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.

Remains Found: May Be Kara Kopetsky

Above, Jessica Runions (left) and Kara Kopetsky.

Nearly ten years ago, I began to follow the kidnapping and murder case of Kelsey Smith in Kansas after seeing reports about her kidnapping on Greta Van Susteren on Fox News.

At about the same time, another high school girl, Kara Kopetsky, went missing. Her case turned out to be unrelated to Kelsey Smith's case. Smith's killer is now sitting in prison. Since then, I have been following the Kopetsky case. Now there may be a big break in the case.

On Monday, two skulls had been found near a quarry. One, it turns out, is from another missing girl, Jessica Runions. Both women had been involved with the same man, although nine years apart.

Fox 4 in Kansas City reported yesterday:

CASS COUNTY, Mo. —  Two mothers, each facing the fear and grief of a daughter gone missing, now await answers from the FBI and Cass County investigators after two human skulls were found near each other in a wooded area near E. 233rd and State Route Y, south of Belton. 

The first human skull was found Monday evening by a mushroom hunter. As investigators brought in their teams and tools and searched a five-acre area, they found another human skull on Tuesday. After that, they contacted the families of Kara Kopetsky and Jessica Runions, two young women missing from the Kansas City area. Kara has been missing since 2007; Jessica since Sept. 2016. Kara was 17-years-old at the time of her disappearance; Jessica was 21 when she disappeared.

Although Jessica and Kara likely never knew each other, and although Jessica is about five years younger than Kara, there is something else they have in common; a man named Kylr Yust, 28. Jessica was acquainted with Yust, who was Kara's former boyfriend. Yust was questioned about their disappearances and while never charged in the disappearance of Kara Kopetsky, he was charged with 'knowingly burning' Jessica Runions' car, which was found set on fire near Bannister and Blue River Road. He pleaded not guilty and is currently in custody at the Jackson County Detention Center. His case has been sealed but his trial for the Class D 'knowingly burning' felony is scheduled for October 16, 2017.

Just a few hours ago, Fox 4 reported that one of the sets of remains found was identified as Jessica Runions.

CASS COUNTY, Mo. -- Investigators say that one of two sets of human remains found in Cass County are missing woman Jessica Runions, who hasn't been seen since September. The Jackson County Medical Examiner made the identification, and her family has been notified. 

Police were previously investigating her case as a disappearance, and it's now been classified as a homicide. 

Two human skulls were found near each other in a wooded area around E. 233rd and State Route Y, south of Belton, earlier this week. The second set of remains hasn't been identified, though investigators think they may be Kara Kopetsky's, who has been missing since May of 2007.

Considering the similarities of the two cases and their ties to Kylr Yust, I would be very surprised if the second set of remains aren't Kara Kopetsky's. If enough teeth and other bones are found and how intact they are, positive identification could come relatively soon or up to a year.

"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.

Suspect May Have Connection To Kopetsky Disappearance

Above, Kara Kopetsky has been missing since 2007.

The arrest of a man in connection with a missing Kansas City area woman may possibly shed new light on the nine-year disappearance of Kara Kopetsky.

The Kopetsky case came to my attention at the time of the kidnapping and murder of Kelsey Smith. Kopetsky disappeared just a few weeks prior to the Kelsey Smith kidnapping.

According to The News & Observer:

Investigators looking into the Missouri disappearances of a woman and a teenager nine years apart have taken bullets and other items from the home of a man considered a person of interest in at least one of the cases, court records show. 

Kylr Yust was returned to Kansas City on Wednesday to face a charge that he knowingly burned 21-year-old Jessica Runions' vehicle. The woman from the Kansas City suburb of Raymore was last seen leaving a party Thursday night. 

Yust, who turned 28 on Wednesday, had been jailed in Benton County, southeast of Kansas City, since his arrest Sunday.

It will be interesting see if evidence is found connecting Yust with the Kopetsky disappearance. Could this be the break the police have been looking for?

Read more 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.

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!

Julia Brownley Is Useless; Elect Tony Strickland U.S. Congress

Above, Tony Strickland.

Three years ago, I wrote to Democrat State Assemblywoman Julia Brownley about sponsoring Kelsey's Law (or Kelsey Smith Act) in California.

It is a proposed law that would have cell phone providers provide cell phone ping data to law enforcement agencies in emergencies (such as kidnappings).  It is named for Kelsey Smith of Overland Park, Kansas, who was kidnapped from a Target store and later found murdered in Missouri.  Her body was found 45 minutes after the cell phone provider gave law enforcement officials the data on Smith's last cell phone pings.

Three years have gone by and Assemblywoman Brownley still has not responded to my query.  Instead, she is running for Congress in the 26th District in Ventura County.  She is up against State Sen. Tony Strickland.

If this is the kind of service Brownley provides constituents, then she'd be better off retired.  She's useless!

I would suggest voting for State Senator Tony Strickland for U.S. Congress in the 26th Congressional District in Ventura County.

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.

Greg Smith For Senate Website

Kansas State Representative Greg Smith, R-Overland Park, now has a separate website for his campaign for the Kansas State Senate, District 8.

Greg is the father of Kelsey Smith who, five years ago this coming June, garnered national attention from her kidnapping and murder. To honor his daughter and to educate young women on personal safety, the Smith family founded the Kelsey Smith Foundation (a.k.a. Kelsey's Army).

If elected, Greg would provide principled, conservative leadership to the Kansas State Senate.

To access his site, go here.

Greg Smith To Run For Kansas Senate

Kansas State Representative Greg Smith (R-Overland Park) issued the following news release:

State Representative Greg Smith (R) announced Wednesday, August 30, 2010 that he will run for the senate seat in Senate District 8 which is currently held by Sen. Tim Owens.

Rep. Greg Smith is well known as the father of murder victim, Kelsey Smith, a strong advocate of crime victims’ rights and the rule of law. He has worked tirelessly in the Kansas House to sponsor and promote legislation that protects youth and young adults from violent predators and led the effort to successfully bring the state of Kansas in compliance with the Adam Walsh Act. He also sponsored and successfully guided to passage legislation that protects crime victims’ rights by allowing District Attorneys to convene grand juries to investigate serious felonies.

Additionally, he supported efforts to lower the tax burden on Kansans, reduce the size and scope of state government, pushed for fiscal accountability and transparency, as well as worked to allow the private sector to create jobs for Kansans. Rep. Smith had both a perfect attendance record and voting record in the 2011 Session of the Legislature.

Smith, who is also a high school social studies teacher, labored to keep Johnson County money in Johnson County schools. He believes that Kansas public schools should benefit our children and not benefit special interest groups.

When asked why he was moving from the House to the Senate, Representative Smith said that he has been disappointed by the lack of will by the Senate to support pragmatic solutions to the many problems that Kansas faces. “The status quo will not bring about needed changes to make Kansas a leader in job creation and quality public education. The Kansas House exhibited strong leadership this past session. It’s time for the Senate to lead as well and I feel I can help best facilitate that by moving to the Senate,” said Smith.

Greg would be a great asset in the Kansas Senate. He is one man who can shake things up and accomplished.

For more information on Greg Smith, go here.

"KansasCutie" Remembered

Back in 2007, I was following the Kelsey Smith kidnapping and murder case and joined the Websleuths message boards. During the months that ensued, I became friends with a number of people on the boards. One was a girl from Kansas. Her handle was "KansasCutie."

Today, for the first time in months, I was perusing my friends list on my profile page and saw the shocking words "Rest In Peace" under KansasCutie's name. Checking further, I found that she died in September 2009 from a brain aneurysm. She was only 22. Her last Websleuths activity was on 09-05-2009 at 10:30 AM.

At that time, I was dealing with my mother's final illness and passing, so I didn't go over to Websleuths to learn the news when it was announced on February 23, 2010.

KC, as many of us called her, had aspired to be a dance choreographer until injuries from a car accident ended those plans. She then decided to go into law. We used to talk about her studies, her car accident, crime cases and life in general. She had a sweet personality and was so full of life. Her handle fit her perfectly.

One of the last messages I received from KC came on May 9, 2009. She wrote:

Hey there! I'm doing great....finals this week and then its offically summer! How have you been!?

It is hard to believe that 4 months later she left this mortal coil.

The last message I sent KC was on November 15, 2009, when nobody at Websleuths knew she had passed away two months previously:

KC: Go to the Political Pavilion. Kelsey's dad is running for the KS House of Representatives!

Unfortunately, I never got to know her real name (I never asked). No matter. Life just got sadder anyway.

R.I.P., KC.

********

UPDATE (7/6/11): KC did post that her first name was Brittaney.

********

UPDATE (7/7/11): Her actual name was Ashley Mirsepasi. This is her obituary from KU:
http://www.kansan.com/news/2009/sep/15/mirsepasi/

Left, a picture KC sent me. If the picture at top is her actual photo, then who's this? This and other photos of the same girl were claimed to be KansasCutie (i.e., Ashley).

Jamie Sheets, 16, Missing Since May 18

This was passed on by Greg Smith, Kansas House Representative and father of Kelsey Smith:



To see a .pdf of the above flyer, go here.

Batting .500!

During this recent election cycle, I endorsed two candidates: Mark Reed for congress in California's 27th C.D. and Greg Smith for the Kansas House of Representatives in Overland Park, Kansas.




Unfortunately, Mark Reed didn't win election. The district is heavily Democrat as it is gerrymandered into a u-shape that makes no sense to the common voter. Reed didn't have much in the way of funding, but he did put what he was able to raise to good use. I think he has a future and if he tries again with better funding (plus a re-drawn district that evens things out), he might just make it.




Fortunately, Greg Smith won his election against a Democrat incumbent. Greg is the father of Kelsey Smith, whose murder made national news. Greg has been a tireless advocate for women's safety through the Kelsey Smith Foundation and accomplished the passage of the Kelsey Smith Act in Kansas and other states requiring cell phone providers to cooperate with law enforcement in cases of missing persons. He will do Kansas proud!

So, for this election cycle, I am batting .500!

GOP Takes House of Representatives

Right, Mark Reed supporters catching the night's election returns.

The election results have been interesting, to say the least. The Republican Party (as of this writing) gained 53 seats in the House of Representatives and are neck-and-neck for control of the U.S. Senate.

There were some disappointments, particularly in California and Nevada. The only good thing about Harry Reid's win is that even if the Democrats retain control of the senate, his powers are greatly diminished.

At present, the only results for the 27th Congressional District (San Fernando Valley) is that Mark Reed is behind Brad Sherman at 41% with 5% of the precincts reporting. That is still respectable, considering the make-up of the district and that it is badly gerrymandered.

I am pleased to report that Greg Smith won his race for the Kansas House of Representatives by 2%. His late daughter Kelsey is, no doubt, smiling down on him. His district is in the Overland Park area. He'll be a great asset to the Kansas legislature!

From the Kansas City Star:

In House District 22, Republican Greg Smith, a social studies teacher, beat Democratic incumbent Rep. Lisa Benlon. Smith is the father of Kelsey Smith, who was kidnapped at an Overland Park Target store and murdered in 2007. Smith received 51 percent of the vote to 49 percent for Benlon, who was seeking a second consecutive term.

Congratulations Greg!

Above, yours truly with Mark Reed.

I spent this evening at Mark Reed's Election Night party at the American Legion Post 308 in Reseda. Here's some photos of tonight's gathering:



Left, Mark Reed greeting supporters.













Right, entertainers making the night a festive one.






Above, candidate Mark Reed addresses his supporters.