When Sabrina Aisenberg disappeared in November 1997, law enforcement along with her parents conducted an extensive search in hopes of bringing her back safely. However, things got worse as even after years of searching the 5 month old was nowhere to be found. ’20/20 on ID: Gone in the Night’ chronicles the strange disappearance and traces the full investigation undertaken by law enforcement. If this case tickles your fancy and you want to know if Sabrina Aisenberg has been found, we’ve got you covered.
What happened to Sabrina Aisenberg?
Steve and Marlene Aisenberg’s 5-month-old daughter, Sabrina, resided with her parents in Valrico, Florida. The apple of everyone’s eye, Sabrina was loved and protected by everyone. However, no one in the family was ready for the terrible tragedy that was about to tear apart their happy life. On November 23, 1997, Marlene put her daughter to sleep in her crib before going to bed. However, when she woke up early the next day and came to see Sabrina, the baby was nowhere to be found. In addition, the garage and the side door of the house were left ajar. Therefore, the five-month-old is believed to have disappeared between midnight and 6:42 a.m.
The frantic family wasted no time getting the police involved, and authorities combed nearby areas. As news of Sabrina’s disappearance spread, community members and even others came to form massive search parties to expand the search. With the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department, the Florida Law Enforcement Department and the FBI involved, officers used helicopters as well as sniffer dogs to scour dumpsters, woods, ponds and everywhere else.
Reports claim that early on, police suspected the Aisenbergs of being involved in Sabrina’s disappearance. Although Steve and Marlene insisted that an intruder could have broken in and snatched their child away, police said there were no signs of a break-in. On top of that, the Aisenbergs’ dog had been quiet all night and hadn’t barked once, which was unlikely if an intruder was involved. Wanting to free themselves from police suspicion, the Aisenbergs hired a high-profile attorney, but public sentiment turned against the family and the police obtained permission to bug their kitchen and bedroom. According to reports, the police listened for 79 days and recorded thousands of conversations, but to no avail. Even months after the disappearance, law enforcement was nowhere near finding the missing child.
In June 1999, Steve and Marlene moved to Bethesda, Maryland, but couldn’t escape their already tainted reputation. It became nearly impossible for either of them to land a job, and the family continued to be shunned by neighbors and their community. Finally, on September 9, 1999, police apprehended the couple and blamed them for lying to police about their involvement in Sabrina’s disappearance. Although prosecutors claimed the taped conversations contained compelling evidence, the judge dismissed the case and law enforcement was forced to drop all charges against Steve and Marlene.
Is Sabrina Aisenberg still alive?
Sadly, Sabrina is still missing, although her parents believe their child is still alive and well. For years, the case remained without real progress until 2008, when police informant Dennis Byron claimed that his cellmate, Scott Overbeck, admitted to disposing of Sabrina’s body. According to the show, Overbeck insisted he was hired for the job, and after dismembering the child’s body, he dumped the remains in the water near Tampa Bay. However, the ensuing investigation could not link Overbeck to Sabrina’s disappearance, and the police were once again at an impasse.
Although law enforcement received no further leads in the case, Sabrina’s parents remained hopeful for her survival. Subsequently, reports from 2018 mentioned that two women who were the same age and birthday as Sabrina came into contact with the Aisenbergs, claiming to be their daughter. Both women were subjected to DNA tests which in turn refuted their claims. So Sabrina, who would have been 24 by now, remains missing, though police insist the investigation is still active. On the other hand, Steve and Marlene Aisenberg are incredibly hopeful of their daughter’s return and still maintain a room for her in case she ever returns. Speaking about what keeps them going, Steve Aisenberg said on the show, “We hope every day. Hope is what keeps us going and moving forward.
Read more: Where are Marlene and Steve Aisenberg now?
