Case file
Key facts
- Name: Danielle Steger (some outlets spell it “Danielle Steiger” — the official spelling is not confirmed)
- Age at disappearance: 41
- Last seen: The evening of October 15, 2026
- Location: Des Moines, Iowa — the Merle Hay Mall area
- Description: About 5’4″, roughly 175 lbs (per the Des Moines Police flyer)
- Classification: Missing endangered person, per Des Moines police
- Status: Still missing — police were still actively searching as of October 19, 2026
- Investigating agency: Des Moines Police Department
A note on this case
This case is only days old. Danielle was reported missing on October 16, 2026, and as of late October 2026 the investigation is active and details are still emerging. This file sticks to what news outlets and police have confirmed so far, and will be updated as verified information comes in.
One point of caution: outlets disagree on her name. KCCI and the Des Moines Police Department spell it “Steger”; Local 5 (We Are Iowa) spells it “Steiger.” Neither spelling has been officially confirmed. We use “Steger” here as the police spelling, and flag the discrepancy.
The evening she was last seen
Danielle Steger, 41, was last seen on the evening of October 15, 2026, in the area of Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines — one of the city’s major shopping centers. She was reported missing to Des Moines police around 9 a.m. the following morning, October 16.
Police classified her as a missing endangered person. According to the reporting, she is believed to be in crisis and is without needed medications — the reason for the endangered classification. Her cell phone was found abandoned near the mall.
The Des Moines Police Department issued a missing-endangered-person flyer describing her as 41 years old, about 5’4″ and 175 lbs. Local 5’s report on the active search showed that flyer on screen.
An active search
Both of Des Moines’ major television newsrooms covered the case within a day of the report. KCCI reported the disappearance on October 17, 2026. That same day, Local 5 published a video report plainly titled “Des Moines police still looking for missing endangered person” — the title itself confirming, two days in, that she had not been found.
Two days later the search was still on. On October 19, 2026, Local 5 followed up with “Des Moines police continue search for woman missing since Thursday night,” reporting that the 41-year-old was last seen near Merle Hay Mall on October 15 and is believed to be in crisis. As of that report — the freshest coverage available — she had still not been located, and police were still asking the public for help.
Because the case is so new, she does not yet appear on the Iowa missing-persons database listings or national databases — those records typically lag behind an active, days-old investigation.
Have information?
Contact the Des Moines Police Department if you have seen Danielle Steger or know where she may be — she is considered endangered and may be without needed medication, so even a small detail matters. In an emergency, dial 911. You can also contact the Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse (Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation) at 1-800-346-5507, or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST).
If you see her, note the time, the exact location, what she is wearing, and whether she is alone or with anyone — then call it in right away rather than approaching her yourself.
Timeline
- October 15, 2026 (evening) — Danielle Steger, 41, last seen in the Merle Hay Mall area of Des Moines, Iowa.
- October 16, 2026 (~9 a.m.) — Reported missing to Des Moines Police. Her cell phone is found abandoned near the mall. Police classify her as a missing endangered person.
- October 17, 2026 — KCCI reports the disappearance; Local 5 / We Are Iowa publishes “Des Moines police still looking for missing endangered person.”
- October 18, 2026 — Police still actively searching; no recovery reported.
- October 19, 2026 — Local 5 follows up: “Des Moines police continue search for woman missing since Thursday night” — the search is ongoing and she has not been found.
- Today — Still missing. The case is days old; verified details remain limited, and this file will be updated as confirmed information emerges.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Danielle Steger still missing?
- Yes. As of October 19, 2026, Des Moines police were still actively searching for her, and no outlet or agency has reported her found. The case is only days old, so details are still emerging.
- Why is she classified as endangered?
- Des Moines police classify her as a missing endangered person because she is believed to be in crisis and is without needed medications. Her cell phone was found abandoned near the mall, which adds to the concern.
- Where was she last seen?
- On the evening of October 15, 2026, in the Merle Hay Mall area of Des Moines, Iowa. She was reported missing around 9 a.m. the next day.
- When was she reported missing?
- She was reported missing to the Des Moines Police Department around 9 a.m. on October 16, 2026, the morning after she was last seen.
- Is her name Steger or Steiger?
- Outlets disagree — KCCI and police materials use “Steger,” while Local 5 uses “Steiger.” The official spelling has not been confirmed. This file uses the police spelling and will be corrected if the official version is established.
- What should I do if I see her?
- Note the time, exact location, what she is wearing, and whether she is alone, then contact the Des Moines Police Department right away — or dial 911 in an emergency. You can also call the Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse at 1-800-346-5507. Because she is considered endangered and may be without medication, a prompt report matters more than approaching her yourself.
- How can I help?
- Share this case file. Because the search is active, timely information matters: if you have seen Danielle or know where she may be, contact the Des Moines Police Department, or dial 911 in an emergency.
Sources
Official / law enforcement: Des Moines Police Department missing-endangered-person flyer (shown in Local 5 reporting; direct flyer URL not published at time of writing). Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (1-800-346-5507; listing via Iowa Department of Public Safety, dps.iowa.gov).
News: Local 5 / We Are Iowa, “Des Moines police still looking for missing endangered person” (video report, October 17, 2026) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt1LjKxLzq4 ; Local 5 / We Are Iowa, “Des Moines police continue search for woman missing since Thursday night” (video report, October 19, 2026) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPveGxtmP0k ; KCCI (Des Moines) reporting on the missing-endangered case, October 17, 2026 (exact article URL not located at time of writing).
Reference: None yet — this case is days old and does not yet appear in the Charley Project, NamUs, NCMEC, or Iowa MPIC listings as of October 19, 2026.
Found an error? Tell us via the About page and we will fix it promptly and note the change here. Last verified October 2026.