Reports: Police find body where teen went missing (Kansas)

[Penndems]

Source: CNN

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas (AP) -- Police found a body Wednesday in the area where they have been looking for a missing teenager, according to media reports.

Kelsey Smith, 18, has been missing since late Saturday, when she was apparently abducted from the parking lot of a Target store in suburban Kansas City.

Investigators had isolated two signals from Smith's cell phone to an area about 15 miles east of the store.

Officers from several police departments and the FBI were involved in the search in a woods along a lake.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/06/missing.teen.ap/index.html

---

The Overland Park Police Department is holding a press conference at 5:00 Eastern Time.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[fooj]

1. Oh shit.

:cry:

[Penndems]

3. My sentiments exactly, fooj.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[xultar]

2. She wanted to be a veterinarian. That is one soul the world will miss.

I hope they catch the sick fuck soon.

[Penndems]

5. Me too, xultar

Her killer needs to be found - and soon.

[RamboLiberal]

4. KC Newspaper

A body found this afternoon in south Kansas City is that of Kelsey Smith, her family's church says.

Don Mapes, the executive director of Hillcrest Covenant Church in Prairie Village said police told him the body was believed to be Smith. She had been missing since Saturday evening, when she didn't return from an errand to a Target store at 97th Street and Quivira Road.

Her body was found as more than 200 law enforcement officers searched a 900-acre area in south Kansas City. The search there came after police discovered that Kelsey’s cell phone signaled a tower in that vicinity Saturday night.

The body has not yet been positively identified.

http://www.kansascity.com/132/story/138680.html

I'm sorry this didn't turn out better. Damn, these kind of crimes as a female really make me angry. I hope they catch the sick jerk who did this.

[Penndems]

6. Oh, damn it

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Prayers and deepest sympathies to the Smiths. Hopefully, the Overland Park Police will find Kelsey's murderer very quickly.

[Sequoia]

8. Same here. And shame to those of DU who were making

wise cracks about "another white woman" abducted. For crying out loud, it was on camera so it's not like this wasn't known. This story just makes me sick.

[xmas74]

12. I knew there was a reason why I hadn't been logging in

for the past few days.

This poor girl's face has been all over the news. (I live outside of KC.)

I feel terrible for the family.

[Sequoia]

18. I have a child.

Who's growing up fast and I'm always telling her to be careful and especially when she gets older and goes places. I preach so much about it she gets really weary. One thing that always bothered me to the max was the one where that guy pretended to have a broken arm and got young girls with long hair to help him with packages and then he'd push them in the trunk. That doctor guy, "The Sranger Beside Me." The creepiest of all serial killers. I won't even read the book.

[xmas74]

22. I have a child too.

We talk all the time about "stranger danger" and such but I wonder if it's really sticking in her brain or not.

She's still young but...I'm just afraid sometimes.

[Sequoia]

30. Same here.

[Blue Diadem]

7. Ohhh Nooo...

Even though I suspected when I heard that only police were participating in the search that they presumed she was dead, I still held out hope they'd find her alive.

Poor girl..poor family. My heart goes out to them. :cry:

I hope they find the POS that did it.

[Ezlivin]

9. In full daylight, too

Man, oh man. What kind of world do we live in when a woman can be abducted from a public parking lot in broad daylight?

It's just a fantasy but oh how I wish we could have about 5,000 of those female Terminators (T-3) that could be sent out to just "walk around". Anyone who attempted harm to one of them would be swiftly brought to justice.

It's a pity that fantasies is about all I have left...

[onecent]

10. I live less than 40 miles away from Overland Park, and I think they did

a wonderful job on finding her and lots of clues, but there is another girl missing since May 4th that is not getting the same news coverage.

She was found missing less than 7 miles from the same spot and was about the same age, 17 or 18, and looked similar to Kelsey. Her cell phone and ATM card were also missing.

I've often wondered why some cases are persued, while others are NOT.
Kelsey's father worked as a police office and retired. I'm very very glad Kelsey case was top priority and was hoping she was safe. But what about this other girl?

[Penndems]

11. OMG, this is terrible - have there not been any developments in the disappearance of the other young

lady?

I agree - this crime should be given as high a profile as Kelsey's.

[xmas74]

13. Where are you at in Missouri?

I'm a bit further than that from OP but not too far from KC.

And this had excellent coverage while others...not so much.

[onecent]

14. I live in Kearney, Mo.

[xmas74]

16. I've been there before.

It's been years but I was there for some sporting event w/ school.

I graduated from Marshall and now live in Warrensburg.

[Scout1071]

19. I live only a mile or two from where she was abducted.

I just posted in another related thread, but my heart is breaking for this family and her friends. Her friends came frantically knocking on my door last night with tears in their eyes. I have 2 flyers on my coffee table as I type. Just so tragic and needless.

I certainly hope they catch this son of a bitch right away.

[shaniqua6392]

15. Sometimes I wonder, as a mother of two daughters,

if we should give our girls a handgun for a graduation present. I am so sick of this shit. It is absolutely horrible. Blessings and prayer go out to her family. Although there is no comfort for something so devastating. :cry:

[calimary]

17. Interesting point, and a very depressing one. Even more depressing,

the idea that we'd even find ourselves thinking about such a graduation "present."

Just so sad. Not far from my early-childhood stomping grounds. DAMN. That poor family...

[RamboLiberal]

31. As a female I carry a handgun and have martial arts training

I'm not necessarily advocating carrying a gun, but it isn't a bad idea to at least give a female pepper spray. I've also seen now for around $300-400 you can buy a taser.

I'd also encourage every female who can to get some realistic self-defense training.

They also should be told to never go in a car with an abductor - even if he has a weapon. Make a scene, fight him, run if you can, make him kill you there if he wants you. The odds are once he has you in that vehicle you're probably dead anyway.

[susanna]

33. Your last statement strikes a chord with me.

If someone attacks in a parking lot with a few people looking on? I'd rather stand and fight, make a scene, etc. The way I figure it, an ambulance is just that much closer - with the added benefit of people knowing where you are, regardless of your condition. But to get in a car with them to go into the great unknown? I'd rather not.

Of course, it looks like the girl in this case was forced, and did fight, so that might not be feasible in all cases. But I'd still try. :-(

on edit: clarity

[MaineDem]

20. Oh how sad

I was hoping this would have a better ending.

:cry:

[Corgigal]

21. A parents nightmare

I have a 17 year old daughter, tiny little thing like Kelsey. This story is terrifying.
In daylight from a major chain parking lot. Poor family, poor child. They need to catch this guy fast. This is a very bold predator.

[LisaL]

23. They've already arrested the suspect.

[flyarm]

24. i used to live close to where they found the girl..sooo sad..soo sad..

and as a mother it just breaks one's heart ..for her and her family..such a shame that this happenes in our country..

when i lived in Leawood Ks a girl was killed at our neighborhood pool..in kansas many neighborhoods have a community pool..this young lady was killed in my neigborhood working as a lifeguard..

http://findcarrie.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=murder1&action=print&num=1102820882

now another families child is taken for no damn reason..

some sick people running loose..

damn..it makes me sick!!

fly

[maddezmom]

25. Suspect arrested in Kan. teen's death

Suspect arrested in Kan. teen's death By MARIA SUDEKUM FISHER, Associated Press Writer
15 minutes ago



OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Police on Wednesday arrested a man in the abduction and death of a teenager who disappeared four days ago from a store parking lot.

Authorities said 18-year-old Kelsey Smith's body was found across the state line at a lake in Grandview, Mo.

Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass identified the suspect as Edwin R. Hall, 26, of Olathe. He was expected to be charged Thursday with premeditated first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping.

Douglass said Hall was interviewed Wednesday after police acted on a tip that matched Hall and a vehicle to surveillance video from the Target store parking lot where Smith was abducted Saturday evening.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070607/ap_on_re_us/missing_teen;_ylt=AitrTeX9c6mIai2YkT7yg7es0NUE

[Penndems]

32. Outstanding police work by local and Federal law enforcement

Let justice be served for the the Smith family.

[Shakespeare]

26. Reports: Body Found in Missouri Search

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Police found a body Wednesday in the area where they were looking for a teenager who has been missing for four days after apparently being abducted from a department store parking lot, according to media reports.

Investigators had isolated two signals from Kelsey Smith's cell phone to an area about 15 miles east of the Target store in suburban Kansas City.

Several Kansas City television stations and The Kansas City Star reported the discovery of a body, citing unidentified sources.

Officers refused to confirm the reports but planned a news conference for 5 p.m. EDT.



Read more: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2007/06/06/national/a125553D92.DTL

---

:-(

[Blue_Roses]

27. Very sad

My heart goes out to the family.:(

[roguevalley]

28. I was afraid of this. How terribly, terribly sad.

[Scout1071]

29. She was abducted very close to my house. I am sick for their family.

Her friends came knocking on my door with tears and flyers last night. I hear the news on the way home today and got out of my car just as a flyer blew past me. My heart sunk again.

She just ran to target to get wrapping paper for a gift for her boyfriend and boom.......she's gone. Abducted and murdered for no freakin' reason whatsoever. She had just graduated from high school just 2 weeks ago.

They are "interviewing" someone, but won't say that he is in actual custody.