Remembering Our Dead

TDoR 2017 / 2017 / September / 03 / Ally Steinfeld

Ally Steinfeld

Age 17

3 Sep 2017
Cabool, Missouri (USA)
Stabbed

TDoR list ref: tgeu/3-Sep-2017/Ally Lee Steinfeld

Ally was tortured and repeatedly stabbed in a friend’s living room. Her eyes were then gouged out and her body burned by the same “friends” in an attempt to conceal evidence of the crime.

One of the “friends” involved was an 18 year old she had been dating for a week.

Earlier this month in Cabool, Missouri, Ally Lee Steinfeld, a 17-year-old transgender girl, was reported missing by her family. Tragically, Steinfeld's remains were found last week and four people were arrested for alleged involvement in her murder. In the wake of her reportedly brutal death, many are speculating whether her murder was a hate crime, even though police have reportedly thus far dismissed that possibility.

Steinfeld was reportedly living in the small town of Cabool, located in the Ozarks, with three roommates. According to The Washington Post, Steinfeld came out as transgender earlier this year. In June, she posted a photo of herself on Instagram with the caption: “I am proud to be me I am proud to be trans I am beautiful I don’t care what people think.”

Steinfeld was reported missing earlier this month., Her remains were found last week and her three roommates — one of whom was reportedly Steinfeld's girlfriend — were charged with her alleged murder. A fourth suspect was also charged with alleged abandonment of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

Steinfeld's death was reportedly incredibly brutal. One of the suspects reportedly admitted to at first trying to poison the teen and then stabbing her, saying he had gouged out her eyes and stabbed her in the genitals. Three of the suspects also allegedly burned Steinfeld's body after her death.

In December 2017 Isis Schauer, 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. In July 2018 James Thomas Grigsby, 25, pleaded guilty to the abandonment of a corpse and was sentenced to 4 years in prison. In December 2019 Briana Calderas, 24, pleaded guilty to charges of abandonment of a corpse, concealing a felony and tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution. She was sentenced to 8 years in prison. In August 2020 Andrew Vrba, 18, was convicted on charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse.

Evidence showed that Vrba planned the murder. On 20th November 2020 - the Trans Day of Remembrance - he was sentenced to life without parole.