On February 15, 2001, the 12-year-old boy vanished without a trace while walking his two dogs near his Benton Township home.
Despite extensive searches, forensic crime scene investigations, and countless tips, Stevie’s whereabouts remain a mystery.
This missing person case has left his family and community desperate for answers.
Over two decades later, the question still lingers: What happened to Steven Earl Kraft, Jr.?
Who is Steven Earl Kraft, Jr.?
Steven Earl Kraft, Jr., affectionately known as Stevie to his family and friends, was a young boy with a bright personality and a love for life.
Born on January 11, 1989, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Stevie was the youngest child in the Kraft family.
He lived with his parents, Steven Earl Kraft, Sr., and Chyrille Kraft, in Benton Township, Michigan, a quiet community where neighbors knew each other and children often played outside.
At the time of his disappearance, Stevie was a sixth-grade student at Hull Elementary School, where he was described by his teachers and principal as a quiet, intelligent, and well-behaved child.
He had a passion for drawing and often spent his free time sketching or playing with his two dogs—a German shepherd/Chow mix and a German shepherd puppy.
Stevie loved his dogs, and he was frequently seen around the neighborhood walking his dogs or exploring the nearby fields and woods.
He had an older sister, Jodi, who lived just around the corner with her husband and young son.
Stevie was very close to his nephew and often visited Jodi’s house to play with him.
Physically, Stevie was small for his age, standing at 5’2” and weighing around 100 pounds at the time of his disappearance.
He had sandy brown hair, green eyes, and a youthful face that reflected his kind and gentle nature.
He was last seen wearing a blue-green Charlotte Hornets basketball jacket, a tan and white striped t-shirt, tan parachute pants, and black boots.
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The Day of Disappearance
The evening of February 15, 2001, started like any other for the Kraft family in Benton Township, Michigan.
12-year-old Stevie Earl Kraft, Jr., was at home with his mother, Chyrille, who was preparing dinner.
Around 6:30 p.m., Stevie decided to take his two dogs—a German shepherd/Chow mix and a German shepherd puppy—out for a walk.
It was a routine he often followed, as the neighborhood was a familiar and safe place for children to play.
Before heading out, he told his mother he wouldn’t be long and promised to be back in time for dinner.
Sadly, that was the last time Stevie was seen by his family.
A neighbor later reported seeing him around 6:45 p.m., walking his dogs toward a nearby field.
The neighbor didn’t notice anything unusual.
Dinnertime came and went, and Stevie hadn’t returned.
At first, his parents weren’t overly concerned.
They assumed he might have stopped by his sister’s house to play with his nephew or gotten caught up in exploring the neighborhood.
However, by 9:00 p.m., when there was still no sign of him, Chyrille decided to call Jodi to check if Stevie was there.
To her surprise, Jodi hadn’t seen her brother at all that evening.
This was unusual and soon, his parents began to worry.
Stevie’s father, Steven, immediately set out to look for him, retracing the path his son usually took with the dogs.
He spoke to neighbors and searched the nearby field and wooded areas, but there was no sign of Stevie or his dogs.
As the hours passed, the family’s concern grew.
The temperature had dropped significantly, and the thought of Stevie being outside in the cold was unbearable.
By the early hours of February 16, 2001, Stevies family contacted the Benton Township Police Department to file a missing person report.
What happened after Stevie left his house is a question that has haunted investigators and loved ones for over two decades.
Search and Investigation
The disappearance of Stevie Earl Kraft, Jr. triggered an immediate and extensive search effort that involved local law enforcement, state police, federal agencies, and countless volunteers.
The initial search focused on the area near Stevie’s home on Holly Drive and the surrounding neighborhood.
Investigators followed a trail of footprints and paw prints that led them toward Harbor Haven Ministries, a building located just two blocks from the Kraft residence.
Bloodhounds were brought in to track Stevie’s scent, and they initially picked up a trail heading in the direction of a frozen pond behind the ministry building.
However, the trail abruptly ended, leaving criminal investigators puzzled.
Despite the freezing temperatures and icy conditions, search parties combed through nearby woods, fields, and ditches.
Volunteers, including friends, family, and community members, joined the effort, covering an 8-mile radius around Stevie’s home.
The search was exhaustive, with teams checking barns, gullies, and even storm drain pipes after a witness reported seeing a boy matching Stevie’s description climbing into a sewer system.
Investigators meticulously searched over a mile of drain pipes but found no trace of Stevie.
As the search expanded, the Michigan State Police and the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force became involved.
Bloodhounds were used again to track Stevie’s scent, but they lost it near the end of Holly Drive.
Helicopters equipped with infrared technology flew over the area, scanning for any heat signatures that might indicate Stevie’s presence.
Despite these efforts, no evidence was found.
One of the most puzzling aspects of the investigation was the return of Stevie’s two dogs after few days.
The older dog, a German shepherd/Chow mix, returned home on her own several days after Stevie’s disappearance.
She appeared cold and hungry but showed no signs of injury.
The family hoped she might lead them to Stevie, but she took them back to the area near Harbor Haven Ministries, which yielded no results.
A few days later, Stevie’s German shepherd puppy was found near Blue Creek.
He was also unharmed but unable to provide any clues about his owner’s whereabouts.
Investigators pursued numerous leads, including:
I) A teenager claimed to have seen a boy matching Stevie’s description getting into a red Toyota near the Red Arrow Tap, a local bar.
However, this lead was later dismissed after detectives determined the boy was not Stevie.
II) Another witness reported seeing a child climbing into a storm drain, but this too proved to be a dead end.
As the days turned into weeks, the search intensified.
Over 100 volunteers, including members of the Benton Township Fire Department, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Posse, and local businesses, joined the effort.
Local stores donated flashlights, and Pizza Hut provided food for the search parties.
Despite covering more than 10 square miles of land, including wooded areas, streams, and frozen ponds, no trace of Stevie was found.
Soon, The FBI classified Stevie’s case as a kidnapping, and the investigation shifted focus to potential abductions or foul play.
Detectives interviewed Stevie’s classmates, teachers, and neighbors, but no one reported seeing anything suspicious on the night he disappeared.
The lack of physical evidence frustrated investigators, who admitted they were unable to rule out any possibilities.
In the months and years that followed, the case grew colder, but investigators never stopped looking for answers.
Cadaver dogs were brought in to search areas of interest again, and Stevie’s case was featured on America’s Most Wanted in hopes of generating new leads.
Despite these efforts, no breakthroughs were made.
Stevie’s family also offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to his whereabouts, but no credible leads emerged.
Possible Theories
Over the years, several theories have emerged, each offering a different perspective on his mysterious vanishing.
Here are the most prominent possibilities:
1. Abduction by a Stranger
One of the leading theories is that Stevie was abducted by someone unknown to him.
The fact that both of his dogs returned home unharmed suggests that Stevie may have been taken against his will.
Investigators considered the possibility that someone lured him into a vehicle, as one witness reported seeing a boy matching Stevie’s description getting into a red Toyota.
However, this lead was later dismissed, leaving the abduction theory without concrete evidence.
Still, the lack of footprints or signs of struggle near his last known location has led many to believe that foul play was involved.
2. Accidental Injury or Death in the Wilderness
Another theory is that Stevie may have suffered an accident while exploring the wooded areas near his home.
The terrain around Benton Township includes dense woods, frozen ponds, and storm drains, all of which could pose dangers, especially in winter.
Investigators considered the possibility that Stevie might have fallen, become trapped, or succumbed to hypothermia.
However, extensive searches of the area, including the use of cadaver dogs and infrared technology, failed to uncover any evidence supporting this theory.
3. Involvement of Someone Known to the Family: Some have speculated that someone Stevie knew—a family member, neighbor, or acquaintance—may have been involved in his disappearance.
While Stevie’s parents were thoroughly investigated and cleared of any suspicion, the possibility of another individual with access to the family remains.
This theory is largely speculative, as no evidence has ever pointed to someone within Stevie’s circle.
4. Voluntary Runaway Scenario
Initially, investigators considered the possibility that Stevie might have run away.
At the time of his disappearance, he was suspended from school.
According to school authorities, Stevie was involved in a fight where he was the one being attacked and merely defended himself.
However, due to the school’s policy, which mandated that both parties involved in a physical altercation be suspended, Steven faced a five-day suspension as a result.
This raised questions about whether he was avoiding returning to class.
However, this theory was quickly dismissed.
Stevie had no history of running away, and his family confirmed that none of his belongings were missing.
Additionally, the freezing temperatures and his lack of appropriate winter clothing made it unlikely that he would have chosen to leave voluntarily.
Ongoing efforts
Despite the passage of over two decades, the case of Steven Earl Kraft, Jr. remains an active investigation, and efforts to find answers have not waned.
In recent years, law enforcement, Stevie’s family, and the community have continued to push for new leads and keep his story alive in the hopes of uncovering the truth.
In 2014, Benton Township Police Chief Vince Fetke held a press conference to reignite public interest in Stevie’s case.
He emphasized that even a single piece of information, no matter how small, could be the key to solving the mystery.
Chief Fetke urged anyone with knowledge of the case to come forward, assuring them that tips could be submitted anonymously.
While many tips have been investigated over the years, none have yielded conclusive results.
However, law enforcement remains hopeful that someone with critical information will eventually come forward.
Even though Stevie’s Dad has passed on, Stevie’s family has never given up hope.
Each year, on the anniversary of his disappearance, they hold a candlelight vigil to honor his memory and keep his story alive.
They also celebrate his birthday with a chocolate cake, a tradition that symbolizes their enduring love and hope for his return.
These gatherings not only serve as a reminder of Stevie’s life but also as a call to action for anyone who might have information.
Law enforcement has collaborated with national organizations, such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), to ensure Stevie’s case remains visible.
His profile is featured on their website, and his story has been shared through their networks, reaching millions across the country.
Stevie’s family and law enforcement continue to plead with the public for help.
They believe that someone in the community—whether in Benton Township or beyond—holds the key to solving this mystery.
As Chief Fetke stated in 2014, “There are people out there who know something. We need them to come forward.”
If you have any information about Steven Earl Kraft, Jr.’s disappearance, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please contact the Benton Township Police Department at 269-926-8221.
Your information could be the missing piece that brings answers to Stevie’s family and finally closes this heartbreaking chapter.
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