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.

"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.

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.

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

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.

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!

NRA Endorses Greg Smith For Kansas House

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has endorsed Greg Smith, who is running for the Kansas House in District 22 in Overland Park.

According to Smith's campaign website:

The NRA has endorsed Greg Smith, Republican candidate for Kansas House, district 22, for the house race. Greg also earned an "A" rating from the NRA.

Congratulations, Greg!

Greg Smith, For Responsive and Responsible Representation For Kansas House District 22

The polls are now closed in the state of Kansas, and the candidates of both parties are on pins and needles over tonight's primary election results.


Right, Greg Smith, his wife Missey with their daughter Kelsey.

Fortunately, in Kansas House District 22, which encompasses Overland Park, Kansas, GOP candidate Greg Smith ran unopposed in the Republican primary. He will face Democrat incumbent Lisa Benlon in the general election campaign.

Benlon is decidedly an Obama liberal. In recent ratings:

Benlon has received from the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund a grade of F (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F). This puts her in with the gun-grabbers wing of the the Democrat Party.

She has also received a rating of 10 (out of 100) from the Americans for Prosperity- Kansas Chapter (formerly The Kansas Taxpayer's Network), a taxpayers' rights organization. She's definitely not a friend of Kansas taxpayers.

Greg Smith is a first-time candidate and the only first-timer who has achieved legislative success in Kansas as well as in other states with the Kelsey Smith Act. The Kelsey Smith Act requires cell phone providers to cooperate with law enforcement in missing persons cases.

Smith's daughter Kelsey was kidnapped and murdered in June 2007 after leaving a Target department store in Overland Park. She was found by law enforcement after her cell phone provider provided searchers with her cell phone ping data several days after her abduction. She would have been found sooner had her cell phone provider provided this data earlier.

Greg Smith is running on a conservative issues platform. His campaign website has an issues page. To see where Greg Smith stands on the issues, go here.

I generally don't endorse candidates in other states, but this year I made an exception as I have already enthusiastically endorsed Greg Smith for the Kansas House.

Armand's Endorsement Posted At Greg Smith's Campaign Website

Above, Greg, Kelsey and Missey Smith.

Greg Smith, who is the GOP nominee for the Kansas House in District 22, posted my endorsement of his candidacy on his campaign website last month. To see his posting, go here.

Regular Rancho readers will know that Greg is the father of Kelsey Smith, who was kidnapped and murdered three years ago (it's hard to believe that three years has already gone by) just after her high school graduation. Her case caught national attention. Fortunately, her killer was caught and convicted and is now serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole in Kansas.

Kelsey's case also caught my attention since I also have a daughter who wants to be a veterinarian, as Kelsey aspired to be.

I have corresponded with Greg since that time and had followed the trial of Kelsey's killer. Greg impressed me with the way he and his family rallied in the wake of Kelsey's death to turn a horrible, life-changing tragedy into something that will benefit the public good. They formed the Kelsey Smith Foundation whose mission is to educate young women in personal safety.

Also, since that time, Greg has been a tireless advocate in getting the Kelsey Smith Act enacted all around the country. The Act would require cell phone provider companies to fully cooperate with law enforcement in locating missing persons.


Greg and Missey Smith's efforts were recognized last year when they received a FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (above).

Greg is a real go-getter and would be a great asset in the Kansas House. This is one endorsement I was proud to make.

Greg Smith For Kansas House of Representatives

Right, Greg and Missey Smith with daughter Kelsey.

There is one candidate for a state legislator's seat whom I have endorsed this year. Generally, I don't get myself involved in other states' issues or with their candidates, but one man has earned my admiration and respect.

His name is Greg Smith, who is a candidate for the Kansas House of Representatives from Overland Park, Kansas.

Greg and his family caught my attention three years ago when his daughter Kelsey was kidnapped and murdered. This also caught the attention of the national media.

In the aftermath of Kelsey's murder, Greg and his family rolled up their sleeves and started the Kelsey Smith Foundation so that young women in Kansas and other states can be educated in self-protection to prevent more abductions and murders.

Greg is a former law enforcement officer and teacher. I was not surprised to learn that he his a conservative Republican, given the way he has worked around the country to get The Kelsey Smith Act enacted in other states. The Act mandates that cell phone providers fully cooperate with law enforcement in cases of kidnappings where a cell phone's "ping" can lead to a rescue or recovery of a kidnapping victim.

Greg recently wrote of his philosophy on taxes and fiscal responsibility as well as the differences of R.I.N.O. Republicans (Republicans In Name Only) and those who share his philosophy:

Granted, if you look to see if there is an "R" or a "D" behind the name of those who voted in favor of raising taxes and increasing spending, several of the legislators do have an "R" behind their name but they do not have the political philosophy of a conservative Republican. Take for example, Senator Tim Owens of Overland Park. He has an "R" behind his name. He's even my senator but he does not share my philosophy on spending and limited government. Senator Owen consistently votes to raise taxes and expand government. In the Kansas House, my representative, Lisa Benlon (and my opponent in the upcoming election), has a "D" behind her name. She also votes consistently for higher taxes and the expansion of government. I expect that from a Democrat. I can respect her for voting that way even though I disagree with it.

I've already endorsed Greg Smith for the Kansas House of Represatives. We need more candidates like him to hold the line on excessive taxation and spending.

For more on Greg and his campaign, go here.

In Lieu of Flowers...

Above, Kelsey Smith.

If you are unable to attend the funeral services for my mom next Thursday, but would like to do something in her memory, please contribute to the Kelsey Smith Foundation in my mom's name (Mary K. Vaquer).

The Greg Smith Family started the foundation following the kidnap and murder of daughter Kelsey, 18, of Overland Park, Kansas. This gained nationwide attention, including my mom's and myself.

The Kelsey Smith Foundation is doing excellent work in educating young women on personal safety.

To make a contribution in my mom's name, go to www.kelseysarmy.org.

Greg Smith For Kansas House of Representatives

Above, Greg, Kelsey and Missey Smith.

Ever since I began to follow the Kelsey Smith case of Overland Park, Kansas from the beginning in June 2007, there has not been too many happy surprises.

However, I saw a Twitter post by Kelsey's dad, Greg Smith, just a few minutes ago and what he wrote came as a big, but very pleasant surprise to me: he's filed his papers to become a Republican candidate for the Kansas House of Representatives in District 22!

I have to confess, I am a big admirer of Greg Smith and his family. From the beginning of the nightmare of Kelsey's kidnapping and murder, Greg worked tirelessly within the community to first find his daughter and then to bring her killer to justice. He didn't stop there. He and his wife Missey started the Kelsey Smith Foundation to educate young women on how to protect themselves against predators, so they won't meet the horrible fate Kelsey did. They have traveled around their state and around the country to speak to groups, large and small, on self-protection.

They also saw to it that the Kelsey Smith Act was enacted in Kansas and are working so that other states pass similar laws that require cell phone companies to fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies in kidnapping cases.

The energy and determination Greg displayed tells me that he would be a great asset to the Kansas House of Representatives. If I lived in Kansas, I would unhesitantly vote for Greg Smith. He's a doer, not a talker.

From Greg's campaign website:

Greg Smith is running for the Kansas Legislature because he realizes that both political parties have abandoned core conservative principles: fiscal responsibility; limited government; and accountability. These principles need to be restored. Greg is the candidate who best represents the values and people of the 22nd District.

Is this an endorsement of Greg Smith for the Kansas House of Representatives in District 22? You bet it is!

If you would like to donate to Greg's campaign or become a volunteer, please go to his campaign website: http://www.gregsmithforkansas.com

Get Kelsey Smith Act Into Law In California

Above, Kelsey Smith.

A push to get the Kelsey Smith Act on the law books in all 50 states is now being undertaken by the Kelsey Smith Foundation and its supporters.

A few months ago, I tried to reach my state Assemblymember, Julia Brownley (D-Tarzana) to see if she would be willing to sponsor or co-sponsor the Kelsey Smith Act in California.

Unforunately, she had not responded to either my calls or emails. As one of her constituents, I find this lack of response insulting. Isn't Assemblywoman Brownley interested in aiding law enforcement in finding kidnap victims?

Accordingly, I am contacting a state senator in a neighboring district who has a good reputation for responses to see if he would sponsor or co-sponsor a bill.

The Kelsey Smith Act requires cell phone companies to fully cooperate with law enforcement in cases where an abduction has taken place and where the victim has a cell phone.

This legislation was prompted by the murder of Kelsey Smith in Kansas. The Kelsey Smith Act was signed into law by Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. The law requires cell phone companies to release “ping” information to police showing the whereabouts of missing persons.

After Kelsey went missing, her parents and law enforcement got the runaround from the Smith's cell phone company, Verizon, for days before the company released the so-called “ping” records. The police then used the information to quickly find Smith’s body (in about 45 minutes), four days after she was abducted and killed.

Maybe you could put a little fire under Assemblywoman Brownley's behind by calling her district office at (818) 596-4141, (310) 395-3414, or (805) 644-4141.