Bio

Christopher M. Stevens was born on September 2, 1972. He grew up in Indiana, in a household that faced many challenges. His parents divorced when he was young. This event likely affected him, as his family life was not stable.

Stevens had a difficult childhood. His father was jailed for molesting his stepsister, which shaped the family's reputation and environment. Meanwhile, Stevens' mother faced legal troubles of her own, as she was jailed for drug dealing. Due to these issues, Stevens’ upbringing was marked by instability and turmoil.

During his early life, there were signs that Stevens struggled with mental health issues. He underwent treatment for depression in 1992, seeking help for his emotional challenges. Despite these efforts, he had difficulty controlling his impulses and exhibited manipulative behavior.

As a young adult, Stevens was involved in criminal activities. In February 1993, he was convicted of child molesting in Marion County. He received a four-year sentence, but three years of that was suspended and he was put on probation. After this conviction, he moved to Cloverdale, where he lived with his father. His new neighbors were unaware of his criminal past.

Stevens was 20 years old and often seen with children in the neighborhood. He developed a friendship with a 10-year-old boy named Zachary Snider, who lived nearby. At times, Stevens was seen attending Zachary's little league baseball games, where he showed interest in the boy's activities.

However, this friendship raised suspicions. Zachary's father later warned Stevens to stay away from his son. Despite this warning, Stevens continued to be close to Zachary, leading to a tragic turn of events in their lives.

Murder Story

On July 15, 1993, Christopher M. Stevens murdered 10-year-old Zachary Snider in Putnam County, Indiana. Zachary lived near Stevens and was known to spend time with him. The day Zachary went missing, he was last seen at a friend’s house and expressed that he was going to Stevens’ home.

A large search was launched to find Zachary. During this time, Stevens' brother informed the police that Stevens had confessed to the murder. He revealed that Stevens had led him to a remote area near a bridge where Zachary's body and bicycle were found.

Later, Stevens was arrested and confessed to the police. He admitted that he had been sexually involved with Zachary for a couple of months. He stated that when Zachary threatened to tell his parents about their encounters, he decided to kill him. Stevens smothered Zachary with a pillow and then strangled him with an electrical cord. He also used a plastic garbage bag in an attempt to ensure Zachary was dead.

After the murder, Stevens placed Zachary's body and bicycle in his car and drove to a bridge. He threw both into the water. The next day, worried about being linked to the garbage bag found on Zachary's head, he removed the bag and disposed of it along the road. Law enforcement later found a similar bag in the area where Stevens directed them.

In his confessions to psychologists, Stevens claimed to have molested many children, admitting to having sexual encounters with 25 to 30 of them. The psychologists determined that he was a significant threat to society.

Stevens was convicted of murder and sentenced to death on March 14, 1995.