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 Positively Identified As Kara Kopetsky's

Above, Kara Kopetsky.

A ten-year mystery I've followed from the beginning has finally been solved.

The Kansas City Star reported:

Ten years after Kara Kopetsky walked out of Belton High School and was never heard from again, her remains have been identified. 

DNA tests have confirmed that the second set of human bones found in early April in Cass County belonged to Kopetsky, the high school junior whose 2007 disappearance captured — and has kept — the community’s attention. 

Police officials from Belton and Cass County went to the home of Kopetsky's family Wednesday afternoon to tell them what the parents have said they already knew in their hearts.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article167627987.html#storylink=cpy

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.

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.