208: Night of Terror | Chased, Haunted & The Horrifying Case of Stephanie Parze
In this SERIALously podcast episode, the tragic story of Stephanie Parze, a young makeup artist, is explored. Stephanie was involved in an abusive relationship, marked by concerning incidents before her disappearance on Halloween 2019. Her family's desperate search and the subsequent investigation into her boyfriend's history of violence ultimately led to the heartbreaking discovery of Stephanie's body months later.
The episode delves into the aftermath, including Stephanie's father creating a foundation in her memory to support domestic violence victims and advocate for legal reforms. Stephanie's harrowing case serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of intimate partner violence and the importance of resources for survivors.
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1-Page Summary
Stephanie's relationship and disappearance
Stephanie was a 25-year-old talented makeup artist, deeply close with her family, especially her sisters. She met John, 29, on a dating app and began an abusive relationship. Despite concerns from her father Ed, Stephanie continued giving John chances, even after several unsettling incidents at her home before her disappearance on Halloween 2019.
The Search and Investigation
When Stephanie went missing, her family began searching and reported her disappearance to authorities. Her car, keys, and phone were at home, raising fears of foul play. Investigators uncovered John's history of domestic violence allegations from Stephanie and others, and he was briefly arrested on child pornography charges. After months of searching, Stephanie's body was found in January 2020. The autopsy suggested death during "rough sex" with John, who died by suicide shortly after.
The aftermath and Stephanie's legacy
Devastated, Ed Parze created the Stephanie Nicole Parrs Foundation to support domestic violence victims and missing persons. The foundation offers education, resources like emergency shelter, self-defense classes, an "angel alert" device, and court escort services. The family advocates for "Stephanie's Law," a public domestic violence registry to prevent future tragedies like Stephanie's.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can enhance your personal safety by setting up a check-in system with friends or family when going on dates, especially with someone met online. Create a simple plan where you text a code word to a trusted person to indicate you're safe or need help, and establish a routine check-in time to confirm your well-being.
- Develop a deeper understanding of the signs of abusive relationships by taking an online course or workshop on the subject. Look for free resources offered by local community centers or online platforms that educate on recognizing patterns of abuse, how to safely exit dangerous situations, and ways to support others who may be at risk.
- Advocate for change by writing to your local representatives about the importance of legislation similar to "Stephanie's Law." Express your support for a public domestic violence registry and explain how it could benefit the community by potentially preventing future tragedies. Personalize your message with why the issue matters to you, which can make your advocacy more impactful.
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Stephanie's relationship and disappearance
The story of Stephanie, a young and talented makeup artist, is one filled with love and passion for her craft and family. Tragically, it's also a story marked by an unsettling relationship and Stephanie's subsequent disappearance that has left many unanswered questions.
Stephanie was a young, talented makeup artist with a close-knit family.
Stephanie was 25 years old, 4'11" tall, and passionate about art and makeup.
Stephanie was described as a 4 foot 11 brunette firecracker with a huge passion for art. She was an insanely talented makeup artist and had started to gain a following on social media for her intricate makeup looks.
Stephanie was deeply connected to her family, especially her sisters, and wanted to start a family of her own.
Stephanie's close bond with her family, particularly her sisters, was profound. She was very smart, kind-hearted, and loved spending quality time with them. Her father, Ed, revealed that she was ready to settle down and was looking forward to starting her own family, as evidenced by her social media posts where she expressed excitement about engagement and the prospect of finding Mr. Right.
Stephanie met John, a 29-year-old stockbroker, on a dating app and they started a relationship.
John initially appeared to be a charming and attentive partner, but the relationship quickly became abusive.
After meeting on a dating site, Stephanie began dating John, a stockbroker who had moved to Freehold Township. Their relationship quickly became serious, with Stephanie believing she might have found a good man. John worked for Alexander Capital and was described as a love bomber, known for showering Stephanie with gifts and compliments, especially after fights. However, the high of the new relationship soon came to a halt as they began to fight frequently, and despite the red flags, Stephanie continued to give John more chances.
Stephanie's family had concerns about John from the start, but Stephanie continued to give him chances.
Ed Parze had immediate reservations about John, sensing that he was not a good match for his daughter. Despite these intuitions and experiencing John’s unsocial behavior during a family rafting trip nicknamed Parz's Pirates, Stephanie stayed with him. Even after altercations, she would accept his apologies and gifts, choosing to see the best in him.
In the weeks before Stephanie's disappearance, she experienced several unsettling inciden ...
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Stephanie's relationship and disappearance
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can create a personal safety plan that includes identifying red flags in relationships and establishing a support network. Start by listing behaviors that you feel are unacceptable in a partner, such as excessive jealousy or attempts to isolate you from friends and family. Share this list with trusted friends or family members and agree on a code word or signal that indicates you need help. This proactive approach can help you recognize when a relationship may be turning abusive and ensure you have a support system in place.
- Enhance your home security and peace of mind by investing in smart home devices that detect unusual activity. Consider installing motion-sensor cameras or smart mirrors that can alert you to unexpected movements or changes in your environment. These devices can be set up to send real-time notifications to your phone, allowing you to monitor your home for anything out of the ordinary, such as unexplained handprints or signs that could be interpreted as paranormal activity.
- Develop a pet care routine t ...
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The Search and Investigation
Stephanie's sudden disappearance on Halloween 2019 led to an intense and heart-wrenching search that spanned months, eventually uncovering a history of domestic abuse allegations and bringing to light a grim conclusion.
When Stephanie went missing on Halloween 2019, her family immediately reported her disappearance and began searching.
Stephanie’s family launched a desperate search after she failed to show up for her job as a nanny, which was uncharacteristic of her. The last time she had been seen was at the Stress Factory Comedy Club with her mother and sisters the night before Halloween. Concern grew when all attempts to contact her failed.
Stephanie's car was still in the driveway, and her phone and keys were found hidden in her couch.
When Stephanie’s family arrived at her house, they found every light on, including one in the attic, and heard noises coming from the bathroom where they discovered Stephanie’s dog locked inside. Remarkably, her car was in the driveway and her personal items, like her keys and cell phone, were shoved deep within a couch cushion. Stephanie’s job sent an inquiry about her absence, but there were no signs of forced entry or struggle in the house.
Investigators discovered a history of domestic violence allegations against John.
John had previously been accused of physically assaulting Stephanie and other women.
Stephanie had previously filed a domestic violence report against John weeks before her disappearance, following an alarming incident in which she fled through woods, barefoot and bleeding. This wasn't the first accusation against John—multiple women, including Stephanie, had raised domestic violence charges against him. Incidents ranged from a June 2019 complaint of grabbing and dragging a victim by her head to a September encounter where Stephanie herself was struck on the head and hand.
John was arrested on child pornography charges shortly after Stephanie's disappearance, but was released on bail.
Despite these allegations, John was only taken into custody on November 8th, 2019, on unrelated child pornography charges found on his phone, which he claimed he knew nothing about. Although a person of interest in Stephanie's disappearance, he had not been officially charged with any related crime. Consequently, he was released on bail, required to stay with his pa ...
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The Search and Investigation
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Stephanie had a tumultuous relationship with John, marked by multiple instances of alleged domestic violence. She had previously filed a domestic violence report against him, and there were other accusations of physical assault involving Stephanie and other women. Despite these allegations, John was not officially charged in connection with Stephanie's disappearance.
- The timeline of events surrounding Stephanie's disappearance in 2019 was as follows:
Halloween 2019: Stephanie went missing after being last seen at the Stress Factory Comedy Club with her family.
Immediate Search: Her family reported her disappearance when she didn't show up for work, leading to a search effort that began promptly.
3. Discovery at Home: Stephanie's car was found at her house, with her personal items hidden in the couch, indicating a mysterious situation.
- Investigation and Tragic Discovery: Months later, Stephanie's body was found in January 2020, leading to further investigations and a tragic conclusion.
- John's arrest on child pornography charges was unrelated to Stephanie's disappearance but occurred shortly after she went missing. These charges were discovered on his phone, leading to his arrest and subsequent release on bail. The child pornography charges were separate from the investigation into Stephanie's disappearance and were not directly linked to the events surrounding her case. John's arres ...
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The aftermath and Stephanie's legacy
In the wake of tragedy, Stephanie's family is channeling their grief into a powerful force for change, creating a legacy in her name that aims to support victims of domestic violence and prevent future tragedies.
Stephanie's family was devastated but determined to honor her memory and help others.
Stephanie Nicole Parrs Foundation
After enduring an immense loss, Ed Parze expressed his gratitude towards the community and "Steph's angels," who showed overwhelming support through the search that eventually led to bringing Stephanie home. The Stephanie Nicole Parrs Foundation emerged out of this tragic circumstance with a resolute purpose: to stand in solidarity with victims of domestic violence and those missing loved ones.
Operating in New Jersey with its base in Monmouth County, the Foundation goes beyond mere advocacy, providing tangible education and resources. It offers presentations suitable for a wide audience, starting with children aged seven, right through to adults, spreading valuable knowledge about domestic violence and sexual abuse. The foundation also extends its aid through self-defense classes, peer counseling, and logistical assistance for individuals facing domestic violence, sexual abuse, or missing person situations.
Comprehensive Assistance
The reach of the Foundation’s assistance is comprehensive. Monthly self-defense classes and peer counseling are foundational aspects of its resources. Beyond educational services, the foundation offers emergency shelter and an innovative device known as the "angel alert program," capable of dispatching assistance to anyone across the United States. Stephanie's Overwatch program is another initiative providing escort services to court or child custody exchanges for those who fear for their safety. The broad array of these valuable programs is available for exploration on the foundation’s website, smpfoundation.org.
Advocacy for "Stephanie's Law"
Public Domestic Violence Registry
"Stephanie's Law" is a vital component of the family's ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
The aftermath and Stephanie's legacy
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Stephanie's Overwatch program is an initiative that provides escort services for individuals who feel unsafe during court or child custody exchanges. It aims to offer a sense of security and protection to those at risk of domestic violence or harm in such situations. The program is part of the broader efforts of the Stephanie Nicole Parrs Foundation to support victims and prevent further tragedies. More details about the program's specifics and operational procedures can be found on the foundation's website, smpfoundation.org.
- A public domestic violence registry is similar to a sex offender registry in that it aims to provide accessible information about individuals with a history of domestic violence. This registry would allow the public and law enforcement to quickly access details about past domestic violence offenders. ...
Counterarguments
- Concerns about privacy and due process regarding "Stephanie's Law" and the public domestic violence registry, as it could potentially lead to public shaming or harassment of individuals who have served their sentences.
- The effectiveness of self-defense classes may be questioned, as they might not be sufficient to ensure the safety of individuals in all situations of domestic violence.
- The scope and reach of the Foundation's programs may be limited by resources, potentially leaving some individuals in need without support.
- The "angel alert program" and Stephanie's Overwatch program, while innovative, may face logistical challenges in implementation and effectiveness across diverse regions and communities.
- The focus on a public registry may divert attention and resources from other preventative measures and support systems that could be more effective in reducing domestic violence.
- There may ...
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