Killer Couple in NY: The Disappearance and Murder of Steven Kraft

On April 28, 2020, Steven Kraft, a 34-year-old former U.S. Marine from Marlboro, New York, vanished without a trace. It was a routine day—Kraft had picked up his two teenage daughters for their regular custody visit. After taking them to a restaurant in Newburgh and spending a few hours together, he returned them to his ex-wife’s home in Beacon at 7 p.m. But that was the last time anyone would see him alive.

The Search Begins

The following morning, Kraft didn’t show up for his shift at a local deli, sparking concern among family and friends. When his car—a 1999 Toyota Camry—was discovered abandoned in Newburgh on May 4, the search intensified. What was initially thought to be a missing person case soon turned into something much darker.

Security footage from the day of his disappearance revealed a chilling detail: Kraft’s car had been driven across the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and abandoned by someone who wasn’t Kraft. Investigators would later determine that it was Nicholas Orsini, the estranged husband of Kraft’s ex-wife, who had driven the car to Newburgh and disposed of it.

The Orsinis' Deadly Plot

As the investigation unfolded, authorities turned their attention to the Orsinis—Jamie and Nicholas—who had been living in the area and had a dark history with Kraft. In fact, prosecutors revealed that the couple had been plotting his murder for weeks.

Security footage from April 8, 2020, showed Jamie Orsini purchasing items from Home Depot that would later be tied to the crime: a large tarp, duct tape, and protective clothing, all essential for disposing of a body. They had even purchased a “burner phone” to avoid being traced. In the days following Kraft's disappearance, the Orsinis were seen traveling between Beacon and Amsterdam, where they had recently relocated. But it wasn’t just their travel patterns that raised alarms.

A Web of Deception

The investigation revealed a pattern of disturbing behavior. Nicholas Orsini had searched online for ways to dispose of a body, including terms like “is galvanized steel fireproof.” He also bought charcoal lighter fluid, firewood, and large galvanized trash cans. The couple’s efforts to cover their tracks only deepened the mystery surrounding Kraft’s disappearance.

Jamie Orsini’s actions were equally suspicious. Prosecutors revealed that just days after Kraft went missing, she texted his phone asking about their children’s report cards, trying to maintain the appearance of normalcy and distract from the fact that she was likely involved in his murder.

The Orsinis’ Conviction

Three years later, on June 15, 2023, the Orsinis were arrested in Amsterdam, New York, and charged with the carjacking resulting in death and conspiracy to commit carjacking. A federal jury convicted them both in September 2024, after a two-week trial. Though Steven Kraft’s body was never found, the overwhelming evidence, including cellphone data, surveillance footage, and purchases tied to the crime, led to their conviction.

The Orsinis now face life in prison for their roles in the brutal murder of Steven Kraft, bringing a long-awaited sense of justice to his family. For more than four years, Kraft’s loved ones had been living in limbo, uncertain of his fate. Now, they finally have answers.