Murder of Kelsey Smith

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Kelsey Smith

Born May 3, 1989(1989-05-03)
Charleston, South Carolina
Died June 2, 2007 (aged 18)
Grandview, Missouri
Burial place Johnson County Chapel and Memorial Gardens
38°55′20.06″N -94°40′4.98″E / 38.9222389, -93.33195
Residence Overland Park, Kansas
Nationality Flag of the United States American
Education Shawnee Mission West
Website
KelseysArmy.org

Kelsey Ann Smith (May 3, 1989 – June 2, 2007) was an Overland Park, Kansas teenager who disappeared on June 2, 2007 and was murdered that evening. Her body was found near a lake in Missouri on June 6, 2007.[1]

Contents

[edit] 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 showed Kelsey purchasing a present for her boyfriend to celebrate their sixth month together. She then left 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 was strong evidence that Kelsey was abducted. Additional surveillance video from Target appeared 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.

[edit] Search

Police detectives reportedly found the body because of a cell phone ping that originated from the area on June 2[3] and a number of search areas was identified. On June 6, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. local time, searchers discovered her body in a wooded area near Longview Lake in southern Jackson County, Grandview, Missouri, 18 to 20 miles from where she was abducted.[5] Upon report of her death, www.findkelsey.com went offline, and was quickly remade into a dedication site. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation.

[edit] Suspect

(left) Images believed to be Edwin R. Hall from a surveillance camera; (right) Hall's mug shot
(left) Images believed to be Edwin R. Hall from a surveillance camera; (right) Hall's mug shot

On the evening of June 6th, police arrested 26 year old Edwin Roy "Jack" Hall of Olathe, Kansas. Hall was charged June 7 of premeditated first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping. Hall has no criminal record but has a juvenile record of assault. Hall, an orphan adopted at age seven, was returned to state custody at age 15 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. Police do not believe Hall knew Miss Smith. At the time of his arrest, he was married and the father of a four-year-old son.

On Wednesday, August 1, Hall was indicted by a Johnson County Grand Jury for murder, rape and aggravated sodomy, making him eligible for the death penalty. Johnson County prosecutor Phill Kline has decided to seek the death penalty for Hall.

Hall is currently incarcerated in the Johnson County, Kansas jail. He was arraigned via video hookup on June 7. Bond was set at US$5 million.[6] The next court date was the formal arraignment on June 14. The next court date was a preliminary hearing set for August 15. District Attorney Phill Kline is in charge of the case. Because the body was found in a different state, Eric F. Melgren, the United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the District of Kansas may pre-empt the Johnson County DA's jurisdiction over the case. However the jurisdiction—federal or state—is decided, the charges can lead to a death sentence.

[edit] 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] Nancy Grace, and the Today Show. Media Matters [[1]] in Kansas City, MO was responsible for acting as the media liaison for the Smith family.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Reward Offered in Search for Missing Kansas Teenager. FOXnews.com (2007-06-04). Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
  2. ^ a b Body Found Believed to be Missing Kansas Girl. ABCnews.com (2007-06-06). Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
  3. ^ a b Police Look for Killer After Body of Missing Kansas Teen is Found. FOXnews.com (2007-06-06). Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
  4. ^ Surveillance Video Shows Missing Kansas Teen Being Forced Into Car. FOXnews.com (2007-06-06). Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
  5. ^ Donley, Timothy (2007-06-06). Kelsey Smith's body found, search for suspect not over. NBCactionnews.com. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
  6. ^ Suspect Arrested for Kidnapping and Murdering Kansas Teen Kelsey Smith. FOXnews.com (2007-06-07). Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
  7. ^ Police arrest suspect in missing teen case. CNN.com (2007-06-07). Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
  8. ^ Man arrested in abduction, death of teen. MSNBC.com (2007-06-07). Retrieved on 2007-06-07.