Missing Thurston County man believed to be victim of homicide

ROCHESTER, Wa. -- (KCPQ) -- Steven Billman, or "Steev-O," as everyone knew him, would have turned 30 years old last month. The Rochester man went missing in January 2014. Thurston County Sheriff's Detectives now believe he was murdered.

They can't get their person of interest to talk about what might have happened. He has invoked his right to an attorney.

“Steev-O was involved in the marijuana-growing business, both starting marijuana grows and maintaining marijuana grows,” said Det. Frawley.

Frawley believes Billman was killed by a man he was living and working with at a marijuana-growing operation after some kind of argument. Q13 News is not naming the person of interest because he has not been charged with a crime.

"The person of interest, I know is very nervous. Talking to other witnesses. Everybody is afraid of him.” said Frawley. He added that the person of interest told another witness last July that "he messed up royally and wouldn't be able to recover from it." Frawley says he knows that the person of interest was seen putting several coats of paint on his garage floor.

The break in the case came in 2016 after Det. Frawley got a hit on Billman's pickup truck that had been missing.

“I ran Steev-O's name and it showed as a missing person and then I ran the truck and it came back registered to another person,” said Frawley. The truck had changed hands several times but they were able to trace it back to the person of interest. "We found out that this person of interest actually had another witness to get rid of the truck,” said Frawley.

The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab searched the vehicle for forensic evidence.

“They did recover bloodstains inside the truck. They located not only in the bed of the truck but they located behind the seat. They located some on the seat and then some on the headliner,” said Frawley.

They found several different types of blood, which are now being tested for a DNA profile.

"We want Steev-O back. We want to give closure to the family and bring these people to justice” said Det. Frawley.

If you have any information on where deputies can find Steven Billman, submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Olympia/Thurston County by using the P3 Tips App on your phone, or by calling (800) 222-TIPS. There is a $1,000 reward for information that solves this case.

You can also contact Det. Frawley at (360) 786-5599 about Billman's disappearance.