In this episode of Crime Watch Daily Updates: Lauren Giddings was an aspiring attorney and the first in her family to go to college. In June 2011, she graduated from Mercer Law School in Macon, Georgia, and was studying for the bar exam. She was so close to achieving her dream.
But then, she disappeared.
Some of her friends called the police because they were concerned about her after not seeing her for several days. Officers checked her apartment but didn’t see any signs of a forced break-in, so they left. Finally, her sister used a spare key to go in and saw that everything was still inside Lauren’s apartment, minus Lauren.
Police then started investigating and found her torso in a trash bag in the dumpster, which was a lucky break because the trash collectors were running late. The rest of her remains, however, have never been found.
Soon, detectives honed in on Lauren’s neighbor and ex-classmate Stephen McDaniel after a bizarre on-camera interview. They discovered McDaniel had a copy of Lauren’s key, a flash drive containing some of her personal photos, a pair of her underwear, and other incriminating evidence in his apartment. He even took a video of Lauren’s apartment while standing outside and peeking through a window.
Stephen was initially arrested on burglary charges, then later charged with Lauren’s murder.
In April 2014, Stephen wrote a statement confessing he killed Lauren by breaking into her apartment and strangling and dismembering her with a saw. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Stephen appealed for a new trial in 2018 on the grounds that his constitutional rights were violated, but a judge rejected the motion. In June 2022, he filed a federal appeal to vacate his conviction because he believed prosecutors stole his defense preparations and his attorneys did nothing to help him.
Let’s take a look back at the case of a talented young woman who would never get to fulfill her dream.
The police interrogation was one of the weirdest I’ve ever seen, McDaniel was creepy as heck, but the investigator that interviewed ‘Steyyvven’ will always be my favourite.
“We know you know Steyyvven”
She definitely was smart thw bar exam itself is really hard. Such a sad thing this is why stalking is so serious becuase if you dont stop the stalker before its to late they move closer and closer then rape or murder. She knew things were moved but thought she was crazy is sad she was right
My neighbor creeps me out!
Why is he wasting the court's time?. He took a plea so he could avoid the death penalty . The little creep got a better sentence than most and he wants it reversed with frivolous motions so he can stay relevant. I think he is better off in prison because l can see people out there who will be more than willing to help him to meet his maker. Decapitating someone after murdering them? For what reason?.
Where are the parents to a NUT CASE like this? Are they creeps too? Like you dont know your intelligent kid is a damn weirdo?? Come on!! Im not buying it. Hes a freak of nature and should of been watched really closely. Its too bad she didnt over power him. Lost her life for nothing.
💔💔💔💔💔
Can't believe she couldn't fight off a weakling like him.
Oh my, he was a law graduate and did all this and kept the girls things and evidence of the crime. How unbelievably stupid is that!!!
I guess he didn't think he was going to get caught. Sorry but not sorry bud… I pray they never let you out!!!!¡!!!!!!!!
What's funny was the fact that he tried to shift the look of the media saying, "The only thing we can think of is someone snatched her up" Never heard an innocent bystander say something so oddly specific.
That guy was a law grad?
Animals that only look human! Put your Armor on!
I bet he ate the rest of her, Dahmer style 🤮
The disgusting neighbor is such a scumbag.
😂😂😂😂him looking at the interrogator constantly got me every time I watch it
When he said Lauren was my neighbor then you realize she is dead
So what was his obsession with her?
As I didnt see that he raped her. This was so senseless. Maybe when she said stop it Steven, he had no choice?
One of the weirdest dudes ever…. that interrogation was so weird
Man, they better not let him free, ever. I was so creeped out knowing I only lived like 15 minutes away from her. Freak needs to just give it up and sleep in the cell he made for himself.
This idiot is out of his mind.
His eyes are open now…remember the trial. Dude is a FREAK!! He deserves to rot in jail.
I mean can he be truly good. She the victim would forgive him. So let him out.