Arrest Made In Kansas Kidnap-Slay Case

Police Arrest Man, 26, In Abduction And Murder Of 18-Year-Old Kelsey Smith

(CBS/AP)  A man seen on surveillance video leaving a store shortly before a teenager was abducted in the parking lot has been arrested, hours after her body was found in a park, authorities said.

Edwin R. Hall, 26, was expected to be charged Thursday morning with premeditated first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping, Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass said.

Kelsey Smith, 18, had been missing since Saturday night, when she went to a Target store in this Kansas City suburb to buy a gift for her boyfriend.

Surveillance video showed her being forced into her car around 7:10 p.m., and the car drove off. It was found in a nearby mall parking lot about two hours later.

Douglass said Hall appeared to be the same person shown in the video leaving the Target soon after Smith. He was wearing a white T-shirt, sneakers, shorts and a goatee.

"This community has lost a vibrant and promising life and a family has suffered unimaginable tragedy," said Phill Kline, prosecutor for Johnson County, Kan.

Police said Hall's vehicle matched the description of a dark mid-1970s Chevrolet pickup that was seen entering the Target parking lot shortly after Smith's car.

"I want to again express my condolences to the Smith family," Douglass said. "I realize that this is not the preferred conclusion. While we cannot give them their daughter back, we can at least give them justice."

Douglass said police had received more than 500 tips in the case and had questioned numerous people, including Hall, who was arrested at the end of his interview Wednesday.

Douglass said there was no evidence that Hall and Smith knew each other. He declined to offer a motive for the attack or specify whether investigators had determined that Smith was killed in Kansas, where the murder charge was to be filed.

Police found Smith's body in a wooded area near Grandview, Mo., about 20 miles east of the Target store. Authorities did not say how she died.

"As I understand she was found at a wooded area, but I can't say whether she was directly concealed by bushes," Douglass told reporters.

Officers had been searching the lake area since Tuesday after tracing signals from Smith's cell phone. Investigators isolated two signals from an area in south Kansas City, Mo.

Before a memorial service Wednesday evening, Smith's father, Greg Smith, thanked the hundreds of volunteers and everyone else involved in the search for his daughter.

Smith remembered his daughter as a young woman "scrubbed in sunshine," reports CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers.

"She could walk into a room full of strangers and walk out with a room full of friends," Smith told the gathering, fighting tears.

"Her excitement and passion for life was unmatched," he said. "She lived more in 18 years than many people do with a great deal more time."

After his daughter's body was found, Kimberly Kincade, 39, was one of only a few people who remained at the makeshift staging area for searchers in the Target parking lot, surrounded by stacks of fliers and cases of water and soda.

"The person who is going to keep us the strongest is Kelsey," Kincade said, fighting tears. "She's up there looking down and saying, 'I know this is bad, and I know that I'm not there with you anymore. I can't hold you, and I can't hug you. But both of my arms are wrapping around you, and I'm there with you."'

[tim308-2009]

mdc76082 if you had the smallest shred of personal integrity you would not exploit this tragedy into your bully pulpit for that impossible fantasy called atheism.

This is a time for the rest of us who do have hearts and some sense of decency, to be supportive of the family, to grieve in the loss of a young woman who could have been any of our sister or daughter.

Without apology, I will be praying to my God that justice will be served. And if in fact this character in custody is the guy who did the crime, may justice be swift and true.

[mdc76082]

The only reason religion in all it's shapes and forms has survived the test of time is from FEAR and IGNORANCE. Fear that there isn't some kind of a reward for living this mundane existence, and ignorance for not knowing any better and believing the cart should go before the horse. We'll all find out in the end whose right and whose been swindled.

[mdc76082]

roseblo - boo "f*****g hoo! If you don't want to do the time, then don't do the crime. It's not messed up. Simply, don't break the law. Your son is just one less influential druggie off the street that won't be seducing a kid into that kind of behavior. He's where he belongs. Now for this 26 yr old...ha...torture would be so kind of an ending. Simply put. He took one of the most valuable things from this world that cannot be replaced...a human life. That single life will never, ever come back. He should pay the ultimate consequence of giving his life for that reason. He's not going to be rehabilitated, he's not going to turn over a new leaf...blah...blah...his life SHOULD be ended for taking something so valuable and precious as an innocent life. His life is now valued at WORTHLESS. End of story.

[tonyh41]

Thank you Roseblo; I agree.

[jerckisdead]

Roseblo, I completely agree with you. It's very messed up that your son is in prison for drugs. I bet the drug was marijuana. It's sick how horrible the consequences are for something that grows wild and is way less harsh then cigarettes that are legal. I don't think we should be feeding murderers, rapist, or molesters with our tax dollars. I think these people should be put to death, every single one of them regardless of intoxication or mental illness. I have been reading up on this story since I heard about it. It's hard to believe this guy has a 4 year old son and a wife. I'm very curious as to how she died and I have not read anywhere that she was sexually asaulted. Maybe Edwin should feel the pain of being sexually assaulted by a broom handle right up his a$$. Sick sick people we have in this world. ***!!! I feel so bad for Kelsey's family.

[roseblo]

I know that this Animal named *Edwin R. Hall will be tortured 4-ever. Our justice system is so messed up especially in cases like this. My ONLY Son is in prison here in kansas and he recieved a 28 yr sentence BUT he didnt have to kill to get it, he doesnt even have a chance for parole in 25yrs like this guy, my Sons charges are all over drugs ...DRUGS....not MURDER ! How many people have to die and see the system give these animals 25-life ? Yet Parents suffer when thier kids make mistakes or associated with someone into drugs and get 25-90 yrs for NOT killing a soul !?! Why doesnt this seem right ?Edwin will get his just desserts...I heard everyone is just waiting on him in the PRISON system ! Dont forget Edwin prisoners have televisions in thier cells and all they got is time to watch every single NEWS broadcast ! And for all those ppl fighting over IF THERE IS OR ISNT A GOD ...this isnt the time to vent it! This is a time to join together and bow our heads pray...shed a tear...FOR KELSY AND HER FAMILY ! My Heart goes out to you and yours it just isnt normal for Parents to bury children anytime, anywhere.

[roseblo]

I know that this Animal named *Edwin R. Hall will be tortured 4-ever. Our justice system is so messed up especially in cases like this. My ONLY Son is in prison here in kansas and he recieved a 28 yr sentence BUT he didnt have to kill to get it, he doesnt even have a chance for parole in 25yrs like this guy, my Sons charges are all over drugs ...DRUGS....not MURDER ! How many people have to die and see the system give these animals 25-life ? Yet Parents suffer when thier kids make mistakes or associated with someone into drugs and get 25-90 yrs for NOT killing a soul !?! Why doesnt this seem right ?Edwin will get his just desserts...I heard everyone is just waiting on him in the PRISON system ! Dont forget Edwin prisoners have televisions in thier cells and all they got is time to watch every single NEWS broadcast ! And for all those ppl fighting over IF THERE IS OR ISNT A GOD ...this isnt the time to vent it! This is a time to join together and bow our heads pray...shed a tear...FOR KELSY AND HER FAMILY ! My Heart goes out to you and yours it just isnt normal for Parents to bury children anytime, anywhere.

[tonyh41]

HHusted: I am not blaming what you call God. I am just saying in your fantasyland, he was not there. All that God stuff is fantasy make-believe. If God is really omnipotent and omniscient as you followers tend to believe, this would never have happened. You say God will not interfere unless he is requested to do so---don't you think the parents prayed for no harm to ever come to their daughter ever??? Everything you say is contridictory---you have been religiously brainwashed by our society. My brain is just stronger than that.

[mtredhawk200]

Bear spray, pepper spray!!! Every woman should carry it.

[ayla45-2009]

To the family, the love will always be there and keeps you connected to your daughter, cherish the memories.