Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. And none of their personal belongings are missing," except what they had with them, Ledbetter said. Drag images here or select from your computer for Jeremy Lee Bechtel memorial. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? COLD CASE: Searching Lake For Two Teenagers That Vanished 20 Years Ago! Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Later that night, around 10 p.m., they were seen together in her car, a sporty black Pontiac Grand Am. If they are still alive, the investigator said he puts most credence in the reported sightings of Erin in Florida. He was last seen wearing a dark T-shirt or a plaid shirt, baggy blue jeans, white Fila sneakers and a blue baseball cap or a green Army cap. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Erin Foster, 18, and Jeremy Bechtel, 17 were last seen on April 3, 2000, after leaving Foster's home. Try again. He was born November 7, 1982 in Smithville, Tennessee to Ronnie Lee Bechtel and to the late Rhonda England Bechtel Ledbetter. Since then, there has been no trace of Bechtel, some unproven sightings of Foster, and no sign of her car. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. Later. 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. [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. In the beginning, investigators thought the pair ran away together but the years since have made this theory less likely. Witnesses saw Jeremy and Erin in the car outside of Sparta, Tennessee at approximately 10:00 p.m. on April 3, 2000. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. ", "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. Bechtel's mother, Rhonda Ledbetter, did give DNA. cemeteries found in Quebeck, White County, Tennessee, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Resend Activation Email. "We've explored all the well avenues that we know of, unless some more information is developed. 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. Who are Tennessee's unidentified juvenile victims? He is described as standing 5'8", weighing 150 pounds at the time of his disappearance. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Jeremy loved music, and he enjoyed playing sports in school. Last updated February 15, 2022; case resolved. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. (17 years old). We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. A DECADES-OLD cold case may have come to a close earlier this month after a YouTuber discovered the car of two missing teens. 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. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. 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. 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. 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. When asked by the News Sentinel, Isom confirmed that Foster's ex-boyfriend, Gareth Bradley, remains "a person of interest." He was born November 7, 1982 in Smithville, Tennessee to Ronnie Lee Bechtel and to the late Rhonda England Bechtel Ledbetter. it was all I could think about really. 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. He was born November 7, 1982 in Smithville, Tennessee to Ronnie Lee Bechtel and to the late Rhonda England Bechtel Ledbetter. On April 3, 2000, Jeremy Bechtel, 17, and Erin Foster, 18, both of Sparta, attended a party. Online condolences may be made to the family at oaklawnmemorial.com. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Humor, Satire, Parody and Writing from Emily Morehead, White County Sheriff's Office #searchlist h2 {font-family:'Myriad W01 SmBd', sans-serif; color: #616161; font-size: 0.81255em; /* 13/16 */ line-height: 1.1em; text-transform: uppercase;} It was the last time she saw her daughter. If you have any information. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. And none of their personal belongings are missing, except what they had with them, Ledbetter said. In Memory of Jeremy Bechtel and Erin Foster | Sparta TN "How many young blond girls do you think there are in Florida?" 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. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Clifford and Betty Bechtel and Paul and Vera England. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/235383836/jeremy-lee-bechtel. "We had several people ID her photo, and one of them was a retired police officer," Isom said. Would you like to offer Jeremy Lee Bechtels loved ones a condolence message? #searchlist h2 a {color:#222; text-decoration:none; } And Ison said he is inclined to believe the sighting of Foster in Florida was accurate. Erin went to a party at a friend's house where she saw Jeremy. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Jeremy Lee Bechtel I found on Findagrave.com. The last person to see the teenagers was Foster's brother, Will. Both of them worked, and neither picked up their last paychecks. 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.. So its a different hurt theres something different about it. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. For over 20 years, no one knew what happened to Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Through a family member, Foster's parents declined to be interviewed for this story. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. ul.searchbrowse li {margin:0 0 5%; font-size:0.75em; /* 12/16 */ } Since then, there has been no trace of Bechtel, some unproven sightings of Foster, and no sign of her car. Jeremy disappeared with his childhood friend Erin Foster. 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. "This is a case with two victims and many possibilities, but no crime scene and no forensic evidence," said White County Sheriff's Office Detective Chris Isom. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. Their bodies were found in Foster's vehicle in 2021 by Jeremy Sides, a volunteer civilian cold-case investigator and YouTuber. Ledbetter said that while she no longer believes her son is alive she thinks about him and the case every day. By most accounts, Erin Foster, 18, and Jeremy Bechtel, 17, were childhood friends. Jeremy Sides is a crime-solving YouTuber from Atlanta, Georgia who specializes in solving cold cases using advanced sonar technology. [3][4], On November 24, 2021, scuba diver Jeremy Sides searched a lake near the location of the party attended by the teenagers. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. "I need that closure.". Twenty-one years ago in 2000, Erin Foster (18) and Jeremy Bechtel (17) were last seen in Erin's 1998 black Pontiac Grand Am. However, of Bradley, Isom added: "I would not call him a suspect. Later that night, around 10 p.m., they were seen together in her car, a sporty black Pontiac Grand Am. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. This browser does not support getting your location. And the families of both teenagers are left grappling with more questions than answers. 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. 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. The Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. "I hope that someday we can find them both and bring them home to rest," she said. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Details of Disappearance Jeremy disappeared with his childhood friend Erin Foster. It was 10 PM on April 3rd in White County, Tennesse and they were leaving a party. "Just a few months back, we dug up another well," Isom said in 2012. Funeral arrangement under the care ofOak Lawn Funeral Home-Cremation Center and Memorial Cemetery. Jeremy Bechtel, 17, and Erin Foster, 18, disappeared without a trace on April 3, 2000, in White County, Tennessee. All rights reserved. ul.searchbrowse {font-family:'Myriad W01 Regular', sans-serif; color: #676767; margin:0; text-transform: capitalize;} He would not say who, how many or how they are connected to the case. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? In 2005 and again in 2006, investigators actively searched for Foster in Pensacola, Fla., following reports that she was living and working there. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. He would not say who, how many or how they are connected to the case. Erin Foster and Jeremy Bechtel were residents of Sparta, Tennessee. A scuba-diving YouTuber, who has made it his mission to find missing people, discovered the vehicle of Erin Foster, 18, and Jeremy Bechtel, 17, seen here, who disappeared 21 years ago in rural . This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. 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. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic, Oak Lawn Funeral Home-Cremation Center and Memorial Cemetery. March 15, 2021. 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. 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. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with Dwight Fuqua officiating. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. The two teens, Jeremy Bechtel, 17, and Erin Foster, 18, went missing without a trace in the small town of Sparta in 2000. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. Family members linked to this person will appear here. This is a case with two victims and many possibilities, but no crime scene and no forensic evidence, said White County Sheriff's Office Detective Chris Isom. It all depends on who you talk to, Isom said. Middle Tennessee Mysteries is dedicated to shining a light on cold cases, unsolved murders and missing people in Tennessee. The White County Sheriff's Office continues to do periodic reviews of the case. 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. [2][3] The remains were later confirmed to be Foster and Bechtel, found in the vehicle after missing for 21 years. And she fears that if it is ever used, it will be to identify her son's body. He has cooperated with us every time and in every way. 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. Isom said that even if Foster and Bechtel meant to leave, something has since happened to them. "I don't believe they got out of White County that night," she said. Ways to honor Jeremy Bechtel's life and legacy. It didn't take long for him to detect a car and make a dive to see for himself. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. 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. Mr. Bechtel, 57, said his son was a well-mannered teenager who loved rap music and "had a kind soul and a big heart." Jeremy's mother, Rhonda Ledbetter, died three years ago from cancer. Erin is described as 5'8" and 115 pounds, is white with blonde hair and blue eyes, and has pierced ears. At Oak Lawn funeral Home-Cremation Center and memorial cemetery 're not a registered non-profit organization and new. In 2012 time of his disappearance help you Find the right words to comfort your family member or one... By most accounts, Erin Foster commonly feel a real person years, no one knew what happened them! 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