Texas: Missing Woman Found Dead Wrapped in Plastic Inside Boyfriend's Fridge

By BERT HOOVER Nov 15 2023, 23:16 PM EST

The lifeless body of Heather Louise Schwab, a 35-year-old Texas woman who was reported missing in June, was tragically discovered wrapped in plastic wrap and concealed within her boyfriend's refrigerator on a fateful Sunday, as detailed in a recent report.

Heather's absence had been reported by her estranged mother, who, troubled by her daughter's drug use and other concerns, had not communicated with her for a year.

The mother harbored apprehensions about Heather's boyfriend, 42-year-old Chad Stevens, suspecting him of potential abuse and fearing he might pose a lethal threat to Heather.

Regrettably, the mother's fears materialized when Stevens' ex-wife contacted her, revealing a grim account of Schwab's fate - that Stevens had killed Heather and buried her in the backyard, per the NY Post.

Prompted by this disturbing information, McKinney, Texas, police obtained a search warrant for Stevens' residence on November 6, leading to a chilling discovery.

Within Stevens' home, the entrance to the kitchen was ominously partitioned from the rest of the residence using sheetrock, according to the arrest affidavit.

Law enforcement officers, breaching through the sheetrock barrier, stumbled upon a horrifying scene - Heather Louise Schwab's lifeless body enveloped in "copious amounts of plastic wrap" and crammed into the refrigerator.

Missing Texas Woman's Cause of Death Remains Unclear

The cause of Heather Louise Schwab's death remains shrouded in uncertainty, complicating the ongoing investigation.

Stevens was brought in for questioning, where he admitted to the unsettling act of "hiding Heather's body in the refrigerator after she died" at his residence on July 26, 2022, according to PEOPLE.

He asserted, as per the affidavit, that he was at a loss regarding what to do with her body, leading to the chilling decision to place her in the refrigerator.

During the interview, Stevens disclosed a history of "multiple physical altercations" with Heather, admitting to having "threatened to kill her" on "several occasions."

Detectives uncovered a call on August 12, 2022, reporting a disturbance at Stevens' residence involving a "woman waving a firearm" and a "male screaming."

This prompted speculation that Heather Louise Schwab's demise might have occurred around that time.

However, the official cause of her death awaits clarification.

Missing Texas Woman's Boyfriend

Chad Stevens currently faces charges of tampering with evidence, with the possibility of additional charges pending the medical examiner's determination of Heather Louise Schwab's cause of death.

He is presently incarcerated at Collin County jail, with a bond set at $150,000. Whether he has secured legal representation remains unclear.

In a disturbing parallel, Stevens is also confronting an assault charge unrelated to Heather's case.

An arrest affidavit outlines an incident involving a different woman who began living with Stevens in September 2022.

Stevens allegedly assaulted her when she declined a relationship and attempted to leave on January 1, 2023.

The woman claimed Stevens locked the door and, as she tried to escape by breaking a window, violently threw her into a chair.

Notably, she did not provide information about the missing Texas woman during her statement to investigators.

Chad Stevens' extensive criminal history includes charges of assault, theft, and drug offenses.

Meanwhile, family members of Heather Louise Schwab, grieving the loss of a mother leaving behind several young children, have shared photos of her with FOX 4.

The family expressed profound gratitude for the McKinney Police Department's diligent efforts in locating Heather, urging privacy as they navigate this emotionally devastating period.