a MARCH 31, 1939 Stight Lights Business Claxsiileds Crossword Sports Talking Personais Wits & Estates Not: Shore Free Press Lic Ptkster Pater Spam W135 Lorsaae Avenue Neth Varover BC WT Ht Gerasan Puomcatons Man Saey tunat Apeerent to Oth! ae 40 Pages case turns to murder Police seek dead man’s car again Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter dangclo@nsnews.com WEST Vancouver Police have changed their story as to the cause of death of Zachariah Paul Steudle in 1997. The badly decomposed body of the 17-year-old Ladysmith resident was found under the Neen Creek Bridge near the Horseshoe Bay ferry termi- nalon Sept. 21, 1997. Stendle’s red 1976 Mercury Bobsat was nowhere to be found. Steudle’s distraught mother, Deborah Nash, was told a oronth later by West Vancouver Police Detective Stewart Nowacki that the teenager had committed suicide, Nash did not believe her son committed suicide. She was told the case was closed, as reported ina 1997 News t that time, the News was tokd neeuver Police that there was “nothing to update or release.” On Monday West) Vancouver Police announced that a 17 year ald Richmond giel was chanted with Steudle’s second-degree murder. Set. Jimy Almas said a sccond suspect. also female, may be charged, but police need- ed to “relocate” Steudle’s car tor powible “crucial evidence.” When asked why West Vancouver Police had previously called the Steudle case a suicide Almas said, “There were several different avenues that the police were awestigating tmorder inclusive? and that may have been ung of those avenues at that time.” Almas said the investigation was Congems” since Steudle’s bod “found teudle’s missing car had been tound of shortly after the teen's death. The car was decated on the side of the high « near Sorrento, B.C. ft had a tor sale sign in a window, A Nash faraily friend found the car in the Shuwap La according to Stendle’s mather. Imas said) dhat the car was examined by che West Vancouver Police je teany” in 1997, He said after the car was examined by police it was turned over toa towing company which should have contactes ho The car seas subsequently sald by Bartsche Motor. in Chase to someone for spare parts. Wthe West Vancouver Police had an active invesogation, why would they acar that may have been needed for “crucial” evident by the News on Monday, Siestdle’s mother sall didn’: know the cause of her son's death. She also had assumed that police had her Photo courtesy Deborah Hash ZACH Steudle, 17, killed in West Van. See Victim paae & This < All-stars p20 Coaches select the best in boys’ basketball The Voice of North and West Vancouver sin Get Edible works of art for the Easter holiday Jurgen Gothe asd local chefs host fundraiser Tatie Hopping p23 FREE Textbook tackle CAPILANO player Leeanna Steen (in dark strip) gets tackied by an Okanagan player during the West Coast women's rugby championship final Sunday at Klahanie Field. The Caps lost 10-7. r about a dollar a day Membership will Change your LifeStgée! “hiness Workd 1s the lub tn Vans anver” LIME. tfagazine VANCOUVER Anan 612TH 876-1009 TTNESS DOWNTOW'S orn wort ¢ Davee TIT 681-3232 WORTH SHORE 1998 madam ot 986-3487 $ GETS YOU STARTED v4 PER MONTH Guaranteed for 24 months BURNABY syn nmeraar 435-3385 RICHMOND Cee eakoal 278-3831 COQUITTUM nt noeTa 2089 Critisa] ese rac ©! PS FACILITIES VICTORIA Det pousus f 475-6002 SURREY 24H6 LANGLEY 13020. 108 at. 1H0TS weUcersEoue Dt 588-1517 533-3113