Authorities say body found in Belton that of a female; no identification yet
By ROBERT A. CRONKLETON And BRAD COOPER
The Kansas City Star
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A Jackson County medical examiner has determined that the body found Friday afternoon in Belton by highway survey crews is that of a female, authorities said late this morning.
Detective Sgt. Brad Swanson of the Belton Police Department said that the medical examiner has not yet been able to determine the age, nationality or cause of death of the person.
Authorities hope to know later today whether the body is that of Kara Kopetsky, who disappeared the morning of May 4 after leaving Belton High School near where the body was found.
A crew surveying for the Missouri Department of Transportation found the body about 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon in thick brush near Route Y and U.S. 71.
The department knows of only one other missing girl one in her mid-teens who ran away two weeks ago. Swanson said the body that was found was not her.
Karas father, Mike Kopetsky, stood outside the Belton police station this afternoon as the media was briefed on the case. He said he expects to the wait out the rest of the afternoon with family.
We are all going to sit around together and comfort each other today, Kopetsky said. Hopefully we will get the answers soon enough. Im sure it will be hard waiting for them.
He was wearing a white T-shirt with a picture of his daughter.
