believe the sighting of Foster in Florida was accurate. Jeremy Lee Bechtel RESOLVED Jeremy, circa 2000 Missing Since 04/03/2000 Missing From Sparta, Tennessee Classification Endangered Missing Sex Male Race White Age 17 years old Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. November 7, 1982 - Family members linked to this person will appear here. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. 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. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Erin Foster, 18, and Jeremy Bechtel, 17, disappeared in April of 2000, in White County. Numerous theories and speculations have arisen among law enforcement and the community as to what happened to Foster and Bechtel. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Funeral arrangement under the care ofOak Lawn Funeral Home-Cremation Center and Memorial Cemetery. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. Donations are accepted but not expected; the site remains free-access to all. Twenty-one years ago in 2000, Erin Foster (18) and Jeremy Bechtel (17) were last seen in Erin's 1998 black Pontiac Grand Am. [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. [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. But we are not giving up on this case. 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. 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. And Ison said he is inclined to believe the sighting of Foster in Florida was accurate. They also did not follow a recommendation by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to provide DNA samples that could help identify their daughter, Isom confirmed. It was a busy day at work and then I came home to my family. You can point to literally any scenario as to what happened that last night, and I cannot prove that any are right or wrong. Later that night, around 10 p.m., they were seen together in her car, a sporty black Pontiac Grand Am. And none of their personal belongings are missing.". This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. "You can point to literally any scenario as to what happened that last night, and I cannot prove that any are right or wrong. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. To name a few: robbery gone wrong; their car plunged into a body of water; drug deal gone wrong; someone killed them out of jealousy; they stumbled onto something criminal and were silenced; killed by local "chop shop" thugs for Foster's sporty car; one was the target, the other killed just for being present; they simply ran off together. Ledbetter said that while she no longer believes her son is alive she thinks about him and the case every day. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. All rights reserved. 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. Verify and try again. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. And the families of both teenagers are left grappling with more questions than answers. Oak Lawn Funeral Home 1786 Smithville Hwy, Sparta, TN 38583. Our daughter is missing.. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. ul.searchbrowse li {margin:0 0 5%; font-size:0.75em; /* 12/16 */ } Drag images here or select from your computer for Jeremy Lee Bechtel memorial. In November 2021, a man using sonar to look through parts of the Calfkiller River found a submerged car, which was almost completely intact and turned out to be Erin's car. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Rhonda (Ledbetter) does not feel like she has received the full level of cooperation from the authorities that she should have. #searchlist h2 a:hover {color:#222; border-bottom: 1px dotted #222;} We have set your language to Foster was seen by her brother Will the same evening. Failed to report flower. We've explored all the well avenues that we know of, unless some more information is developed. After 21 years, 7 months and 27 days, Jeremy's remains, along with those of Erin Foster (Find A Grave memorial #234635476) were recovered from a submerged vehicle and identified on December 1, 2021. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. There is a problem with your email/password. 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. The family will welcome friends on Saturday from 11:00 AM until time of the service at the funeral home. Isom said there is a lot of conflicting information about several matters including whether Bechtel and Foster were a romantic couple, casually dating, or just close friends as they had been for several years. Last updated February 15, 2022; case resolved. 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". Missing from Sparta, Tn since 4/3/2000 Erin Foster & Jeremy Bechtel. she asked. There is also no evidence of the car. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. There are as many theories about their disappearance as there are people in White County. "We had several people ID her photo, and one of them was a retired police officer," Isom said. Oops, something didn't work. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. 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. Numerous theories and speculations have arisen among law enforcement and the community as to what happened to Foster and Bechtel. Sides retrieved the license plate from the car indicating it was, in fact, Foster's car, and human remains were found inside the vehicle. [4] Sides found a submerged vehicle, but it was not Foster's Grand Am. MINNIE BECHTEL OBITUARY. One friend tells the story about how Jeremy was always rapping- even performing rap songs during a talent show in the 6th grade. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Try again later. Their bodies were found in Foster's vehicle in 2021 by Jeremy Sides, a volunteer civilian cold-case investigator and YouTuber. 20, Photos: ET Farmers Markets celebrate 40 years. How many young blond girls do you think there are in Florida? Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. After Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel vanished in 2000, there had been no new evidence until YouTube diver Jeremy Beau Sides discovered a car belonging to one of the teens underwater in. 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. Please reset your password. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with Dwight Fuqua officiating. And she fears that if it is ever used, it will be to identify her son's body. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. On April 3, 2000, Jeremy Bechtel, 17, and Erin Foster, 18, both of Sparta, attended a party. Disappearance [ edit] Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel were residents of Sparta, Tennessee. "I hope that someday we can find them both and bring them home to rest," she said. For kids like that to stay gone this long and not contact any of their family or friends, that's enough to make you think something is wrong, he said. Witnesses saw Jeremy and Erin in the car outside of Sparta, Tennessee at approximately 10:00 p.m. on April 3, 2000. [5][3], Jeremy Sides, from Acworth, Georgia, broadcasts his efforts to solve missing people cold cases on a YouTube channel. Jeremy loved music, and he enjoyed playing sports in school. And none of their personal belongings are missing," except what they had with them, Ledbetter said. And none of their personal belongings are missing, except what they had with them, Ledbetter said. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. When two vanish together, the case can be more than twice as difficult. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. [5], No one saw them alive after the evening of April 3, 2000, prompting rumors and speculation of their whereabouts including false reports of sightings. 7 talking about this. 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. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. Erin Foster's car discovered in river 21 years later: Decades-old cold case of missing Tennessee teens reopened after diver finds car underwater. Michelle Willard. Failed to delete memorial. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? They went missing on April 3, 2000 in Sparta, Tennessee, and were last seen in Foster's 1998 Pontiac Grand Am.. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Jeremy's mother, for one, doesn't believe the teens ran away. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Legacy invites you to. They visited a mutual friend that day, then left the friend's house in Erin's black two-door 1998 Pontiac Grand Am. JEREMY BECHTEL OBITUARY Jeremy Bechtel's passing on Monday, April 3, 2000 has been publicly announced by Oak Lawn Funeral H-Cremation Cntr-Meml Cemetery in Sparta, TN. It all depends on who you talk to, Isom said. (17 years old). [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. Investigators believe they accidentally drove off the road into the river. When two vanish together, the case can be more than twice as difficult. 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. Later that night, around 10 p.m., they were seen together in her car, a sporty black Pontiac Grand Am . When it was pulled from the river, human remains were found inside it and in February they were identified as Erin and Jeremy's. Try again later. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jeremy Lee Bechtel please visit our. Add to your scrapbook. As promised, Sides returned to the area on November 30, 2021, more than ten years after Bechtel and Foster went missing. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Editor's note: This story, pulled from our archives, was originally published onJan 15, 2012. Erin Foster, 18, and Jeremy Bechtel, 17, disappeared in April of 2000. "Just a few months back, we dug up another well," Isom said in 2012. The medical examiner has not officially confirmed the remains belong to Bechtel and Foster, but Page is confident they are the teens. "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. We always kind of thought through the years that something happened, but I just didnt know what.. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. You can always change this later in your Account settings. it was all I could think about really. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. "How many young blond girls do you think there are in Florida?" Jeremy loved music, and he enjoyed playing sports in school. 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. In the beginning, investigators thought the pair ran away together but the years since have made this theory less likely. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. One person disappearing without a trace is mystery enough. He has cooperated with us every time and in every way. Erin and Jeremy left the party and were last seen around 10 p.m. April 3, 2000, driving Erin's car outside of Sparta. For over 20 years, no one knew what happened to Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel. 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. Thanks for your help! Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. If they are still alive, the investigator said he puts most credence in the reported sightings of Erin in Florida. Bechtel's mother, Rhonda Ledbetter, did give DNA. 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. He was born November 7, 1982 in Smithville, Tennessee to Ronnie Lee Bechtel and to the late Rhonda England Bechtel Ledbetter. Failed to remove flower. They picked Will up earlier that night from an arcade before leaving for a party. Resend Activation Email. "Both of them worked, and neither picked up their last paychecks. Recommend Jeremy's obituary to your friends. We have gone in wells, dug up areas, we have used ground-penetrating equipment looking for bodies, Page told The Washington Post. The investigator said there are other persons of interest. 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. "I need that closure.". Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Every lead we get, it seems like it becomes smoke that you can't hold in your hand. Jeremy loved music and he enjoyed playing sports in. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. It just shattered my heart again. 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. When asked by the News Sentinel, Isom confirmed that Foster's ex-boyfriend, Gareth Bradley, remains "a person of interest." One tip said the teenagers had been murdered and their bodies disposed of in an abandoned well in rural White County. Through a family member, Foster's parents declined to be interviewed for this story. ul.searchbrowse li a:hover {color:#676767; border-bottom: 1px dotted #676767}, Photos: 37th Tennessee Homecoming brings history to life, Photos: Hurricane Matthew evacuees find shelter in Knoxville, Photos: Church Street United Methodist celebrates bicentennial, Photos: school coupon book kick off celebration, Photos: Bristol in anticipation for Battle at Bristol, Photos: Olive Garden provides meal for West Hills Fire Station No. Sorry! This browser does not support getting your location. On April 3, 2000, Jeremy Bechtel, 17, and Erin Foster, 18, both of Sparta, attended a party. 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. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. #searchbrowse-left {width:45%; float:left; margin: 0 2%; background: transparent;} She does not believe either her son or Foster ran away. Smithville, DeKalb County, Tennessee, USA. Erin Foster, 18, and Jeremy Bechtel, 17 were last seen on April 3, 2000, after leaving Foster's home. 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. It was the last time he talked to his son. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. 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