Steen Fenrich
Encyclopedia
Steen Fenrich was a 19-year-old African American
gay
man who lived in Bayside, Queens
New York
. In March 2001 his dismembered remains were discovered. Police believe his stepfather, John Fenrich, killed his stepson in a homophobic rage.
in July 1997, and served nine months before he was discharged. In September 1999 he left his parent's home in Dix Hills, and went missing. However, no one filed a missing person
's report on Fenrich.
, in Bayside, Queens
, stored in a plastic blue tub. The tub contained a skull that had been burned by acid, a foot with some flesh still on it, and other body parts.
The remains were identified as those of Steen Fenrich by his Social Security number
, which had been written on the skull, along with racial and homophobic slurs.
and suggested a motive and that his stepson had been killed "because he was gay
." The station later reported that Steen Fenrich had posed for gay
pornographic photographs and had a contentious relationship with his stepfather.
Police said they had not yet told family members that Steen Fenrich's remains had been dismembered. John Fenrich's knowledge of the dismemberment led police to believe he killed his stepson.
Steen Fenrich's partner told police that John Fenrich had always treated him with contempt, and had called him a few days after the argument to say that Steen was "going away for a couple of weeks."
, John Fenrich suddenly bolted from an interview with police in his home, climbed on the roof, fired guns and begged police to shoot him after declaring "I'm a failure as a father."
After an eight-hour standoff, John Fenrich committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
man who lived in Bayside, Queens
Bayside, Queens
Bayside is a suburban neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York, New York in the United States. Bayside is known as one of the most expensive areas to live in Queens, with well kept homes and landscaping...
New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In March 2001 his dismembered remains were discovered. Police believe his stepfather, John Fenrich, killed his stepson in a homophobic rage.
Background
Steen Fenrich entered the ArmyArmy
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
in July 1997, and served nine months before he was discharged. In September 1999 he left his parent's home in Dix Hills, and went missing. However, no one filed a missing person
Missing person
A missing person is a person who has disappeared for usually unknown reasons.Missing persons' photographs may be posted on bulletin boards, milk cartons, postcards, and websites, along with a phone number to be contacted if a sighting has been made....
's report on Fenrich.
Discovery
On March 21, 2000 the remains of Steen Fenrich were found by a man walking through Alley Pond ParkAlley Pond Park
Alley Pond Park is the second-largest public park in Queens, New York. It occupies , most of it acquired and cleared by the city in 1929, as authorized by a resolution of the New York City Board of Estimate in 1927. The park is bordered to the east by Douglaston, to the west by Bayside, to the...
, in Bayside, Queens
Bayside, Queens
Bayside is a suburban neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York, New York in the United States. Bayside is known as one of the most expensive areas to live in Queens, with well kept homes and landscaping...
, stored in a plastic blue tub. The tub contained a skull that had been burned by acid, a foot with some flesh still on it, and other body parts.
The remains were identified as those of Steen Fenrich by his Social Security number
Social Security number
In the United States, a Social Security number is a nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents under section 205 of the Social Security Act, codified as . The number is issued to an individual by the Social Security Administration, an independent...
, which had been written on the skull, along with racial and homophobic slurs.
Stepfather
Shortly after being told that his stepson's remains had been found, John Fenrich called News 12 Long IslandNews 12 Networks
News 12 Networks comprises seven regional cable news television channels in the New York metropolitan area. The channels offer local news 24-hours a day and reach approximately 3.8 million television households in the tri-state area...
and suggested a motive and that his stepson had been killed "because he was gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
." The station later reported that Steen Fenrich had posed for gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
pornographic photographs and had a contentious relationship with his stepfather.
Police said they had not yet told family members that Steen Fenrich's remains had been dismembered. John Fenrich's knowledge of the dismemberment led police to believe he killed his stepson.
Motive
Police reported to Newsday that they believed John Fenrich killed Steen on September 9, after an argument stemming from his stepson's desire to move back home after an argument with his partner. Fenrich disapproved of his son's homosexuality and was angered by his request to return home.Steen Fenrich's partner told police that John Fenrich had always treated him with contempt, and had called him a few days after the argument to say that Steen was "going away for a couple of weeks."
Aftermath
On March 22, 2000, after talking to News 12News 12 Networks
News 12 Networks comprises seven regional cable news television channels in the New York metropolitan area. The channels offer local news 24-hours a day and reach approximately 3.8 million television households in the tri-state area...
, John Fenrich suddenly bolted from an interview with police in his home, climbed on the roof, fired guns and begged police to shoot him after declaring "I'm a failure as a father."
After an eight-hour standoff, John Fenrich committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.