Murder of Kelsey Smith
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (June 2007) |
Kelsey Ann Smith (May 3, 1989 – June 2, 2007) was an Overland Park, Kansas teenager who disappeared on June 2 2007 and was raped and murdered that evening. Her body was found near a lake in Missouri on June 6, 2007.[1]
Overview
Kelsey was last seen at 7:09 PM CST on June 2, 2007 in the parking lot at the Target store at 97th and Quivira, behind the Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Kansas. Police, other authorities and the national media launched an extensive publicity campaign and search for Kelsey.
Surveillance video from Target shows Kelsey purchasing a present for her 6 month anniversary, which was to be given to her boyfriend, and then leaving the store before she disappeared.[2] Approximately two hours later, her car was found abandoned outside of Macy's in the Oak Park mall parking lot across the street.[2] Her purse and wallet were left in the car.[3]
There is strong evidence that Kelsey may have been abducted. Additional surveillance video from Target appears to show someone forcing Kelsey into her car.[4] Additional video evidence from Target identified a suspicious 1970s era Chevrolet truck. Target stores use a large number of video cameras, and these can often be enhanced internally through their Target Forensic Services division.
Body identification
After determining the final pings sent by her cellular phone, a number of search areas were identified. Her body was found 3 days later in a wooded area near Longview Lake in southern Jackson County (near Grandview, Missouri) - 18 to 20 miles from where she was abducted.[5]
Suspect charged
On the evening of June 6th, 2007 police arrested Edwin R. Hall, 26, of Olathe, Kansas. Hall was charged June 7, 2007 of premeditated first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping. Hall has no criminal record but has a juvenile record of assault. Juvenile records are sealed and as so not much is known about his prior offense. Hall, an orphan adopted at age seven, was returned to state custody at age fifteen after threatening the family's daughter with a knife. Hall also assaulted another boy by striking him in the head with a baseball bat, which may account for the juvenile record of assault. Hall's bond was set at $5 million.[6] Police do not believe Hall knew Miss Smith.
On Tuesday, July 10 Hall was charged with rape and aggravated sodomy, making him eligible for the death penalty. But Johnson County prosecutor Phill Kline said he had not yet decided if he will seek the death penalty. The $5 million bond was revoked due to these new charges.
Death
On June 6, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. local time, searchers discovered a body in a wooded area in Grandview, Missouri that was thought to be that of Kelsey Smith.[5] Police detectives reportedly found the body because of a cell phone ping that originated from the area on June 2.[3] Upon report of her death, www.findkelsey.com went offline, and was quickly remade into a dedication site. Cause of death was determined to be strangulation, reports of her being raped have not been refuted or confirmed.
National media attention
Beyond local Kansas City news affiliate coverage, the case has received prominent national media attention, including coverage by national news services FOXNews,[1] CNN,[7] MSNBC,[8] and the Today Show.
External links
- Kelsey's Army
- America's Most Wanted Profile of Kelsey Smith
- MyFoxKC
- City of Overland Park, Kansas - press release
- Findagrave Memorial Page
References
- ^ a b "Reward Offered in Search for Missing Kansas Teenager". FOXnews.com. 2007-06-04. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- ^ a b "Body Found Believed to be Missing Kansas Girl". ABCnews.com. 2007-06-06. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
- ^ a b "Police Look for Killer After Body of Missing Kansas Teen is Found". FOXnews.com. 2007-06-06. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
- ^ "Surveillance Video Shows Missing Kansas Teen Being Forced Into Car". FOXnews.com. 2007-06-06. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
- ^ a b Donley, Timothy (2007-06-06). "Kelsey Smith's body found, search for suspect not over". NBCactionnews.com. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- ^ "Suspect Arrested for Kidnapping and Murdering Kansas Teen Kelsey Smith". FOXnews.com. 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
- ^ "Police arrest suspect in missing teen case". CNN.com. 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
- ^ "Man arrested in abduction, death of teen". MSNBC.com. 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2007-06-07.