Kelsey Smith: "Murdered at First Sight: Without A Trace"

Above, Kelsey Smith.

Greg Smith, father of Kelsey Smith, posted a relatively new video from the Roku Channel. It is titled, "Murdered at First Sight: Without A Trace" the story of the June 2007 kidnapping and murder of Kelsey. 

According to Greg:

This documentary was filmed last year and originally aired in the UK (and also in Europe, I think). It is now on the Roku Channel or you can click the link in Tim's post below.

I just viewed the video in its entirety and it brings back sad memories of that time. I started following the case when it first broke. I was at my mom's and Greta Van Sustern had the story on her program. It hit home with me as my daughter at the time was interested in going to veterinary school, like Kelsey, and was only a few years older. When I started following the case, Kelsey hadn't been found yet and her parents were trying to get Kelsey's cell phone ping information from the cell company. 

I followed the story on the Fox News Channel and online, even at work. It was after the police got the cell phone ping information, they were able to find Kelsey's body pretty quick. 

Above, yours truly with Greg Smith at the Kansas Capitol Building in 2016.

During my 2016 trip to Metropolis, Illinois to attend Noel Neill's celebration of life services, I stopped in the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka, Kansas for a visit with Greg Smith, who was then a state senator. That was one of the things I wanted to accomplish on the trip. It was a big honor that he took the time for me to meet him. He and his wife Missey founded the Kelsey Smith Foundation to educate people on missing persons and what to do should they find themselves in that situation. Their hard work had the Kelsey Smith Act enacted in many states.

To view the video, go here.

Kansas RINOs Show True Colors, Become Democrats

Above, yours truly with then-Senator Greg Smith in 2016 at the Kansas
State Capitol. Smith was defeated by RINO-turned-Democrat Dinah Sykes. 

One thing I've learned over the years is that RINOs (Republican In Name Only) will eventually switch parties and become Democrats.

This has happened recently in Kansas when three so-called Republican moderate state legislators switched parties.

The Kansas City Star reported:

TOPEKA - Two more Kansas lawmakers are leaving the Republican Party to become Democrats, shrinking the ranks of GOP moderates after the Legislature grew more conservative in the November election. 

Sen. Dinah Sykes and Rep. Stephanie Clayton, both moderate Johnson County Republicans, said Wednesday they are becoming Democrats. They join Sen. Barbara Bollier, who left the Republican Party earlier in December. 

The party switching comes after a nationwide surge of Democratic voters in suburban areas. The surge helped defeat Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, and some state lawmakers are now aligning themselves with this new political reality.

It did not come as a surprise that Sykes switched parties, except she didn't do it sooner. She ran against Republican State Senator Greg Smith, a perfectly good conservative state senator, in the Overland Park area in the 2016 Primary Election and won. Many of us who closely followed that campaign suspected she was a "she-wolf in RINO sheep's clothing" and was actually a liberal Democrat posing as a moderate Republican with liberal backing. A real Republican wouldn't run against a Republican incumbent in a legislative district.

Now we know!

To read more, go here.

They Will Hurt You

Former Kansas State Senator Greg Smith posted this on Facebook:

I then shared it and then received this response from Nancy Martin Collins:

Or, they will see you in TV court!! ;)

Nancy remembers!

Actually, I'm not really this old. They just switched babies at the hospital.

UPDATE (2025): The ex has recently gotten married. Not to a guy, but to another woman. It explains a few things actually.

T + L: Interstate 70

Above, the Capitol Building in Topeka, Kansas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On my return trip home from Metropolis, Illinois, Memphis, Tennessee and Springfield, Illinois, I took Interstate 70 from St. Louis, Missouri to Colorado.

Along the way, I stopped in Topeka, Kansas to visit with State Senator Greg Smith at the State Capitol and Abilene, Kansas to see the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library & Museum.

It just so happens that Travel + Leisure has an article on things to see and do along Interstate 70.

They begin with:

There’s an interstate highway that runs through the entirety of Middle America, starting in Cove Fort, Utah, and pushes eastward to its terminus in Baltimore, Maryland. Interstate 70 covers 2,150 miles, and passes major attractions like the magnificent Rockies of Colorado and the iconic city of St. Louis, Missouri. Of course, there are lesser-known pit stops you'll find on an I-70 road trip, like the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library & Museum in Abilene, Kansas, that punctuate even the flattest stretches of plains and prairie.

Above, the graves of President and Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Interstate 70 is a good road for RVs as The Beast took to the highway very well.

To read more, go here. 

"Three Days To Live" Episode On Kelsey Smith Tonight

Above, Armand with Greg Smith in Topeka, Kansas last November.

Greg Smith, father of Kelsey Smith, posted on Facebook that a new episode of Three Days To Live will focus on Kelsey's kidnapping and murder.

It airs on the Oxygen network tonight at 6:00 (5:00 Central Time).

The show summary:

When a cop's daughter Kelsey fails to return home from a shopping trip, he fears the worst. Detectives know they have little time to track down the missing Kansas teen.

I met Greg Smith last November at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka, Kansas.

For more information, go here. There are several video "sneak peeks" here.

A Visit With Sen. Greg Smith

Above, the west front of the Kansas Capitol Building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I made it to Abilene, Kansas, "The Home of President Dwight D. Eisenhower".

I am at the Covered Wagon Campground, a few blocks away from the Eisenhower Library and Museum. I will likely take the tour tomorrow.

I am still waiting for the money transfer, but I have enough to press ahead to Abilene. The transfer will be completed by tomorrow at the latest.

Above, yours truly with Sen. Greg Smith in the Capitol Building.

Before leaving Topeka, I stopped by the State Capitol Building to pay a quick social call on Kansas State Senator Greg Smith (Overland Park). As luck would have it, I arrived at the committee room where Sen. Smith was chairing a committee and found him just outside the room. They just began their lunch break.

He recognized me immediately and we chatted for a while on politics, local and national and other things of interest. Unfortunately, he lost his re-election bid during the primary by an "alleged" Republican moderate (like me, Smith is a conservative). His term ends in January.

Above, a shot of the Capitol with the sun just behind it. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One thing he told me that I found interesting is that Kansas is neither a Red State or Blue State. He called it a "Purple State". This is probably due to the numbers of moderate Republicans. Kansas may not be as reliable for Republicans as in years past, although Donald Trump won the state last week.

The Kansas State Capitol Building had recently undergone a restoration and it reminded me of the California State Capitol Building in Sacramento.

As I needed to get on to Abilene and Greg probably had a lunch appointment, we said our goodbyes and I proceeded to The Beast.

It was a joy to finally meet him in person.

Tomorrow...

Above, barbecuing chicken at Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's a couple of things I am looking forward to tomorrow.

First, it will be the day (hopefully) that my money transfer will go through so I can proceed on to Abilene, Kansas to see the Eisenhower Presidential Library and then, from there, go on into Colorado and be back in the western part of the United States.

Above, Sen. Greg Smith.

Second, if all works out, I will meet with Kansas State Senator Greg Smith. Most likely, this will take place after he completes a committee meeting in the state capitol. Thank goodness that I brought along a business suit (for the Noel Neill memorial service) so I won't be going there all grubby.

Depending upon when my money transfer takes place, I will either remain in Topeka (it is Kansas capital city) another night or proceed on to Abilene after meeting with Sen. Smith.

Thanks goodness I went to the Springfield, Illinois Walmart and did some grocery shopping. I have enough food and other necessities to last me a week while waiting for the money transfer. The transfer was made necessary after I shredded two tires on a sharp-edged curb of a traffic island in St. Louis, Missouri and I had to pay almost $500 for two new tires.

But, I can thank my lucky stars that that's all it was. No damage to The Beast itself. I do have to replace a wheel cover (the rear one) that got mangled. The driver's side front wheel cover got banged up, but is usable. I wait until I get home to deal with them.

In the meantime, I am barbecuing chicken tonight for dinner!

Trip Planning To Metropolis

Above, at the Auto Club. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although the trip won't be for almost another month and a half from now, I figured that perhaps I should start planning it.

This will be pretty much a cross-country trip from Los Angeles to Metropolis, Illinois for Noel Neill's celebration of life. Metropolis is the home of the Super Museum, where Jim Hambrick has a big collection of all things Superman. I've always wanted to go there, so now's my chance!

There is a giant statue of Superman and a statue of Noel Neill, as Lois Lane, in town.

Above, planning the route at the Auto Club. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since we've been given plenty of notice of the celebration, I thought that this would be a good opportunity to jump into The Beast for a big road-trip. I was going to take a trip to Memphis next spring, but since I will be only three hours away from Memphis in Metropolis, I may as well go there now.

The states that I would be going through include Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and then Illinois. The pace of the drive (around 1,900 miles) will be determined by my daily progress and, of course, the weather as the memorial celebration will be held November 5.

The way back will be more leisurely and I will take a more northern route through Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

I expect that all this will take about two weeks to complete.

En route to Metropolis, I plan to stop at some attractions, most notably Meteor Crater in Arizona and the library, museum, home and tomb of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.

Above, with the TripTik in the foreground, I also picked
 up maps and tour books today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On the way back to L.A., I will take a detour down to Memphis, Tennessee to visit Graceland and other attractions there. Then, I will head up to St. Louis, Missouri and then head west from there. Stops will include Kansas City (I will try to pay a visit to State Sen. Greg Smith in Overland Park, Kansas, if schedules permit), the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum, Silverton and Durango, Colorado (maybe ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train), Mesa Verde National Park, Monument Valley, Utah (where John Ford and John Wayne filmed all those classic westerns) and the Grand Canyon National Park. Then home from there.

I am beginning to get excited over this trip. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate.

At this time, it is just going to be Sierra and I, but I will see if I can arrange for another traveling companion. But I don't mind solo trips as I've done them before.

Sen. Greg Smith and Other Conservatives Lose Primaries To RINOs

Above, Sen. Greg Smith of Kansas.

One has to sometimes wonder what drives the electorate to vote the way they do. Today is one of those times.

Kansas State Senator Greg Smith, along with several other conservative legislators, lost their primary bids last night.

According to the Wall Street Journal:

TOPEKA, Kan.—A top Senate leader and at least 10 other conservative Kansas legislators have lost their seats as moderate Republicans made GOP primary races a referendum on education funding and the state's persistent budget woes. 

Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce was among the lawmakers ousted amid a backlash against Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and his allies. 

Besides Mr. Bruce, the conservative senators who were unseated were Tom Arpke, of Salina; Forrest Knox, of Altoona; Jeff Melcher, of Leawood; Larry Powell, of Garden City; and Greg Smith, of Overland Park. All are allies of Gov. Brownback.

That is one of the reasons that I don't trust moderate Republicans. They would find any excuse to stab conservatives in the back during a primary or, failing that, support a Democrat in the general election.

Word has reached me that Smith's opponent, Dinah Sykes, ran a well-funded campaign (teacher's union money?). It will be interesting to see where her campaign contributions came from.

We are also seeing this on the national scale as moderates (RINOs) are backing Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump.

Sen. Smith served his community and state well. I was proud to support him. I hope this setback is only temporary and that he'll jump back into the arena.

To read more, go here.

Re-Elect Greg Smith To The Kansas Senate

Above, Kansas State Senator Greg Smith.

This morning, I am pleased to enthusiastically endorse Kansas State Senator Greg Smith for re-election.

I sent the following message to Smith's campaign:

I am pleased to support State Senator Greg Smith for re-election to the Kansas State Senate.

He has been a tireless worker for the cause of public safety, a cause he painfully knows too well. Instead of withdrawing, he and his family rolled up their sleeves and got right to work. He has traveled around this country to get the Kelsey Smith Act enacted in several states and nationally. Much more work needs to be done. You can count on Greg Smith to continue the fight for public safety.

Kansas needs Greg Smith in the State Senate.

Armand Vaquer, Author of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan and Member of California Reagan Delegations of 1976, 1980 and 1984.

To see a video on Greg Smith, go here.

For the GregSmith4Kansas website, go here.

Kelsey Smith Safety Awareness Seminar

Above, Sen. Greg Smith.

After posting about the upcoming (February 17) Investigation Discovery documentary on the Kelsey Smith case this morning, I found videos of the Kelsey Smith Safety Awareness Seminar conducted by her father, Kansas State Senator Greg Smith (Overland Park) at YouTube.

It is one complete seminar divided into 8 videos shot by photographer Tim Galyean in 2010. These videos should be seen by everyone, especially by those who have young daughters.

It would be best to view them with your children.





Here are the videos (in order):

Kelsey Smith Story On Investigation Discovery's "See No Evil" February 17

Above, Kelsey Smith.

Ever since I began this blog, I have posted links to the Kelsey Smith Foundation, whose mission is to educate women on personal safety.

Investigation Discovery is starting a new show, See No Evil. Their first episode, to be shown Tuesday, February 17 will be on the Kelsey Smith kidnapping and murder of June 2007. The title of the episode, "It Looked Like An Ordinary Shopping Trip."

Here are are the promos of the episode:







The program will also feature Kelsey's parents, Greg (now a Kansas State Senator) and Missey Smith.

Eisenhower On Revisionism

Kansas State Senator Greg Smith (R-Overland Park) unearthed a great quote from former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower was also the supreme allied commander in Europe during World War II.

It brings to mind revisionists who try to re-write history to suit their political agendas. It bears remembering.

Here's the quote:

“Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses - because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened.”  

― Dwight D. Eisenhower

Final Election Results For Kansas Senate District 21

The Johnson County Election Office has posted the final election results.

In the 21st State Senate race, Republican Greg Smith beat Democrat Juanita Roy for a newly-created senate seat:

For other results, go here.

Greg Smith Wins Kansas House Seat!

Well, tonight wasn't a total loss for me.

The Kansas City Star reported that Greg Smith, R-Overland Park, won the 21 Senate District of the Kansas state legislature:

Smith racked up 53 percent of the vote to Roy’s 47 percent in the Overland Park-Lenexa Senate district. Smith is a conservative Republican who is backed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

I made a campaign donation to Smith's campaign.  It appears it was put to good use!

Congratulations, Greg!

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/06/3904114/in-early-johnson-county-returns.html#storylink=cp

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Elect Greg Smith To Kansas Senate District 21

In less than two weeks, Kansas voters in the Kansas Senatorial District 21 has the chance to elect a proven conservative leader.  That man is Greg Smith!

From his campaign website:

Greg is running for the Kansas Senate in 2012. The date of the election is November 6, 2012. He needs your help to change the culture of the Kansas Senate. He is running for a new senate seat in Johnson County, Senate District 21. Greg is the Republican candidate for Senate District 21. He has served in the Kansas House and is a proven leader.

If I lived in Greg's district in Kansas (Overland Park), he would definitely have my vote.  Instead, I have sent a contribution to his campaign committee.  You can do the same by going here.

Please join me in electing Greg Smith to the Kansas Senate for District 21!

Greg Smith Wins GOP Nomination For Kansas Senate District 21

Greg Smith won his Kansas Senate (District 21) primary race in yesterday's voting. He will face Democrat Juanita Roy in November.

He was just one of many conservatives who routed moderates during the Kansas Primary Election.

According to the Kansas City Star:

Conservative Republicans scored big wins across Kansas on Tuesday as they set themselves up to seize control of the state Senate and clear a path for Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s agenda.

Moderates lost in many key Senate races in Tuesday’s GOP primary, including five of six seats that were up for grabs in Johnson County.

Congratulations, Greg!



Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/08/3749775/conservatives-seize-control-of.html#storylink=cpy

Greg Smith For Kansas Senate, District 21

A panel of judges have finally decided on the legislative districts for the State of Kansas.

Kansas House Member Greg Smith (R-Overland Park) is a candidate for the newly-formed District 21 of the Kansas State Senate.  He is the common-sense conservative who will best represent the district in Topeka.

The district is a large one geographically, so Greg will need many volunteers to cover it.

The issues are:

As your state representative Greg worked to represent your values. As your state senator Greg will continue to fight for the right priorities:

THE SMITH SEVEN
1) Reduce Your Tax Burden: Kansas has the second highest tax burden in the region. Lower income tax states have more vibrant economies.
2) Improve Education: Kansas has a broken school finance formula that picks winners & losers. Johnson County Schools receive less funding than 90% of other schools in Kansas but provide 30% of school funding for the state.
3) Fiscal Responsibility: The use of your tax money should be readily apparent. Transparency and accountability to you, the tax payer, are paramount. The state budget must follow state law and not only balance but maintain the 7.5% mandated reserve.
4) Cut State Spending: Tax dollars should only be spent on core government functions that cannot be provided by any other agency.
5) Fight Illegal Immigration: The federal government has abdicated its responsibility to secure our borders. Illegal immigration puts everyone at risk and increases costs of government services.
6) Safe Streets: Public safety is the paramount responsibility of government. Public safety agencies and the state corrections department need full funding so everyone is safe.
7) Maintain the Death Penalty in Kansas: The death penalty is an instrumental tool for prosecutors in Kansas.

Join Greg Smith's campaign today!  Walk precincts.  Be a precinct captain.  Put up a yard sign.  Donate.

Greg Smith's campaign website is at http://www.gregsmith4kansas.com/.

5 Years Ago

Five years ago tonight, I went over to the local Best Buy in Woodland Hills.  I decided to buy a DVD to watch.

I ended up buying So Proudly We Hail, starring Claudette Colbert and (future Superman) George Reeves.

At the same time, a tragedy was unfolding half-way across the country in Overland Park, Kansas.  

Recent high school graduate Kelsey Smith was abducted from a Target parking lot that evening.  This led to a family's frantic search and a drama that captured the attention of a nation.

Thanks to a security camera video, cell phone pings, police detective work and the total ineptness of the killer, Kelsey was found and her killer was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Today begins a time of remembrance and reflection.

Kelsey Smith Act On Hawaii Governor's Desk

Above, Kelsey Smith.

Great news!

Greg Smith, father of Kelsey Smith, reported over at Facebook today:

• We received word from Hawaii State Senator Espero that the Kelsey Smith Act has been sent to the governor's desk for approval.

What is the Kelsey Smith Act?  According to the Kelsey Smith Foundation:

The Kelsey Smith Act provides law enforcement with a way to quickly ascertain the location of a wireless telecommunications device if a person has been determined, by law enforcement, to be at risk of death or serious physical harm due to being kidnapped and/or missing. 

As of January 26, 2012 the Kelsey Smith Act has been passed by the following states (in order of passage): Nebraska, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and North Dakota.

It has been proposed in: Missouri, Hawaii, and Massachusetts

It has also been proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives and the province of Alberta, Canada.

 If we can only get the California legislature off their duffs and have the Kelsey Smith Act passed in California...

This coming June 2 will mark the fifth anniversary of Kelsey Smith's kidnapping and murder.