GUILTY MO - Kara Kopetsky, 17 in 2007; Jessica Runions, 21 in 2016; found deceased - *ARREST* #2

[Vail]

48th Witness Keith Todd Mushroom Hunter

4m
Keith Todd the mushroom hunter who found the girls remains in the woods in 2017 is now on the witness stand.

41m
Todd grew up on and near the property southwest of the intersection of 233rd and State Route Y. Not many people walk through the property - "it's pretty wooly," he said



35m
Yust's defense asked if he was trespassing and if he received a reward. He did receive a reward from FBI. Prosecutor asked, "Were you searching for a reward." Mushroom hunter: "No I was searching for mushrooms" Instead he found Kara and Jessica's remains


38m
About 20 yards inside an old fence near the edge of the woods, he sees something shiny and round. "Was it a mushroom?" Prosecutor Ben Butler asks. "No," Todd replies. "What was it?" "It was a skull, with the holes where the eyes would be staring back at me," he said


43m
The next witness is a mushroom hunter. He is talking about searching for mushrooms on April 3, 2017. "I found a skull.” Says he crawled through limbs. "When I got 5 feet away from it, I could see the hollow eyes of the skull looking back at me.”

35m
Todd said he left the woods immediately and called 911. On cross, Molly Hastings questions him about his knowledge of a reward in the Kopetsky case. On re-direct, Butler asks if he was looking for a reward that day.


34m
"No," Todd said. Butler asks what he was looking for. "Mushrooms." Butler asks what he found. "Kara and Jessie.


31m
Cpl. Justin Claiborne of the Cass County Sheriff's Office was the first officer on the scene, confirmed the object appeared to be a human skull, and marked the area off with crime scene tape.

--Recess--

 

[Vail]

Forensics on remains

49th Witness Melissa Beals, Toxicology and Biochemical Genetics Analystat Children's Mercy Hospital

She examined decomposed brain tissue taken from the skull of Jessica Runions. Only nicotine and caffeine were found. THC normally not found using this method of tissue analysis.

5m
Results of Jessica Runions toxicology from decomposed brain matter showed nicotene, no THC from marijuana which typically doesn't show up in this type of test.

51s
Under persistent cross-examination by defense attorney Matt Vigil, Beals that - her analysis didn't rule THC didn't exist in the sample, just that it didn't exist at a detectable level.

50th Witness Uttam Garg who is the Division Director of Laboratory Medicine and Director of Clinical Chemistry, Toxicology & Biochemical Genetics

57m
He said THC was not found when they tested Jessica Runions' remains.

54m
Children's Mercy Toxicology Director Dr. Garg testifies ideal tissue to test would be blood...but only had Jessica Runions' decomposed brain tissue which only showed nicotene and caffeine show up in that testing...but no THC from marijuana

53m
Dr. Garg said he's not surprised THC didn't show up in the testing even though there's testimony Jessica Runions smoked a joint the day she disappeared.

59m
Dr. Garg said he is not surprised due to a number of questions - first because of the seven months that had passed between Runions' death and her body's recovery.

51st Witness Dr. John Filippi Dentist/Forensic Odontologist
54m
Prosecution calls John Fillipe (sp), a forensic odontologist (dentist) based in Omaha. He compares dental x-rays taken before death to the same films taken after death to determine they are taken from the same individual.
28m

Dr. Filippi now going over dental records of Kara Kopetsky and how he used them in this process. Dr. Filippi said due to nature of remains he could not say it was "positively" Kopetsky, but "possible" because of many consistencies in the records and remains.

36m
Dr. Filippi examined Kara's skull with some teeth in it and some teeth recovered not in the skull. Replaced one tooth into socket where it had come out.

23m

Dr. Filippi now detailing the dental records of Jessica Runions. He says because of more information and better condition of dental remains, he was able to make a "positive" identification through dental remains of Runions.

34m
Dr. Filippi, due to the quality, limitations of evidence, not positive, rendered as possible

27m
Wires from orthodontics work and fillings helped positively identify Jessica Runions remains expert Doctor John Filippi testified
https://twitter.com/NorthCassHerald/status/1380951269880303616
52nd Witness Charity Davis, DNA expert from the FBI lab in Quantico, VA

23m
Bone submitted to FBI lab for Kara Kopetsky to come up with a DNA profile Charity Davis testifies @YustTrial

17m
DNA expert Charity Davis put records from unidentified human remains, the bone into data base, August 2, 2017 report, came back matching Kara Kopetsky to her parents

16m
Davis confirms the sample she was presented was positively identified as coming from Kara Kopetsky.

11m
Davis testifies she used DNA from a bone found in 2017 and compared it to samples from Kara Kopetsky's parents. Results found there was strong evidence the bone was Kara's. No questions from the defense.

 

[Vail]

53rd Witness Dr. Diane Peterson, former Jackson County Medical Examiner in 2017

42m
Prosecution calls Diane Peterson, MD, former medical examiner from the Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office. She is now Chief Medical Examiner with Johnson County, Kansas

31m
Dr. Diane Peterson who examined Kara Kopetsky and Jessica Runions' remains said after Kara's skull was found one of her investigators found a second skull which turned out to be Jessica's remains

23m
She notes there was no evidence of burial.

25m
Dr. Peterson...place where girls bodies put was more lush with vegetation from decomposition providing nutrients to the ground

5m
Pictures of bones recovered in the woods, the remains of Kara Kopetsky and Jessica Runions being shown in court.

1m
Because Kara disappeared in 2007 compared to Jessica in 2016, Kara's bones found in the woods are more weathered and have moss on them, compared to whiter bones from Jessica.


35m
Peterson: On April 3, 2017, "one of my investigators went to the scene, did initial recovery, took some photos before it got dark." The following day, "a second skull was found. At that point, I went to discuss how we would proceed with recovery.


22m
This exhibit (without the arrows) was shown to jurors. I added the red arrow to a photo of the exhibit to show the area where Dr. Peterson told jurors a vehicle could access the open field. The 2 yellow arrows represent where Kara and Jessica’s remains were found@KCTV5

33m
By the end of Tuesday, April 3 "we had determined a plan to conduct the recovery," which meant building a grid and using cadets and others to do the shoulder-to-shoulder grid search." #YustTrial

32m
Wednesday, April 4, was a rainy day, "so we had already decided we would not do anything on that day, but we returned on Thursday and Friday to complete the search," Peterson said. #YustTrial
·
26m
Origin point of bodies can be determined by the richness and lushness of the vegetation in those areas, Peterson said. "Markedly different from its surrounding areas." #YustTrial

25m
Liquid that comes from decomposing flesh serves as nutrients to soil, Peterson said. #YustTrial

21m
"All of the remains recovered were surface-scattered remains," Peterson said, indicating no attempt was made at burial in either case. #YustTrial
·
18m
At Ms. Runions' remains was a clump of hair. The hair was still contained in a hair tie, Peterson said. #yustrial

16m
Peterson said she has had other skeletonized cases where clothing has been found around the remains, shoes, socks, in some cases, the bones are still inside the socks. Not in either of these cases.

15m
Out of 205 human bones, only just above 50 of Kopetsky's bones were recovered. Similar number for Runions, Peterson said.
·
6m
Photos of bones next to GPS devices are now being shown to the jury. Peterson identifies rib bones, a clavicle, a piece of vertebra, mixed with non-human bones. A photo shows a mandible (portion of jawbone) later matched to Runions, which included dental work.

5m
Dr. Peterson testifies that there was no evidence of clothing with either body. Her teams found just more than 50 bones belonging to Kopetsky and a similar number of Runions' bones. There are 205 bones in the human body.

3m
Dr. Peterson asked how she was able to identify the bones as Kara's or Jessica's. She says when they bring bones back to the Medical Examiner's Office they sort the remains on two different tables based on appearance, to begin.

26m
Dr. Peterson, no broken bones recovered from Kara and Jessica's remains showing trauma, but gnawing on bones found from animals

15m
Can someone be strangled to death without breaking a bone? Dr. Peterson responds, "yes". Neck bones and cartilage which might show strangulation not recovered from either Kara or Jessica

15m
Peterson can't rule strangulation as a cause of death for either girl

6m
On cross-examination, Dr. Peterson said she doesn't have a cause of death for either Kara or Jessica

32m
Prosecutor Ben Butler, showing a photo of approximately 50 bones arranged in anatomical position on an exam table: "Does this photo show all that was recovered of Miss Kopetsky?" Diane Peterson: "Yes.

14m
Butler: "Doctor, can you rule out strangulation as the cause of death for Kara Kopetsky?" Peterson: "No." Butler: "Can you rule out strangulation as the cause of death for Jessica Runions?" Peterson: "No.

9m
"Thinking back to all of the (similar) cases I've had, I think all of them had clothing," Peterson says. Defense attorney Matt Vigil: "Why do you think you've found so little?" Peterson: "It could be that it wasn't there from the beginning, but I don't know that."

 

[Vail]

Day 6 recap:

Yust Trial, Day 6: Court hears from mushroom hunter who found remains of Kara Kopetsky, Jessica Runions

https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/yust-trial/day-6-of-yust-trial-focuses-on-evidence-expert-testimony

https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/yus...y-of-yust-trial-expected-to-focus-on-evidence

Also more details from phone call between kylr and his mom:

Outline - Read & annotate without distractions

“You haven’t done s—t for me, for real, it’s all been about f—ng Jessep, and I’m just sick of it. So give me the f—ng book, okay? I put up with you and all this other s—t, okay?” Yust said.

“No, killing a girl has nothing to do with your mom,” Robinson said.

Yust tells his mother he believes a lot of his insecurities with women come from abandonment issues he feels even now as an adult.

“If you look up all the studies they’ve done on all the people that do this s—t were lacking their mother. You understand that?

“So, you’re blaming it on me?” Robinson said.

“It completely affects the development of the human brain. Not only was I lacking you, but I had a dad around that was completely abusive,” Yust said.

“Yeah, well, you know what Kylr I’m really sad about that too,” Robinson said.

“Yeah well, look what happened because of it,” Yust said.

Yust’s grandfather, Alfred Yust, ended up taking a big part of his upbringing. Later in the video he describes feeling alone, and left behind. He talks about how neither his mother or father could be a stable or nurturing presence in his life.

“Your grandpa is a good man,” Robinson said.

“Well, sure he his, but you know a 65-year-old man can’t raise a kid that knows nothing about society. I’ve never even heard him say ‘I love you’ until I got locked up. There was no affection in my life. None at all. whatsoever,” Yust said.

Yust told his mother he remembers gaps in his childhood where she was not present. He tells her she neglected. him, and Yust recalled weekends he waited intently for his mother to pick him up.

“All those times I would have to sit in the front window of my house waiting for you to come pick me up with a bag packed full of clothes for the weekend, and all those times you didn’t show up — that was my grandpa’s fault?” Yust said.

“So that’s why you go out and kill a girl. That’s part of it. Give me a break.,” Robinson said.

“That’s part of it,” Yust said.

 

[Vail]

I just notice something that is really bugging me.

They didn't ask Crystal Taylor about Kylr's face when she met him initially, and whether she noticed burns after they got back from wherever they were for 45 mins (presumably torching the car). that seems like an important confirmation of the timeline, no?

 

[Scout87]

I just notice something that is really bugging me.

They didn't ask Crystal Taylor about Kylr's face when she met him initially, and whether she noticed burns after they got back from wherever they were for 45 mins (presumably torching the car). that seems like an important confirmation of the timeline, no?

I noticed that, as well. It’s important but in the big scheme of things, I don’t know that it will make that big of a difference in the jury’s decision-making process.

That phone call he had with his mother combined with the FBI tape and the testimony from all of his former friends and abused ex-girlfriends who survived his rage should put Kylr away for a very long time. On top of that, we also have cell records, the Facebook exchanges, the partygoers who witnessed his mood swings and erratic behavior, as well as toxicology reports, the gps info, the shirt found at the neighbors that Crystal said he hid, etc, etc.

You can never know what a jury will do, but I can’t see Kylr walking from this.

 

[Jewels53]

HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — Day six of the Kylr Yust trial went through most of Saturday. A collection of experts took the stand, but one witness recounted the moments he found the victim’s remains.

Cass County is rural, and a perfect location for mushroom hunting. It’s something Keith Todd does every spring.

“Just a lot of looking, a lot of walking, and you’ve got to cover a lot of ground,” Todd said.

On April 3, 2017, he went looking for morel mushrooms on a property he knew from growing up.

“Is it a place that’s frequented by many people?” prosecuting attorney Ben Butler asked Todd.

“No,” Todd said.

“Deer hunters or farmers?” Butler asked.

“No,” Todd said. “You can’t hardly walk through it. It’s pretty wooly.”

While walking around the area something caught his eye.

Kylr Yust Trial: Mushroom hunter takes the stand recounting discovery | FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports

On down in the article the defense is accusing the witness of wanting the reward money. He deny's that is the last thing on his mind.

 

[Jewels53]

HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — Day 6 of the Kylr Yust trial is expected to continue with testimony.

On day 5, prosecutors moved into the timeline after Jessica Runions was last seen through witnesses’ testimony and evidence. Jessep Carter’s wife, Crystal Taylor, testified that Yust summoned her husband up to Raytown in early September 2016 and recounted the hours up until Kylr Yust was arrested.

Crime scene and fire experts also went over the evidence collected from Yust’s arrests and the warrants served in the case. Professionals talked about Yust’s injuries and evidence found through the investigation.

Follow along with day 6 proceedings in the live blog below:

Kylr Yust trial: Prosecutors plan to call 10 witnesses on day 6

 

[Niner]

Monday, April 12th:
*Trial continues (Day 7) (@ 8:30am CT) – MO – Kara Elise Kopetsky (17) (last seen at Belton High, May 4, 2007, Belton; found by a mushroom hunter in rural Cass County near East 223rd & State Route Y on April 3, 2017) & Jessica S. Runions (21) (missing Sept. 8, 2016, Raymore; her car was found burned near Bannister & Blue River Rds. on Sept. 10, 2016. Found by mushroom hunters in rural Cass County near East 223rd & State Route Y on April 4, 2017) – *Kylr Charles Yust (18 in 2007/29/now 32) indicted (3/1/18) & arraigned (6/18/18) on 2 counts of 1st degree & 2 counts of abandonment of a corpse. Plead not guilty. $1M cash only bond. Originally charged with felony arson for burning Jessica’s car was dismissed on 10/5/17. Charges of 2 counts of abandonment of a corpse-dismissed on 3/4/21).
Trial began 4/5/21. Jury Selection started on 3/29/21 & ended on 3/31/21. Court will be held on Saturdays also. Held in Cass County & jurors from St. Charles County. Jurors will be sequestered throughout the trial (expected to last 3 weeks). Jury: 12 jurors & 3 alternates (12 women & 3 men). One alternate was released on 4/5/21.
Court info from 3/1/18 thru 3/11/21 & jury selection (3/31/21) & Day 1 thru Day 5 of trial (4/5 – 4/9/21) reference post #211 here:
MO - Kara Kopetsky, 17 in 2007; Jessica Runions, 21 in 2016; found deceased - *ARREST* #2
4/10/21 Saturday, Day 6 of Trial: State witnesses: 45) Det. Jason Findley from KCPD, executed search warrant on Yust' residence. Jury has left the room, but Det. Findley still being questioned by defense in front of the judge. Objection being argued outside the presence of the jury. Defense counsel Molly Hastings wants to question Findlay about a tip received in 2007 regarding a gold or brown station wagon in the vicinity of the woods where the bodies were found. Same or similar vehicle reported in the area in 2017. State objects because defense is attempting to connect crime scene with Jessep Carter, not Kylr Yust. Judge sustains. State recalls 46) Belton Det. Patrick McKarnin, lead detective. State recalls 47) FBI Special Agent John Hauger. Discussed Jessica & Yust's cell records. Hauger didn't receive 2007 phone records until 2020. 48) Keith Todd, mushroom hunter who found the girls remains in the woods on 4/3/17. 49) Melissa Beals, Toxicology & Biochemical Genetics Analystat at Children's Mercy Hospital (for Jessica). 50) Uttam Garg who is the Division Director of Laboratory Medicine * Director of Clinical Chemistry, Toxicology & Biochemical Genetics (for Jessica) 51) Dr. John Filippi, Dentist/Forensic Odontologist (for Kara & Jessica). 52) Charity Davis, DNA expert from the FBI lab in Quantico, VA. (for Kara). 53) Dr. Diane Peterson, former Jackson County Medical Examiner in 2017 & now Chief ME with Johnson County, KS. (for Kara & Jessica). Trial continues on Monday, 4/12/21.

 

[Jewels53]

HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — On Saturday, testimony for the state was complete. The jury heard from the mushroom hunter who found both Kara Kopetsky and Jessica Runions remains. They also heard from a number of crime scene, DNA, and analysts about the state the girls were in when they were found.

Through the day the defense peppered in information about Yust’s half-brother Jessep Carter and the idea he may be someone to look at instead of Yust. They asked investigators if Carter was looked at as a suspect and even brought up the topic of a gold station wagon. The defense claims this car may be connected to Carter all the way back in 2007, around the time of Kopetsky’s disappearance.

Evidence about Carter, an encoded note, and the gold station wagon are not approved to present to the jury at this time. Judge William Carter said on the first day of trial there would be a hearing related to this information and if it could be presented to the jury, but there is no word on when that hearing may be.

Monday, it is the defense’s turn to present their case, as they can, to the jury to claim Kylr Yust’s innocence.

Kylr Yust Trial Live Blog: The defense begins their case

This has a live blog if you want to follow along.

another tweeter
Sherae Honeycutt@sheraehoneycutt
Day 7 of the #YustTrial begins with the defense presenting their case, as they can, to the jury. Follow along here.

 

[Vail]

Day 7

THE TRIAL OF KYLR YUST: Recapping first week of testimony as trial continues Saturday
https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/yust-trial
Kylr Yust trial: Prosecutors plan to call 10 witnesses on day 6

https://twitter.com/MattFlenerKMBC
https://twitter.com/SarahPlakeTV
https://twitter.com/NorthCassHerald
https://twitter.com/EmilyRittman

 

[Vail]

26m
Judge Collins saying he needs to talk to Yust about something the defense is going to bring up

22m
Judge Collins tells defense attorneys he is not asking for a decision right now on whether Yust testifies. He just wants the attorneys to have ample time to discuss with Yust about his right to testify.

25m
Collins: You're presumed to be innocent. You have the right not to testify.. Want to make sure we discuss this now.. I assume probably your attorneys are going to talk to you about your right to testify.. Want to make sure we talk about it.

17m
Defense/prosecution now going back/forth about specific exhibits the defense plans to present regarding Jessep Carter. Turlington says they want jail guards to testify about what happened w/Carter's suicide. The jury (I don't believe) is in the courtroom yet.

19m
Defense argues that the arson at Uncle Paul's house and his suicide don't mean Carter is guilty... "At this point we at least can put on the jail bars to say they found him in his cell, committed suicide, and i think they can get into what they found in his cell..

18m
Defense atty Turlington argues since Crystal Taylor was put on the stand, that opened the door for them to have guards testify about what they found in Carter cell. State says the defense brought this up first in their opening statement, "bell can't be un-rung."

16m
Judge says he wants to hear what the guards have to say. Defense also has deposition of Alfred Yust, who passed away. State objects to that since he is not alive, that majority of his deposition is part of defense testimony. "Not proper to put in front of jury.

13m
Defense wants to read the deposition of Al Yust, Kylr Yust's grandfather. Prosecution now objecting to letting the deposition of Al Yust (deceased) be read into the record. Judge allowing the deposition to be read into the record.

11m
Al Yust's deposition was taken July 30, 2019. Employee from Missouri public defender's office is reading the deposition from the witness stand.


15m
Jim Riplinger, MO public defender, is reading deposition of Alfred Yust.

13m
Alfred Yust's son, Kenny, is Kylr Yust's dad

1m
Yust's deposition talking to a Belton police detective. Belton police asked Yust to give them a timeline. Between 7:00-8:30, ate breakfast, had coffee, on May 4, 2007. 8:30-12:00 Worked on his car 12:30 left for St. Joseph Carondolet nursing home to visit sister-in-law.

2m
12:45 arrived at nursing home. 2:45-3:00 left nursing home 3:20 back home 3:20-5:00 rested. 6:00 watched local news/wheel of fortune. 10:00 watched local news. 10:30 showered brushed teeth. 11:00 went to bed.


2m
Kylr followed his grandfather to the nursing home. 1:25 in the afternoon. Defense: Do you recall "Kylr seemed to be in a normal upbeat mood," Yust; I don't remember. Defense: Any reason to lie? Al: No

2m
Kylr came to house about 11:30 and asked for gas for his truck. Went to Conoco station at Bannister and Raytown Rd. Filled the gas tank with 8-10 gallons for Kylr. Kylr had a grey/green Nissan truck. Told them Kylr came back and went to nursing home.

9m
Alfred says he doesn't lie because his family was tough

8m
Alfred said they went to Conoco at Bannister & Raytown, said he "probably" told police that. He said he put in 8-10 gals of gas in Kylr's truck. At the time he talked to police it was around 2010. Kylr was driving grayish truck. Thinks he got a receipt, showed police

8m
Alfred said Kylr drove himself to the nursing home that day

7m
Said Kylr stayed at the nursing home and left around 1:45. Kylr seemed to be in normal upbeat mood. At the time of his deposition, he didn't remember saying that

7m
Alfred said he didn't know of any reason to do anything to Kara. Said Kylr came by his house around 3x a week.

6m
Now we're moving on to when Alfred talked to police about Runions disappearance, Sept 2016. He faintly remembers going to south patrol and talking to cops on cam. Asked him about Kylr's whereabouts 9/10/16. Alfred doesn't remember detail

2m
Al Yust testimony about Jessica Runions. Says he went to South Patrol of KCPD. Last saw Kylr Sept. 9, 2016 around 10 p.m. at night. Friday Kylr/Al Yust woke up about 6 a.m. Al Yust took Kylr to work on Sept. 9, 2016. Kylr's truck was broken down.​

4m
Alfred had said he last saw Kylr on Sept 9, Friday. Both woke up 6am, he took Kylr to work, Extreme Bumpers, since his truck was broken down. He said Kylr called to say he finished work early, he picked Kylr up around 9,10am to come back home.

4m
Alfred said on Sept 8 they woke up around 6, took him to work at 8, picked him up at 4pm. Went bowling around 430 & came back home around 9, didn't see him again til Sept 9

2m
Sept. 9, 2016 - 9:00 Kylr called to tell Al Yust to say he finished work early. 10:30-11:00 a.m. went to pick up Kylr. Al Yust told police Kylr was home all day, according to his deposition. CONTEXT: Al Yust will not be able to testify since he passed away

2m
Sept. 8, 2016 (day Jessica Runions went missing). Al Yust deposition -- Kylr got up about 6:00 a.m. Kylr was at work 8:00-4:00 Al Yust went bowling. He didn't see Kylr again until morning of Sept. 9, 2016.​

2m
Alfred told police Kylr might be too scared to do anything but that Alfred would've told police if he thought something happened. Was asked if he has any memory problems, Alfred said not that he knows of

2m
Alfred remembers police had come a few times to look for things at his house. Defense is done reading the deposition

1m
State says the defense was asking Alfred questions in a leading manner so they're objecting... I can't hear what else she's saying very well. Judge says he's NOT excluding Alfred's deposition.

40s
State was objecting also because Alfred said he couldn't remember a lot of things but Judge says we've heard from other witnesses who don't remember things very well due to how old this case is.

7m
Defense asked to redact several portions of the deposition. Prosecutors argued redacted portions should be shown. Judge will allow jurors to see all of it. Jurors are being asked to come into the courtroom now for first witnesses

 

[lisette]

Thank you,Vail, for these updates!

 

[Vail]

54th Witness Brett Bishop (def)

2m
Defense calls Brett Bishop. Bishop lives in Raymore. In 2007, Bishop lived in Belton. Went to Belton High School, was friends with Kara through school. He learned Kara Kopetsky was missing first through school, then the media. Bishop did not know Kylr Yust.

2m
Bishop remembers finding out about Kara's disappearance. He didn't know Yust, has never talked to Yust. Bishop & Kara were good friends when younger but kind of grew apart in high school

1m
Bishop remembers Kara calling asking for a ride, he said no because he didn't want to leave his house, he said this happened May 4, 2007 evening..? I'm trying to make sure I'm hearing this correctly. He said Kara didn't call from her actual number, it was a diff number

28m
He was at home. Kara wanted to get a ride from Lakewood apartments to Cimarron Trail. This was after dark on May 4, 2007. He declined to give her a ride.

28m
Bishop said he cannot recall if it was a different number Kara called from. Police never asked for his phone. Bishop gave police permission to access his phone records. But he doesn't know what they did after.

28m
Bishop said a couple of years later, another detective from Belton PD contacted him. On prosecution cross/ex. Bishop said he could not be certain whether the call was on May 4. Prosecution : Phone records do not show call received from Kara on May 4.

29m
State cross - Bishop remembers talking to police a couple years later but can't confirm if the phone call was in fact May 4, 2007 in the evening. State (Butler) confirms that Bishop's phone records don't reflect that call. Defense re: Asks Bishop to confirm Kara called

29m
That was interesting to hear. Bishop is claiming Kara called him from another phone number on the evening of May 4, 2007 but can't be totally for sure the time, date. Next witness

 

[Vail]

55th Witness Deborah Heflin (def)

28m
Deborah Heflin on stand. She lived within walking distance of Belton High School now on the stand. She often saw Kara Kopetsky walking up/down her street.

28m
Hefling said she saw Kara walking to & from school, walking in group. "I dont pay much attention." Hefling didn't know Kara personally, didn't even know who she was. "I know her when I saw her on the news."

28m
Hefling said a few yrs later she saw Kara was missing & realized she was one of the kids she saw walking to and from school. Defense hands Hefling the report she filed May 9, 2010. Hefling confirms that's the report.

22m
On May 9, 2010, Heflin told police said she saw Kara May 4, 2007 between 11:30 and 12:00. Was not the normal time she saw Kara Kopetsky. Heflin said she Kara "was crying, on the phone." "She walked past me."

27m
According to the report, Hefling told police she saw Kara May 4, 2007 between 1130am-12 - not normal time she saw Kara. Hefling said she was distraught, crying on the phone.

26m
Hefling remembers Kara wearing 'hobo bag,' a little vest, some jeans. Hefling remembers Kara walking up the hill & a car coming by right afterward.. it was a 4 door sedan. "If my memory is right it was a cream color." But maybe a door/trunk was a diff color

23m
Heflin testimony: Kara walked up the hill. A four-door sedan, a cream color car came by. It had a different color door or trunk. Something was different. "I did not see who was in the car," Heflin said. It sounded like boys. "I would say 4 that I saw."

25m
Hefling says she thought the car driving by was full of boys due to the 'loud sound,' like loud music. The boys drove up north on Lacy toward where Kara was walking. Hefling says she heard a 'blood curdling scream.'

23m
Heflin now breaking down crying about seeing the car come up to Kara. Prosecutor: "What did you hear?" Heflin: "Blood curdling scream."

19m
On cross/ex. Heflin said she was distracted with kids that day. Told police she was going through a pretty nasty divorce. Prosecutor: You can't tell this jury it was Kara. I didn't know at the time it was her. After seeing the news a few years later, it was her.

23m
State cross - Asking Hefling to confirm that she was distraught at the time she thought she saw Kara because she was wrangling two kids, going thru divorce. "I didn't know at the time it was her but after seeing news years later, I knew it was her," Hefling said.

22m
State is asking Hefling to confirm that as she was trying to get her kids in the car she really had the time to see this person but report it yrs later to the police

 

[Vail]

56th Witness Alfred Yust (dec'd, testomony by deposition read by defense)

22m
Next witness: Alfred Yust by way of deposition. *Tim* (not Jim) Riplinger will again stand in for Alfred. This time the jury will hear it. (posted upthread in #232)

8m
State asking Riplinger if he was in the room for any other depositions other than Alfred's. Riplinger says no, that he did not direct Alfred how to answer the questions. Defense redirect: Would you ever tell witness what to say during a deposition? Riplinger said no.

1m
Alfred Yust's deposition read into the record. Deposition is admitted into evidence. Ben Butler now asking questions of Riplinger. Butler: "You had contact with Alfred Yust?" "You told him how to answer the questions at that deposition, didn't you? R: "No."​

7m
State (Butler) drilling Riplinger about whether he told Alfred what to say. Riplinger said all he did was tell Alfred what to expect, to tell the truth. State: But you don't remember what you told him on the way home? Asked that a couple times.

1m
Riplinger: "I told him the format of what was going to happen." Butler: "What did you tell him on the way home." R: "I don't remember specifically."​

1m
B: "But, you remember what you said on the way?" R: "Yeah, I generally remembered. And about what his answers was going to be." Quick, strong cross/ex. of the Missouri public defender's employee about his interaction with Alfred Yust by Ben Butler.

 

[Vail]

57th Witness Akanimoh Akah Jackson County Corrections Sergeant
Jury is not present

4m
Hearing from Jax Co jail guard Akaninoh Akah. Worked the nite shift in 2018, familiar w/ Jessep Carter. Was on duty when Carter hung himself in his cell, between 330-430am on Sept 18 2018

3m
Akah testified he had trouble getting door open. Something jammed in the door

2m
Akah testifies Jessep Carter was not on suicide watch. But the area Carter was staying was for mental health watch.

3m
Akah was doing rounds, checking on inmates. Around 4:21am he saw white sheet hanging inside cell, was 'unusual'. He moved closer, saw Carter hanging. Signaled to his colleague, tried to open door, was difficult to open, said something was blocking door

2m
Carter was in a single-man cell. In previous rounds, Akah said Carter was in his room alone. No other inmates allowed in rooms. Colleague tried to do CPR.

2m
Akah said at that point Carter was not on suicide watch, but the wing Carter was in was designated for mental health watch

9s
Akah on cross/ex.: Testifies in the area where Carter was staying only one inmate could get out to recreate at a time. Akah testifies it is a restricted area. Each inmate is in their cell for duration of day with only one hour out.

1m
State cross: Do you find sometimes when you guys are doing searches of peoples cells notes they pass to each other? Akah said that happens in gen pop area, find a way to pass notes. State: Is it possible that inmates are finding ways to get around the rules?

1m
Akah said it's a restricted area but inmates do have interactions w/ other inmates, can talk to each other. Defense redirect: These inmates are only allowed out by themselves, they eat in their cell, locked in cell 23 hrs a day. Akah confirms.

 

[Vail]

58th Witness Lt. John Baldree, Jackson County Detention Center Internal Affairs Unit

20m
Lt. John Baldree, Jackson County Detention Center Internal Affairs Unit, now on the stand. He investigated major incidents. He investigated Jessep Carter's suicide. He wrote a report. Testified Jessep Carter was in a one-man cell.

18m
Baldree now talking about exhibit N-1. Photograph of notepad with writing and other markings on it. Defense exhibit 2. Notepad, pencil. Same note. Close proximity to a bible.

16m
Baldree now looking at defense exhibits 3, 4, 5, 6. Pictures of the bible found in Jessep Carter's cell. Different pages. Baldree said it was not analyzed by anyone in Jackson County Corrections or anyone in law enforcement.

19m
Valdry says Carter had a bible in the cell, pieces of paper stuffed in the bible's pages like bookmarks

17m
Says Crystal Taylor, Carter's wife, picked up some of Carter's clothing, a check. She asked for his bible but it wasn't released to her. Nothing further.

17m
Baldree testifies he released property to Crystal Taylor, Jessep Carter's wife. Paper check and some articles of clothing. Baldree said he did not release the bible to Taylor.

5m
Prosecution: The only purpose the defense wants to utilize them for is these specific exhibits. Judge: "I'm trying to figure out what the relevance is to things that are found in Mr. Carter's jail cell."

16m
State says the only reason the defense wants to call up the jail guards is to talk about this supposed encrypted note found in Carter's cell, which they have multiple objections to. Judge agrees he doesn't understand the relevance of jail guards.
​

5m
Turlington: The state did not want us to get into anything about this in their case. Their case got into this matter. The state had Crystal Taylor testify about what caused Mr. Carter to hang himself.

14m
Defense says it's their right to rebutt the state's evidence. Said the state brought it up first by having Taylor testify. Defense says what Carter left in his cell was very unusual, he wrote things in code but it was never investigated. "These items were destroyed
​

5m
Prosecution: he was distraught about how it affected him because he was a witness against his brother. Defense: This is a very unusual thing to leave in your cell.

5m
Turlington says they have a defense expert to testify she believes the note found in Jessep Carter's cell was written in code.

13m
Defense says the coded note in Carter's note is relevant because it points to Carter being responsible for killing multiple people. They want to bring in a person to talk about the coded note

((They don't even have proof he is the one that wrote it because it doesn't even exist anymore!))

5m
Prosecutor Julie Tolle: In Ms. Turlington's opening statement, she specifically went through three points. One statement: You would be asked who else would have done it. That puts on the state, the reality of having to address what happened to Mr. Carter.

11m
State points out that defense's code expert will testify part of the encrypted note could say a variety of things such as "I kill for G," which could stand for "god" "gooses." Or it could mean something else. So state argues this shouldn't be included. Judge agrees.

10m
Defense wants Billy Bayes to testify, someone else they say could be responsible for Kara's murder, not Yust.

6m
Prosecution: Defense is trying to focus on Jessep Carter when really in reality it is Kylr Yust on trial. Defense: We are trying to introduce the evidence from the cell.

7m
Judge Collins rules he is not going to allow the jury to hear the testimony of the Jackson County jail employees about the contents found in Jessep Carter's jail cell, including a note written in code.

7m
Defense Attorney: Roeland and Cindy Smith (sp?) have not shown up. They have not shown up. They have not complied with their subpoenas.

 

[Vail]

59th Witness Billy Bayes
Jury not present

12m
Billy Bayes is now on the stand -- without the jury. His name surfaced as a suspect in Kara Kopetsky's disappearance. His patrol officer and the FBI told him about this.

12m
Bayes lived in Cleveland Mo in 2007. His parole officer and cops talked to him about Kara's disappearance. People have accused him of saying he's involved in her death. Defense: Do you know Joseph Stotch (?). Bayes says no.

11m
Defense: Is it your testimony that you have never stated to Stotch that u were at a party with Kopetsky, that she was given drugs, that she OD'd on meth? State objects, judge asks defense to rephrase. Defense: Did u ever say u were there when she OD'd? Bayes says no.

6m
Defense now asking questions about Billy Bayes statements about Kara Kopetsky's disappearance. Bayes testifies he had nothing to do with her disappearance.

10m
Defense keeps asking Bayes if he ever told this Stotch guy that he was there when Kara died, that he disposed of her body, that she was put in his car. Bayes says no ma'am, no ma'am. Did you ever tell him that her body was disposed of in rural area? No ma'am

6m
"Today is not going to be a super full day," Kylr Yust lead defense attorney Sharon Turlington said. Defense: 16 witnesses lined up Tuesday. Defense scheduled to finish sometime Wednesday afternoon. Judge: Court will start at 12:30 with witness testimony.

10m
Bayes continues to deny that he's ever said anything about being involved in her death.

9m
This Stotch guy is flying in today to testify tomorrow. Bayes continued to deny he even knows this guy.

6m
Judge Collins asking about witnesses who have not arrived. Turlington: We are checking in the witness room to see if they are here.

9m
Judge says no reason to bring jury back until after lunch. Defense says they have 3 live witnesses today, 16 witnesses tomorrow, will finish up Wed.

1m
The defense's case has started with a sputter. - Items of evidence from Jessep Carter's jail cell won't be allowed for jury. - Two witnesses haven't shown. - The jury has only heard from three defense witnesses this morning.

-- Break --

 

[Vail]

60th Witness Cindy Smith (def)
Jury not present

24m
Cindy Smith, a witness who did not show earlier, is now here.

20m
Smith testifies about Jessep Carter and Anthony Armstrong drugging her

16m
I believe Smith said this all happened before Runions went missing in 2016.

23m
At the time, she got out of jail, went to her cousin Anthony's house in Lone Jack. Same Anthony's house that Taylor testified about. They would party, do drugs. They were getting high, she needed to go to her mom's in Warrensburg, needed Anthony to take her.

20m
Smith: When I got there, Jessep and Anthony were there. We were getting high. She testifies Anthony took her to Warrensburg from Lone Jack. She was high. She remembers nodding in/out. Driving for a very long time. She remembers it taking longer than it should

22m
Anthony driving her to her mom's, she was pretty high at the time so it's hazy, she was nodding in and out. Driving for "long time" thinking it's taking longer than it should. Remembers fields, didnt make sense.

18m
Smith testifies she is now four years sober. Testified what they gave her wasn't hitting her like what she thought she was taking. She remembers cornfields. Tall grass. She believes she was assaulted that night.

20m
She was sore in certain areas. She believes it happened in the car. State has no questions. Smith is done.

13m
Now, defense and prosecution are going back and forth about Cindy Smith's testimony. State objecting to testimony about Cindy Smith, since she was drugged. State says testimony is irrelevant.

13m
Judge will wait to hear from another witness before deciding Smith's testimony.

19m
Defense has no further witnesses. But state objects to the jury hearing Smith's testimony because she doesn't remember much, there is nothing relevant, asking that it be excluded. Judge says he's trying to figure that out himself

18m
Defense said they need to lay out the situation w/ Anthony and Carter. They don't have anyone else to testify today

11m
I missed it, but after talking with
@KMBC
photographer Mark Midgorden who was in the courtroom, he said the defense tried to get the case thrown out this morning saying the prosecution didn't meet its burden of proof. The judge denied it. The case moved on.