KARA KOPETSKY & JESSICA RUNIONS: Missouri vs. Kylr Yust for 2007 murder of Kopetsky & 2016 murder of Runions *GUILTY* (2 Viewers)

According to documents filed Monday in Cass County Circuit Court, Oklahoma-based DNA Solutions must be allowed to access skeletal remains for both Kara Kopetsky and Jessica Runions, whose remains were found in rural Cass County in 2017.

Documents also say DNA Solutions must be allowed to test hair recovered from a white SUV in 2013.

All testing must be done at the DNA Solutions lab in Oklahoma, according to the documents. The evidence must be returned to the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office and Belton Police Department by April 30.

Kylr Yust attorneys granted motion to retest some evidence

Attorneys for Kylr Yust were granted a motion to retest some physical evidence ahead of his double murder trial in Cass County, set to begin in July.

www.kshb.com

Jury selection for the trial is set to begin on July 22. Jurors will be brought in from St. Charles County, which is just outside of St. Louis. Once the jury is set, the trial will begin the following Monday.

Judge sets trial date for accused killer Kylr Yust

CASS COUNTY, Mo. — On Thursday Cass County judge officially set a trial date for accused killer Kylr Yust. Jury selection for the trial is set to begin on July 22. Jurors will be brought in from S…

fox4kc.com

 

[Kimster]

I'll be watching these cases! Thanks @kdg411

 

[Guess Who]

According to documents filed Monday in Cass County Circuit Court, Oklahoma-based DNA Solutions must be allowed to access skeletal remains for both Kara Kopetsky and Jessica Runions, whose remains were found in rural Cass County in 2017.

Documents also say DNA Solutions must be allowed to test hair recovered from a white SUV in 2013.

All testing must be done at the DNA Solutions lab in Oklahoma, according to the documents. The evidence must be returned to the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office and Belton Police Department by April 30.

Kylr Yust attorneys granted motion to retest some evidence

Attorneys for Kylr Yust were granted a motion to retest some physical evidence ahead of his double murder trial in Cass County, set to begin in July.

www.kshb.com

Jury selection for the trial is set to begin on July 22. Jurors will be brought in from St. Charles County, which is just outside of St. Louis. Once the jury is set, the trial will begin the following Monday.

Judge sets trial date for accused killer Kylr Yust

CASS COUNTY, Mo. — On Thursday Cass County judge officially set a trial date for accused killer Kylr Yust. Jury selection for the trial is set to begin on July 22. Jurors will be brought in from S…

fox4kc.com

I'm glad they are allowing the retesting, but i sure would like to know how that will help explain away the facts that he was the last person to be with both of them, they were both found on property he was familiar with, his face was all burnt up after Jessica's car was found burnt...that's just off the top of my head. There's so much more.

 

[kdg411]

Per public court records the jury trial for Kylr Yust is still scheduled for July 27th, 2020 @ 0900. The jury will be polled and tranported from St. Charles County to Cass County for the duration of the 10 day trial.

 

[Guess Who]

Per public court records the jury trial for Kylr Yust is still scheduled for July 27th, 2020 @ 0900. The jury will be polled and tranported from St. Charles County to Cass County for the duration of the 10 day trial.

They will be stuck in Harrisonville, MO. Oh, joy

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Kylr Yust lawyers request delay in murder trial, citing COVID-19

Attorneys for accused double murderer Kylr Yust filed a motion this week asking for a delay in his trial, arguing the COVID-19 pandemic has "seriously hampered" their ability to provide counsel and interview potential witnesses.

www.kshb.com

Kylr Yust lawyers request delay in murder trial, citing COVID-19

Attorneys for accused double murderer Kylr Yust filed a motion this week asking for a delay in his trial, arguing the COVID-19 pandemic has "seriously hampered" their ability to provide counsel and interview potential witnesses.

In the motion, filed in Cass County on Tuesday, Yust’s St. Louis-based attorneys say they have been under stay-at-home orders for more than two months. On March 16, they were advised to self-quarantine after a co-worker was tested for the virus, according to the filing.

In addition to complications caused by the pandemic, his lawyers also argue they did not receive a police report regarding a witness who came forward in 2013 to provide information on another suspect, whose vehicle was later searched by the FBI, until January 2020. The reports were only found when the Belton Police Department cleaned out an old desk and contacted the prosecution, according to the filing.

"The police failed to fully investigate the information provided and never even attempted to interview the suspect and other witnesses named in the reports," the filing says.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Kylr Yust trial delayed, new date not yet determined

The murder trial of Kylr Yust scheduled for July 27 has been delayed, according to court records.

www.kshb.com

The murder trial of Kylr Yust scheduled for July 27 has been delayed, according to court records.

At the hearing on June 2, the court also decided to appoint a Special Master to handle all discovery issues.

The court has not set a new date for the trial yet, and another hearing is scheduled for July 7.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

KCPD officer accused of inappropriate sexual relationship with witness in Kylr Yust case

Reports relayed by lawyers state that a Kansas City police officer has been investigating the disappearance of Kopetsky, in his spare time, for the last ten years. During the off-book investigation…

fox4kc.com

KCPD officer accused of inappropriate sexual relationship with witness in Kylr Yust case

A Kansas City police officer is accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a witness in two high-profile metro area murders.

Yust’s lawyer says one officer’s actions may prevent her client from getting a fair trial.

According to lawyers, new reports recently disclosed by Belton police indicate a Kansas City police officer has been investigating the disappearance of Kopetsky in his spare time for the last ten years. During the off-book investigation, the officer allegedly had a sexual relationship with a witness in the case.

Yust’s attorney, Sharon Turlington, also claims the Kansas City officer has had inappropriate contact with other witnesses in the case. She said she’s concerned that the investigator, identified in court only as “Officer Mier,” has discussed the case with these witnesses and expressed personal opinions about Yust that would prevent him from receiving a fair trial.

Turlington says “Mier” admitted to conducting an investigation but did not write reports if he didn’t think what he was learning was relevant.

Prosecutor Julie Toll said “Mier” claims he was authorized to investigate the case by Kansas City police. Police commanders with the department have disputed that claim.

KCPD Sgt. Jake Becchina told FOX4 it’s not allowed for any officer to have a relationship with a witness in an ongoing criminal investigation. Becchina said the violent crimes commander is aware of the allegations against the officer, but KCPD does not plan to conduct an internal investigation against him at this point.

Cass County Judge William Collins did order Tuesday that the last ten years of the officer’s phone records be examined to determine the communication he’s had with witnesses, and if that communication may have influenced witnesses.

Yust will be back in court on August 17. Judge Collins is preparing to select a jury from St. Charles, Mo., for a trial that has yet another delay.

 

[Guess Who]

KCPD officer accused of inappropriate sexual relationship with witness in Kylr Yust case

Reports relayed by lawyers state that a Kansas City police officer has been investigating the disappearance of Kopetsky, in his spare time, for the last ten years. During the off-book investigation…

fox4kc.com

KCPD officer accused of inappropriate sexual relationship with witness in Kylr Yust case

A Kansas City police officer is accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a witness in two high-profile metro area murders.

Yust’s lawyer says one officer’s actions may prevent her client from getting a fair trial.

According to lawyers, new reports recently disclosed by Belton police indicate a Kansas City police officer has been investigating the disappearance of Kopetsky in his spare time for the last ten years. During the off-book investigation, the officer allegedly had a sexual relationship with a witness in the case.

Yust’s attorney, Sharon Turlington, also claims the Kansas City officer has had inappropriate contact with other witnesses in the case. She said she’s concerned that the investigator, identified in court only as “Officer Mier,” has discussed the case with these witnesses and expressed personal opinions about Yust that would prevent him from receiving a fair trial.

Turlington says “Mier” admitted to conducting an investigation but did not write reports if he didn’t think what he was learning was relevant.

Prosecutor Julie Toll said “Mier” claims he was authorized to investigate the case by Kansas City police. Police commanders with the department have disputed that claim.

KCPD Sgt. Jake Becchina told FOX4 it’s not allowed for any officer to have a relationship with a witness in an ongoing criminal investigation. Becchina said the violent crimes commander is aware of the allegations against the officer, but KCPD does not plan to conduct an internal investigation against him at this point.

Cass County Judge William Collins did order Tuesday that the last ten years of the officer’s phone records be examined to determine the communication he’s had with witnesses, and if that communication may have influenced witnesses.

Yust will be back in court on August 17. Judge Collins is preparing to select a jury from St. Charles, Mo., for a trial that has yet another delay.

Curious as to which came first, the relationship with the witness and that led him to "investigating" or did the relationship come after he started "investigating"? Not that it matters in the long run, but it definitely does for his credibility.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I don't know which started first, but it happened during the investigation.
But it sounds like he was doing his own "investigation" and wasn't actually assigned to the case. At least that's what KCPD is saying. Though if any information he learned impacted the case at all, or if he influenced a witness in any way, it's still bad.
KCPD declining to investigate is just plain negligent and could lead to a mistrial.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

More misconduct. Yet more things that could get this case thrown out and no justice for Kara and Jessica.
Kansas is really struggling.

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article244138592.html

Cass County jail wrongfully recorded calls with murder suspect, defense attorneys say

The Cass County jail recorded phone calls made between a murder suspect and his attorneys that were supposed to be confidential, according to a motion filed by his defense team.

Those conversations were subject to attorney-client privilege, public defenders Sharon Turlington and Matt Vigil said in the court filing.

“Confidential communication is the basis of preparing an effective defense in a criminal case,” Turlington said in a statement. “All of these communications were accessible by members of the Cass County Sheriff’s Department — many of whom are endorsed witnesses for the state. Making this even worse is the fact that we filed a motion for confidential communication and were assured that this would not be an issue.”

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office did not respond to requests for comment.

Several cases in Kansas were thrown out after a three-year probe found federal prosecutors had accessed recordings of confidential phone calls and meetings between defense attorneys and their clients at a private prison in Leavenworth.

A special master who was appointed to conduct an outside investigation said he had never been involved in a case with such broad accusations of prosecutorial misconduct.

A special master has also been appointed in Yust’s case.

 

[Guess Who]

More misconduct. Yet more things that could get this case thrown out and no justice for Kara and Jessica.
Kansas is really struggling.

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article244138592.html

Cass County jail wrongfully recorded calls with murder suspect, defense attorneys say

The Cass County jail recorded phone calls made between a murder suspect and his attorneys that were supposed to be confidential, according to a motion filed by his defense team.

Those conversations were subject to attorney-client privilege, public defenders Sharon Turlington and Matt Vigil said in the court filing.

“Confidential communication is the basis of preparing an effective defense in a criminal case,” Turlington said in a statement. “All of these communications were accessible by members of the Cass County Sheriff’s Department — many of whom are endorsed witnesses for the state. Making this even worse is the fact that we filed a motion for confidential communication and were assured that this would not be an issue.”

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office did not respond to requests for comment.

Several cases in Kansas were thrown out after a three-year probe found federal prosecutors had accessed recordings of confidential phone calls and meetings between defense attorneys and their clients at a private prison in Leavenworth.

A special master who was appointed to conduct an outside investigation said he had never been involved in a case with such broad accusations of prosecutorial misconduct.

A special master has also been appointed in Yust’s case.

this is a Missouri case, but yes, still tragic if misconduct prevents justice.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

this is a Missouri case, but yes, still tragic if misconduct prevents justice.

Ahh, of course. The references to Kansas in the article threw me off.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Kylr Yust case moves closer to new trial date

Yust is accused of killing Kara Kopetsky and Jessica Runions nearly a decade apart.

www.kmbc.com

Kylr Yust case moves closer to new trial date

A man accused of killing two women nearly a decade apart is getting closer to a trial date, however, multiple issues remain with the case.

On Monday, Judge William Collins set a hearing for Sept. 15 to schedule a trial date. The trial was scheduled to start in July, but was moved due to COVID-19 concerns and other issues in the case. Collins also talked about the procedure to pick jurors from St. Charles County, saying the jurors will be interviewed in an arena in St. Charles County due to COVID-19 precautions.


A special master judge is also scheduled to review issues regarding the case next week before another hearing Sept. 15.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Kylr Yust trial date could be set next month

A new trial date for accused double murderer Kylr Yust could come within the next month.

www.kshb.com

Kylr Yust trial date could be set next month

A new trial date for accused double murderer Kylr Yust could come within the next month.

At a hearing Tuesday in Cass County, Judge William Collins said that a trial date could be set at Yust’s next hearing, which is scheduled for Oct. 5. Collins also told attorneys for both sides to be ready for a possible trial in March and April.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Judge sets jury selection for Kylr Yust murder trial; still no trial date

A judge on Monday set a date for jury selection in the murder trial of Kylr Yust, but a trial date still has not been set.

www.kshb.com

Judge sets jury selection for Kylr Yust murder trial; still no trial date​

Cass County Judge William Collins, who has been pushing to set a trial date for accused double murderer Kylr Yust for more than a year, wanted to set the date on Monday, but couldn't due to ongoing evidence issues in the case.

On Monday, Collins did schedule jury selection, which will take place in St. Charles County, for March 29.

Jury selection is expected to take a whole week, with jurors to be selected from the St. Louis area.

The prosecution and defense have been going back and forth for months on evidence issues, which is why Collins was not able to set a trial date on Monday.

Overall, both sides say they feel good about tying up these loose ends. Collins said he hopes the evidence issues will be resolved in two weeks and set another hearing for Oct. 19.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Kylr Yust trial date set for April

A trial date for accused double murderer Kylr Yust has been set for April 5, 2021.

www.kshb.com

Kylr Yust trial date set for April​

A trial date for accused double murderer Kylr Yust has been set for April 5, 2021.

Jury selection will begin March 29 through April 1, according to state documents.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Evidentiary material mounts in Kylr Yust case

With the scheduled murder trial of Kylr Yust four months away, the amount of evidentiary material in the case continues to mount.

www.kshb.com

Evidentiary material mounts in Kylr Yust case​

With the scheduled murder trial of Kylr Yust four months away, the amount of evidentiary material in the case continues to mount.


During a virtual hearing Monday, Yust’s public defender Sharon Turlington sought answers as to why discovery material she expected to receive on Friday never arrived by mail.

Assistant prosecuting attorney Julie Tolle said it was mailed and blamed the slow postal service.

As for where things stand, Turlington told Judge William B. Collins, “I guess we’re not a lot different than we were two weeks ago.”

“Unfortunately, it's sort of like we get some new discovery and I look at it and it opens up a whole new can of worms, which is I think what we're all trying to avoid and clear up here,” she added. “Every scrap of paper needs to be turned over.”

Both sides in the case have filed numerous motions seeking potential evidence for trial, including witnesses’ phone records, access to the two skeletal remains for forensic examination, and documentation pertaining to a tracking device that law enforcement sought to put on Yust’s car in 2007.


The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Nov. 30.

 

[Guess Who]

Evidentiary material mounts in Kylr Yust case

With the scheduled murder trial of Kylr Yust four months away, the amount of evidentiary material in the case continues to mount.

www.kshb.com

Evidentiary material mounts in Kylr Yust case​

With the scheduled murder trial of Kylr Yust four months away, the amount of evidentiary material in the case continues to mount.


During a virtual hearing Monday, Yust’s public defender Sharon Turlington sought answers as to why discovery material she expected to receive on Friday never arrived by mail.

Assistant prosecuting attorney Julie Tolle said it was mailed and blamed the slow postal service.

As for where things stand, Turlington told Judge William B. Collins, “I guess we’re not a lot different than we were two weeks ago.”

“Unfortunately, it's sort of like we get some new discovery and I look at it and it opens up a whole new can of worms, which is I think what we're all trying to avoid and clear up here,” she added. “Every scrap of paper needs to be turned over.”

Both sides in the case have filed numerous motions seeking potential evidence for trial, including witnesses’ phone records, access to the two skeletal remains for forensic examination, and documentation pertaining to a tracking device that law enforcement sought to put on Yust’s car in 2007.


The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Nov. 30.

So they are using USPS to deliver evidence?

 

[GrandmaBear]

Not only that, imagine if it is lost. There is evidence out of there floating around or misdelivered. Even if not in the wrong hands, sounds like a delay and something the defense will raise an issue about if not received in short order... Hopefully it was sent via mail with tracking info.