Indiana couple charged with murder after bone fragments discovered in backyard fireplace

JASPER COUNTY – Two people have been charged with murder after bone fragments were discovered on a property in northwest Indiana earlier this week.

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office confirmed the arrests of 31-year-old Steven Valle and 25-year-old Samantha Sebella – both of Wheatfield – on Oct. 3 after new evidence emerged in an ongoing investigation into the possible deaths of two children.

The investigation began on September 20, when authorities received a report that Valle had allegedly confessed to acquaintances that he had killed two undocumented children and burned their bodies in a backyard fire pit. Investigators located Valle at a hotel in Newton County, where he denied the allegations, but cellphones seized during the investigation provided additional information.

On September 30, authorities returned to the Wheatfield estate accompanied by cadaver dogs, which led them to three different locations where bone fragments were found. The fragments were analyzed to determine whether they belonged to humans or animals.

On October 4, both Valle and Sebella were formally charged with multiple crimes, including murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and abuse of a corpse.

Additionally, the Indiana Department of Child Services took an undocumented child in the suspects' custody into protective custody.

Anyone with further information about this case is asked to contact the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.