Police arrested an Indiana couple after discovering remains in their backyard fire pit.
Fox 32 reports that police began investigating Steven Valle, 31, and Samantha Sebella, 25, on September 20 after Valle allegedly told friends he had killed two undocumented children and burned their bodies in the fire pit at their Wheatfield home.
The children had no official records and were not documented in government databases, as CrimeOnline previously reported.
Deputies from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office found partial bone fragments at the Wheatfield residence, as CrimeOnline reported. An Indianapolis anthropologist confirmed the remains were human.
Police found the suspects at a Newton County hotel on September 20 and the denied any wrongdoing. They admitted to having one child but said there was no birth certificate due to an undocumented home birth, according to court records obtained by Fox 59.
The couple also denied any miscarriages or stillbirths, and a check with the Jasper County Health Department showed no record of Sebella ever giving birth.
However, investigators found messages on their phones suggesting Valle had killed and burned several children.
“You killed my kids cause you are a fa****, you never loved me,” a message reportedly read.
“YOU KILLED OUR BABIES, I HAVE THERE DNA IN MY BODY FOREVER,” another message between the defendants read.
K9s trained to detect human remains were brought to the scene. According to court records, the dogs alerted to a fire pit and a pile of ashes near a garage. Investigators then uncovered what appeared to be bone fragments.
According to court records, Valle stated the child was already dead and wrapped in a blanket when he arrived home. He claimed he buried the second child in the backyard near the first.
Valle later told police he had left the children buried for 3 to 5 years before digging them up and burning their remains in the fire pit. He allegedly said he kept some ashes to create a necklace as a keepsake.
He also reportedly said he sifted through the ashes and found small bone fragments, which he collected and placed in a pile on the west side of the garage.
Both defendants were arrested Thursday.
Valle and Sebella both face charges of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, abuse of a corpse, obstruction of justice, and failure to report a death.
They remain behind bars without bail. Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Steven Valle and Samantha Sebella/Jasper Cumty police]
