Thread by @SarahPlakeTV

Hearing from the first witness of the day - Billy Jones, ret. Belton PD detective. He investigated Kara's disappearance in 2007. Follow this thread to get updates from the Yust trial all day. @41actionnews

Says there was no activity on any of Kara's social media, phone, email after 5/4/07. He interviewed Yust who said he didn't know anything about where Kara was, accused her of 'running around w/ different guys.'

Jones: Yust said he & Kara talked on 4/3 and she had plans to meet with friends & that made him mad. Jones got Kara's full phone records.

Jones is going over Kara's records, all the people she called the morning she went missing. Called some friends from 8ish am thru 9:20am, including incoming/outcoming calls w/ Kylr Yust. She was trying to skip school that morning, needed ride.

Kara was also texting w/ Yust early that morning, other friends. Jones says her phone never sent any texts after 9:46am, never made any phone calls after 10:25am that day 5/4/07.

Now Jones is going over Yust's phone records from end of April thru early May 07. Constant communication between Kara/Yust - but not after 5/4.

No activity on Kylr's phone from 9:22am - 11:28am on 5/4.

Yust said he was w/ his grandpa on 5/4 around 1ish, that's his alibi. But state points out that Yust's records show he called his grandpa at 1:06pm, then called his friend at 3:35pm. Grandpa calls him later at 4:29. Kara's friends and mother start calling him from 4:56 - 8ish.

Kara's friend, grandma, mother call him asking where she's at. Yust calls grandpa again, grandpa calls him back in 8pm hour. Then at 11:25 pm Yust tried to call Kara's phone, but his records show no further calls/texts/ attempts to contact her after that.

State asks Jones to confirm that two friends of Yust's said Yust confessed to killing Kara. Jones recalls friends said Yust made statements he wanted to 'go out w/ a bang,' have a concert and kill himself on stage and tell everyone what happened.

State has no further questions. Defense cross examining Jones. Jones said the phone companies never sent them the full GPS data on Yust's phone. Later they found out that TMobile had a system that would quit capturing data when tower was overloaded, data wouldn't be available.

Defense asking Jones if they ever tried to recreate the location data on Yust's phone? He said no, he is not aware. Jones continually saying that he attempted to get the location data but it was not provided.

Defense's tactic is trying to show that Jones didn't try hard enough to find Yust's gps data. Says that Jones made multiple reports about psychics calling but yet he never documented his multiple attempts to find the gps data? Jones says he wrote many reports over the years.

Defense says Yust's grandpa Alfred Yust alibied him, said they were visiting relative at Carondelet Manor (retirement home). Yust says he was also w/ grandma that day. Defense asks why Belton PD never confirmed they were at Carondelet, never got video surveillance.

Yust's grandpa said he filled Yust's truck w/ gas at Belton gas station that day. Defense says PD never went to check at the gas station either. "None of that was ever done, did you know that?"

Now we're getting into a sort of confusing side story here. A man said he was contacted by someone using screen name "IcePrincess" and thought it might be Kara. Jones was assigned to figure that out.

Who is IcePrincess? Jones said they never figured that out for sure. This man knew Kara, in circle of friends. Believed that if it wasn't Kara contacting him then it was Yust. I thought the defense might ask more about this since it was outlined in a motion but guess not.

Defense now asking Jones about other police officers from KCPD doing 'their own' investigations into Kara's case, contacting witnesses. And @ one point Belton PD was concerned it was hampering their investigation since they had jurisdiction.

Belton told the KCPD officer to stop and hand over everything he had. Officer assured them he would, handed them a stack of docs. But a year later, Belton found out from witnesses that this officer was still contacting them about the case.

In a 15 minute recess now

We're back.. Picking up w/ Ret. Det. Billy Jones, Belton PD. Going over a 2017 meeting where they met again w/ the KCPD officer who was doing his own investigation into Kara's disappearance. They talked about a friend who says he saw Yust's truck on 5/4/07. May have recanted?

This friend, Ryan Talley, said he saw Yust's truck day Kara went missing on Hwy Y, which is near where her body (and Jessica's body) were found.

Defense showing Jones Kara's phone records, points out that her phone hit a cell phone tower around 1pm.. Doesn't say anything else. Moving on to the gps tracker that investigators put on Yust's truck.

Defense asks Jones if they ever got Yust's phone to do a phone dump, Jones says not to his knowledge. "Nothing further."

State redirects: It would have been good if PD had confirmed where Yust said he was. But his phone records show that his phone was being 'utilized' on morning of 5/4, talking to Kara and friends. "No further questions." Defense re-crosses.

Next witness: Nick Yates. Was Yust's friend, met in high school. Played in a band w/ Yust, The Seraphim.

He knew Kara thru Yust. Said their relationship was normal at first but became 'toxic.' Said at the time, he didn't realize that they'd be here today. In 07 he was living at a duplex near the high school. Found out Kara went missing thru her friend.

Recalls talking to Yust at some point that day. But for the longest time he didn't think Yust knew Kara's whereabouts, but said that changed later.

He was living w/ Yust when Kara went missing. FF to April 26, 2010 - PD and FBI interviewed Yates. Yates said about 6 mos prior, Yust confessed to him at a Burger King that he killed Kara. They had been drinking at a party.

Yates was arguing w/ his girlfriend, Yust responds that he shouldn't get attached, said he killed Kara because she didn't love him & didn't want anyone else to 'have her.' Yust thought police weren't on to him at that point.

Yates: Yust said he 'just snapped' & something bad happened to Kara. Yates said they'd been drinking that night. At one point he said something like it may have been a dream but then said he is certain Yust confessed. Yates wore a wire later on but Yust didn't say anything else.

Yates said Yust was trying to prep him for his interview with the police about the case. State is done, defense prepping for cross..

This is Nick Yates, Yust's former friend. Defense cross examining him, saying Yates never went to the police after this alleged confession. The police got a tip & went to him. Yates said it may have been a dream & needed time to think.

Defense pointing out that Yates wasn't 100% sure if it was the Burger King parking lot or if they got food.. And the statement Yust made was vague. Yates was able to review transcripts to refresh memory. Defense trying to show Yates is not certain.

Kara's family and that KCPD officer, Josh Meirer, contacted Yates about the case. He had told Meirer that he thought it was a dream and that's why he didn't go to police at first.

At some point, Yates secretly wore a wire to Waffle House w/ Yust. Yates asked him if he killed Yust, Yust denied it & said whatever he said at Burger King basically wasn't true. Yust said he responsible anyway, that being a suspect was ruining his life.

Yates confirmed he didn't notice anything out of ordinary at their apt on 5/4/07, like blood, aside from what Yust "had already been doing to himself." This leads into their death metal band The Seraphim...

Yates said the band got back together in 2010 but up until he found out that Yust allegedly raped his ex-girlfriend... Attorneys approach the bench.

Judge Collins asks the jury to disregard what Yates said about the alleged rape.

State redirects: Says Yates has always been truthful about what he remembers, that he was drinking the night of the alleged confession, he realized w/ clarity that this happened. Yates confirms, says Yust said he killed her but didn't go into specifics.

Yates says again that Yust said he killed Kara because she didn't love him and he didn't want anyone else to have her.

Next witness: Candace (Mathews) St. Clair, Yust's ex girlfriend.

Started dating Yust in 2010 when she was 17. They dated off and on for at least a year. She lived w/ him at one point bc of issues at home. Describes her relationship w/ him as an 'emotional rollercoaster.' 'Violent, unhealthy, dishonest, not something I'd want to repeat.'

July 2011 - Candace was living w/ Yust in KCMO. Says Yust attacked her after she was packing her bags, got on top of her, he put his hands around his neck, 'hand over hand.' Demonstrates how he was choking her. Happened in the bedroom.

Said Yust told her he had killed other girlfriends out of sheer jealousy and he would kill her before she had a chance to scream. Said Yust would choke her to the point of unconsciousness and then punch her legs to wake her up, leaving her w/ bruises.

This is Candace telling her story. She said after Yust strangled her repeatedly, she woke up to him the next day to him spooning her and telling her if she was good it wouldn't happen again. She told her friend about it, posted on Facebook, that's when police contacted her.

She said when she was at the police station, she started miscarrying his child.

She ultimately got an order of protection. Ended up removing it because they got back together. Finally, she said they broke up for good and hasn't talked to him since.

Candace said she and Yust would smoke weed and go for long drives together in the country. At some point she looked into Kara's disappearance, though she never knew her. Saw Kara's missing persons signs. Said Yust would steal the signs and put them in her parents yard.

Candace said Yust said something bad had happened to Kara, that he was dragging her through the woods. She had been suspicious about certain locations. Candace said she briefly met Jessica Runions.

In a previous tweet.. I said 'he put his hands around his neck' - I meant that Candace said Yust put his hands around HER neck. Typo.

Defense now questioning Candace. Candace said during this attack Yust drew a pentagram on her forehead, speaking in tongues. Candace felt like he was doing some satanic ritual on her, she had to pretend she was possessed by demons, play along, to stop this attack.

Candace went to a crisis pregnancy center four days after the attack but didn't tell anyone about it. She didn't tell them about her injuries. She didn't post anything, tell police until August. She posted about the attack on the Find Kara Kopetsky page.

"Instead of reaching out to the police, you reached out to the Find Kara Kopetsky group?" Defense is trying to drive the point that she didn't go to the police initially. Then Officer Josh Meirer (that kcpd officer) contacted her for an interview.

A few days after this attack, she went back to Yust's apartment for a weekend, that Monday had her parents help move her stuff out. Went back to parents house but then saw Yust again, which made her mom mad.

So she goes back at Yust's apt, fighting about the baby. She found out she was pregnant. They were arguing, she says she tried to call 911 & then called her mom again. Mom calls 911. Police show up but she doesn't mention the assault.

She got the ex-parte order but they ended up getting back together. On and off until 2013. Candace did not tell police about Yust's statements about dragging Kara's body in the woods. I think defense is trying to portray her to the jury as unreliable.

Back from lunch break. Katelyn Farris, another of Yust's ex-girlfriends, is testifying.

She described easygoing relationship, normal high school stuff. Lasted a year. She did not know Kara but learned about their relationship. Said Yust showed up on 'some sort of substance' to her house..

Yust asked Farris if she knew about his relationship w/ Kara. Farris said Yust told her he had put Kara in his car and she was never seen again.

Farris told a friend about this encounter w/ Yust, the friend told police. Police contacted Farris. She had 'heard things thru the grapevine' but never took the rumors seriously.

Farris said she wasn't concerned w/ her safety when Yust told her about Kara, she just thought he was messed up on drugs. She continued to have contact w/ PD and FBI in the coming years.

I'm starting to hashtag these tweets with #YustTrial

Yust gave Farris a tattoo.. She asked him about his 'funky' tattoos. He has a raven tattoo w/ all seeing eye with wings wrapping around his neck - told her it's a representation of fingers around the neck, of death. #YustTrial

Now we're talking about Farris's involvement w/ the FBI for a wire tap on Yust. At this point she was living in NC, FBI flew her in, provided her w/ car, recording devices. She and Yust met up and discussed Kara's death captured on audio. #YustTrial

Farris estimates this happened in late 2011. While hanging out, she and Yust made a ouija board to contact Kara "to see if she was happy." Farris was on a ouija board 'kick' at the time. #YustTrial

We're about to hear some of the audio from the wire tap. The entire file is 4-6 hrs long & some of the audio is hard to hear because the key fob (recording device) was in her pocket.

We're hearing the audio now where she's meeting up w/ Yust. #YustTrial

Just heard what we assume is Yust's voice on camera saying "...on the day we're going to the death spot of the girlfriend I killed..." #YustTrial

ON AUDIO. Farris says "at least you feel better about getting this off your chest." Yust said he regrets telling Farris about it. #YustTrial

On the audio Farris tries to convince Yust she'll never tell. Yust says he can trust her about as far as he can throw her. #YustTrial

Farris is telling Yust he's not an evil person. Yust said the only girl who actually knows about the "Kara thing" won't talk to him again .. He's talking very fast.. saying that he has to be reminded of raping someone.. Calling himself a "pervert f-ing douchebag."#YustTrial

Calls himself a "killer." Breaks down and cries, saying he's not good enough for anyone, he's always alone. That this happened because he "killed someone." #YustTrial

We are hearing this all on the audio recording.. the wire tap that Farris was wearing when they met up. This is all happening while Farris and Yust were driving to a location to do the ouija board. #YustTrial

Yust heard on audio telling Farris she'll never hear from him again because he's going to kill himself. Yust has said over and over that no one will ever love him, every girl he's loved has left him. He doesn't sound like he's in a good frame of mind. #YustTrial

And now they're heard ordering breakfast. Farris tells Yust again she's not going to tell anyone. She's telling him they can go somewhere and talk it over. #YustTrial

She's encouraging him to get it off his chest. #YustTrial

We're just hearing more of their conversation.. Talking about some intimate details. Farris had moved to NC with her new husband, Yust sounds like he was upset about it, telling her he's still hung up on her.. #YustTrial

Farris and Yust had broken up but remained friends. She got married, moved away but sounds like @ this point she'd just gotten divorced. She & Yust are at a restaurant right now so background noise makes it hard to hear. Bickering about their relationship - still. #YustTrial

First part of the wire tap is over. Not going to lie, that was exhausting to listen to. Now we see another recording. This time it's a hidden camera in what appears to be Farris's car. She's in the front seat, Yust is in the passenger. #YustTrial

She's asking him if he doesn't want to be alone with her because of what Kara said...? Not sure what the context is. We clearly saw Yust's face in the hidden camera frame. He looks a lot younger, different. This recording happened a decade ago. #YustTrial

Yust is again telling Farris she left him, he still wants to be with her. "I'm done talking to you," he said. #YustTrial

Moving on to another audio recording. It sounds windy, like they're outside. #YustTrial

This is a screenshot of the previous hidden camera footage in the car. #YustTrial

In this 3rd audio recording they're in Walgreens, checking out. Going back to the car. Farris had said they ran some errands getting supplies. Moving on to more hidden camera footage now. #YustTrial

They are seen giving each other a quick kiss in the video. He is in a markedly better mood now than before. #YustTrial

"The sweetest kisses ever," Yust said. #YustTrial

Looks like he's trying to get closer to her, trying to kiss her again. Remember that she is doing a wire tap for the FBI for their investigation... Could you put yourself in her shoes? #YustTrial

Farris brings up the ouija board again, asks Yust what they should put on it. Mentions cigarettes and chocolate. "Dear Kara... .. I'm really sorry.. Love Kylr," Yust is heard saying. #YustTrial

Farris says she wishes she knew more about what Kara liked to put on the ouija board. "She liked Coheed and Cambria.." Yust says, and mentions a few other bands. "She liked smoking pot..." #YustTrial

"She seemed like a cool girl," Farris says. "Except for the whole cheating thing, that's not cool." I can't understand what Yust is replying to her. #YustTrial

Yust said Kara was mature. "She just.. she flew by the seat of her pants you know? Always down to have a good time, always spoke her mind," Yust said. "She was just awesome." #YustTrial

Short recess now. That was a lot! #YustTrial

Back now. Seeing more car hidden camera footage of Farris and Yust driving. #YustTrial

They go from talking about turtles to Yust changing subject, saying he loves to have sex with her, he loves her. Farris says she doesn't want to talk about it, she feels weird about sex. "Me and you together as close as we could ever be," he says. Farris is hesitating. #YustTrial

He asks if she's really going to give him another chance, says he'll do anything for her. She says maybe. Then she changes subject. Yust is still giving her directions. #YustTrial

Moving to an audio recording, it sounds like maybe they got to their destination, getting out of the car. #YustTrial

Just hearing a lot of rustling around. I'm not sure what they're doing, walking? Farris had said previously that they got all their ouija board supplies to take out into the woods to contact Kara's spirit. #YustTrial

It sounds like they're making the ouija board? I think I hear sounds of markers drawing on paper or something similar. It's just been 10 mins of rustling around. #YustTrial

Farris asking if Yust and Kara had any inside jokes they could put on the ouija. Yust said maybe 'chupa,' like short for 'chupacabra' because Kara had big lips. Farris and Yust continue to chat casually. #YustTrial

A bunch more rustling around, a bunch more of Farris coughing. Now we're seeing another clip of the car footage. #YustTrial

In the video she says she's sick. She's been coughing a lot! Just a sidenote... #YustTrial

Farris says, "I wonder what she's going to say.." Yust responds by asking if Farris will give him another chance. Saying they could move anywhere like Sacramento, Oregon, not NC. Farris says her mom hates him, Yust says he doesn't care. #YustTrial

Still in the car. Yust talking about all the things he's gonna do with his grandpa's inheritance, sounds like he can't wait for his grandpa to die. Get the band started up again, talking about making different music. #YustTrial

Yust says he can't believe "we're here." Says it's the one place he swore he'd never go back to. Farris says again she's curious about what she'll say, Yust says he's not. "Do you understand this is the biggest fuck up in my entire life? #YustTrial

I'm assuming Farris was again referring to Kara, what Kara would say when they contacted her spirit. Now we're listening to more audio. #YustTrial

"I'm taking you - do you realize what's going on? Just because i love you this much? No one knows this, no one, not even my own father and brother, no one. You are the only person," Yust tells Farris. #YustTrial

Yust said he thought he was for sure going to prison for the rest of his life. He says the only way he'll kill someone is if he's in the military. "I told him I'm not going to talk to them anymore," Yust said. He said the detective said they'll make his life hard. #YustTrial

Yust thinks that the police talked to all his exes and that's why they broke up with him over the years. Farris said the Belton PD called her one time but she denied knowing any information. #YustTrial

Mentions someone about Chris Davis.. Yust said Kara allegedly cheated on him with this Davis guy. #YustTrial

Now they're talking about how Farris and Yust fought all the time when they were together. He said if there's anything he'd take back it's that and Kara. #YustTrial

I'm stepping out to record something, hopefully I don't miss anything...

I'm told that the jury was about to hear the audio of the ouija seance.. but the video stopped. The judge just said we're stopping for the night. Start back up at 8:30am tomorrow. #YustTrial

I will not be here covering the trial tomorrow, bummer. But my coworker @AFGutierrez will be. I’ll be back on Friday. #YustTrial

Alright, back at the #YustTrial for Day 5. I will be live-tweeting all day long. @41actionnews

State calls first witness of the day: Crystal Taylor. #YustTrial

Taylor knows Yust because she was married to Jessep Carter, Yust's brother. #YustTrial

Says Yust and Carter's relationship wasn't good, they didn't see eachother much and continued throughout the years she was with Carter. She didn't know Kopetsky, but met Runions once in 2016. #YustTrial

She said the first time she saw Yust in a long time was when he brought Runions to meet them. #YustTrial

Taylor is talking about Yust and Carter's mom, said she was involved in their lives, she and Carter have kids together. #YustTrial

Taylor talking about the time when Yust and Runions came to stay at her and Carter's place. They showed up late, spent the nite. Next day they went to Yust/Carter's mom's house. Her name is Johnny (not sure of spelling). #YustTrial

She said everything was normal, Carter was at home the nite of Sept 8. Woke up Sept 9, started to get calls from his mom. Carter was "confused." #YustTrial

Sept. 9 2016** They picked the kids up from the bus stop. Took kids to the creek down the street, went to Carter's mom's house, Johnine. Yust had called Johnine demanding to see Carter. Taylor/Carter leave the kids w/ grandma, head to KC to see Yust. #YustTrial

This is Taylor. Said she and Carter went to Yust's grandpa's house near Raytown. Yust came out of the house got in their car, seemed really rushed, wanted to leave, "get out of there." #YustTrial

They went to Carter's uncle Paul's house in KCMO at 59th & Manchester. It was Carter's family's house. Describing the property. #YustTrial

Carter & Yust went to speak w/ uncle Paul. Yust came back over to the car, small talk. Taylor said she really didn't know him that well. #YustTrial

Said Yust was mad at her because when they came to pick him up, Carter had had a few beers, Yust wanted him to be sober next time. Then Yust tells Taylor he and Runions had broken up mutually but they were still talking. #YustTrial

"She just had too many other men after her, what do I have to offer?" Yust said to Taylor. #YustTrial

Taylor says then Yust got a phone call.. Taylor heard him saying, "I went to work, talked to her today but she was pretty pissed off at me.. Oh you haven't seen her? Well you should probably file a missing persons report." #YustTrial

Taylor said she was scared, skeptical because what she heard made her wonder.. "because he was a suspect in Kara's case so when i heard that, ideas start going through my head, did he do something?" Wondered if he'd be mad at her since she overheard that phone call. #YustTrial

So when this is happening it's just Taylor and Yust in the car while Carter and Uncle Paul are still outside talking. #YustTrial

Taylor says Yust didn't say anything about the call after he hung up. Then he was anxious to go. Then the three left and went back to Alfred Yust's house (Kylr's grandpa). #YustTrial

Yust directed Taylor downstairs, turned on the tv for her, left her & went back upstairs, which she thought was really odd. #YustTrial

Taylor is guessing 15 mins later, Carter/Yust left the house. She guesses they were gone for maybe 30, 45 mins. She thinks it was probably dark when they got back. #YustTrial

Yust/Carter comes back. Carter came down to talk to Taylor. "He looked very shocked, scared, just uneasy, just kind of like, mindblown," Taylor said. She had known him for 15 years and had 3 kids with him. Said for him to be scared was not usual. #YustTrial

Taylor said after everything that day she just wanted to go home. All 3 of them left the grandpa's house, she remembers it being dark & late. #YustTrial

Said Yust had something in his hands, he hid it in some bushes next door. Gets in the car. She didn't see the object in his hands. #YustTrial

The three went to Carter's cousin Anthony's house in Lone Jack. #YustTrial

While there, Taylor said Carter goes upstairs, comes back down, handed her a gun & said nothing. Yust didn't see this. #YustTrial

Taylor remembers someone asking Yust if he needed a wet towel. They're only in the cousin's house for 5,10 mins. All 3 left to go back to Taylor/Carter's home in Edwards. Yust asked them to take the batteries out their phones, said he already threw his out. #YustTrial

Taylor and Carter did what they were told and took the batteries out of their phones. #YustTrial

Carter was driving, a police officer pulled them over. Said Yust started freaking out. "I remember him saying 'Oh my god someone might as well just fucking kill me now.'" #YustTrial

Taylor is describing when the police pulled them over, officer told them all to get out of the car. Said an officer took her gun. Carter got ticketed for suspended license, no insurance. Yust was talking to one of the officers like they knew each other. Then they left. #YustTrial

So Taylor says she was feeling scared after all that. Then the 3 went to friend's trailer in the Edwards area so Yust could stay there. #YustTrial

Taylor/Carter went back to Johnine's house. And they called the police. #YustTrial

Carter, Taylor, & Johnine gave statements to police. #YustTrial

In days & weeks after, Taylor said things were hard, stressful, people saying bad things about Carter. #YustTrial

Taylor says Carter went "downhill" in the year after this, started using drugs. He had struggled w/ drugs yrs before. #YustTrial

She's describing their relationship over the yrs. They met when she was 14, Carter was 15. There was domestic violence, he was charged with that about 8 yrs prior to Sept 2016. #YustTrial

In the year after Sept 2016, she said everything that happened took a toll on their family. He started using, abusing her again. They split up, Taylor spent 5 mos in a shelter then moved to Blue Springs w/ her kids to live w/ parents. Carter is on his own. #YustTrial

She'd gotten a restraining order. Then she turned on the news to see Uncle Paul's house on fire, Carter in handcuffs, arrested for arson. At the Jackson County jail, Carter ended his life. Taylor is crying describing this. #YustTrial

The arson happened July 2018. #YustTrial

Defense cross-examining Taylor, pointing out abusive things Carter's done, like crawling in her trunk, kidnapping her early in the relationship. "This is the person they [state] say wanted to make you feel safe," defense jabs. State objects, says it's argumentative. #YustTrial

Defense points out that when all 3 of them were pulled over, Carter initially didn't stop, Taylor confirms. Taylor confirms she lied to the police when they asked about it, that she'd inherited the gun from her dead grandpa, that she always carries it. #YustTrial

So keep in mind when this traffic stop happened, that's the same day KCPD would find Jessica Runions' burned out car. But at the time, the cops in Henry County said there was nothing in the system indicating anything about that. #YustTrial

Defense asks if she noticed anything about Yust's appearance. Taylor says she didn't. #YustTrial

Here's a view of the courtroom. Yust's defense cross-examining Taylor. #YustTrial

A closer shot. #YustTrial

Defense asking Taylor about what happened after Carter hung himself in jail. Taylor said she only got a piece of paper & a shirt but nothing else, couldn't even get his bible. "There was a coded note that he left -" defense atty says. State asks to approach bench. #YustTrial

This is Yust during the testimony. #YustTrial

Defense asks Taylor if they got married in 2017, after a 16 year relationship, so she wouldn't have to testify against Carter. Taylor says no, we'd just gotten pregnant with our fourth child. Taylor done testifying. Short recess. #YustTrial

Next witness: Detective Stephen Raitley?? Not sure of spelling, will correct when I find out. He was called to 8735 Crescent to check the bushes next door at 8729, there was a shirt and plastic trash bag behind the bushes. #YustTrial

State hands the evidence bag to the former KCPD detective. Pulls out a white shirt w/ thin brownish stripes on it. It's the shirt he recovered at the house on Crescent on Sept 10 2016. #YustTrial

Defense cross-examining. Asking if he put the shirt in any special packaging when he found it, detective says no. #YustTrial

Next witness: Jarrah Kennedy, works at KCPD crime lab as a DNA analyst. #YustTrial

Kennedy did some DNA testing in the Runions case. #YustTrial

She did some testing on that striped shirt and some swabs from toothbrushes. She developed a female profile off that toothbrush. She also got cheek swabs from Runions's parents. #YustTrial

She also got swabs from Yust. Also got a red and gray striped hooded shirt, identified brownish stains, "four areas of interest." #YustTrial

We're looking at the striped shirt. It's Volcom brand. She's pointing out the spots w/ brownish discolorations, blackish stains. Blood not indicated. Did some swabs on sleeves, neck, she's explaining. #YustTrial

Yust and Runions DNA are possible contributors to the profile she created from those swabs. #YustTrial

And the swab from the cuffs - mixture is consistent w/ Yust and Runions being the potential contributors. 1/3 trillion - more rare mixture of genetic information. #YustTrial

Yust and Runions DNA found on two other areas of the hoodie. #YustTrial

And on the blackish stained portion - Yust and Runions included as major contributors of DNA. #YustTrial

It's noted that in most of the areas she swabbed, she noted at least 3 contributors of DNA. But she can't say how or when the DNA was deposited on the hoodie. #YustTrial

Kennedy also tested bone remains, they weren't preserved very well because they were so degraded. She also tested some of Yust's clothing, found blood on a tank top, it was his. Partial profile from his shoe - also his. #YustTrial

Defense cross - Trying to ask if the dna she found is touch dna, like from someone wearing the hoodie. She says to be clear she can't speculate how it got there. Defense asks about major/minor DNA contributors. She picked up minor contributors but not testable. #YustTrial

One of the minor contributors was "unsuitable for comparison," so that was done. She didn't have anyone else's DNA to test against the other minor contributors. #YustTrial

There was also that trash bag found.. Kennedy did not test for DNA, she just took pics. #YustTrial

Defense brings this up a third time - Was there ever any of Jessica Runions' blood found on Yust's clothing or the striped hoodie? Kennedy says no. Nothing further. #YustTrial

Next witness: Galen Smith, he was the one who found Jessica Runions' burning vehicle on Sept 10. He was coming home from work around 230am in south kc. #YustTrial

He was driving and saw flames, pulled over and called 911. Heard and saw the fire popping, crackling. "It was a blaze." #YustTrial

Next day he drove back through to look at the scene, saw it was roped off. Talked to an officer and let him know he found the vehicle. State has no further questions. Defense will cross. #YustTrial

Smith did not know at the time whose car it was. Smith steps down. #YustTrial

Next witness: Stephen MacElroy. He towed Runions car on Sept 10 2016. It was found near Bannister & Blue River Road. We're seeing a picture of the scene. The car was located on the side of the road. He said it was severely burned, still hot. #YustTrial

He said as he was towing her car down to the lot, it reignited. #YustTrial

MacElroy: the day after he towed the car, he saw a Runions missing person flier on social media, recognized the plate number listed. He sent in pics of the vehicle, including a bag found laying on the ground next to car. Went to south patrol, Runions parents show up. #YustTrial

Next witness: Uncle Paul. Yust is not blood-related to him but he's Carter's uncle. #YustTrial

Uncle Paul is looking at pictures of his house at 5901 Manchester.. before it burned down. #YustTrial

This is Uncle Paul. #YustTrial

Now we're talking about the evening of Sept 9 2016, when Carter, Taylor and Yust showed up at his house. He was asked about borrowing a gas can but turns out Carte already had a gas can w/ gas in it in his car. #YustTrial

Uncle Paul said he came back outside, Yust, Taylor, Carter had left. Uncle Paul saw a fire in his trash barrel, so he got the hose and put it out. KCPD ended up getting a search warrant to search the barrels. #YustTrial

Uncle Paul assumes Carter set his house on fire in July 2018. He was not home at the time the fire started. #YustTrial

This is a picture of the back of Uncle Paul's house, where the burn barrel was.

Defense cross - Asks Uncle Paul if Carter looked 'crazed' when he came home to see his house was burning down, Uncle Paul says yes. #YustTrial

Defense is asking Uncle Paul if you put an aerosol can in the burn barrel, would it blow up, might you get burned? Uncle Paul says yes. Not 100% sure where they were going w/ that. #YustTrial

Lunch break time. Back at 1pm. #YustTrial

Back from lunch. Next witness: Lori Nelson. #YustTrial

Lori Nelson is a crime scene tech for KCPD. She processed the scene at Uncle Paul's house at 59th & Manchester. Said it was in connection to a missing persons case & they needed to search some burn barrels. She took pictures of and searched both barrels. #YustTrial

She found black fabric, a buckle, and found a black cell phone Otter case laying outside the burn barrels. #YustTrial

Defense cross - Showing a picture of inside of burn barrel. Defense points out there are aerosol cans inside. Nelson said she wouldn't know if the items inside are of evidentiary value. Defense asks again about how to store arson case evidence.. store in cans #YustTrial

Nelson can't recall whether she stored the barrel items in a paper bag or one of the arson cans. Defense: nothing further. #YustTrial

Next witness: Deputy Mitchell Lamberth. In 2016 he worked for Henry Co sheriff's office. He's talking about when he was called to assist in a police stop when Carter, Taylor & Yust were pulled over on Sept 10 2016. 100 block N Hwy 2 #YustTrial

Lamberth said they were pulled over initially because of a broken tag light, the Dodge Durango was driving erratically. Lamberth knows Yust because they went to elementary school together. #YustTrial

Lamberth said Yust looked extremely nervous, knees shaking uncontrollably, pale in the face, looked like he had peed his pants. "Major red flags," Lamberth said. #YustTrial

Lamberth talked to Taylor about the gun found in her waistband (the gun Carter gave her). Legally she was permitted to have the gun but Lamberth took the gun because Carter was a felon. #YustTrial

Lambert said Yust was wearing dark denim, but that it looked like he had peed himself. Yust, Taylor, Carter were allowed to leave. #YustTrial

Defense cross - Saying that Lamberth drawing his gun on Carter's vehicle when pulling them over would make anyone nervous, right? Lamberth agrees. Carter had finally come to a stop in the middle of the road, so Lamberth said they didnt know what they were dealing w/. #YustTrial

Defense: Do you have knowledge about what was actually on his pants? Lamberth: "Just based on my observation." Defense: "You're not qualified to determine that? You're not qualified to determine what happened... Other folks have and they determined that was not true." #YustTrial

Defense asks if Lamberth saw any injuries on Yust at the time, he said no. #YustTrial

State cross - Confirming that Lamberth has experience w/ dealing w/ drunken ppl or ppl that have peed themselves. Lamberth says unfortunately yes. Defense asks to approach. #YustTrial

State asks again if his experience w/ dealing w/ people who have peed themselves is consistent w/ what he saw on Yust that night. Lamberth says yes. NFQ. Defense was about to recross but now attys are approaching. A lot of talk over whether Yust peed his pants or not! #YustTrial

Defense: You can agree to the naked eye you cannot tell difference between liquid .. that may have spilled.. versus urination? Lamberth says that's correct. Lamberth steps down. #YustTrial

Next witness: Sgt. Terrance Carter. He's retired now but in 2016 he was a master detective w/ KCPD. #YustTrial

He worked in bomb/arson squad. He was called to the KCPD lot Sept 10 2016 to examine Runions' burned out car, Chevy Equinox. #YustTrial

Sgt. Terence Carter is looking through photos of Runions' severely burned SUV. It's charred and white-gray, totally burned out. Sgt. Carter's team searched SUV in quadrants so it's easier to keep track of what detectives find. #YustTrial

Metal in SUV was damaged/burned. The wiring, seat covers, dash, everything had melted down to the floor. They had to pry out the melted plastic, once they did they smelled "strong odor of gasoline." Started taking samples, cut areas out. #YustTrial

Sgt. Carter said in his opinion, gas was poured on the SUV but couldn't figure out what lighted the fire. He says when gas is used as accelerant it's like an explosive, an unexpected result. #YustTrial

Sgt. Carter says when gas is lit, there's a big flash of fire first, continues to burns or can even knock itself out. State: if someone is standing in close prox to a vehicle and uses whatever igniting source and is doused in gasoline, what type of injuries can we see? #YustTrial

Sgt. Carter said it depends how close the person was standing, if the car's doors/windows were open. He was about to continue but defense interrupts, approaches bench. #YustTrial

State asks again: What kind of injuries can you expect on someone in close prox when this gasoline flashes? Sgt. Carter: It send out a huge heatwave, can burn skin, burn eyelashes. #YustTrial

Sgt. Carter explained that when all the plastic melted down to the floor of suv, it protected everything underneath. So there was still carpet under all of that. That's how they were able to collect samples, find gasoline. #YustTrial

Defense cross - Asking Sgt. if it's normal that a gasoline fire would put itself out, isn't that rare? Sgt. Carter said he's seen that so many times. #YustTrial

Defense is back on the aerosol can thing. Asking Sgt. Carter if someone could get burned if they lit a barrel on fire containing aerosol cans. Sgt. Carter says yes. Sgt. Carter also says he wouldn't know for sure how long it took for Runions car to burn. #YustTrial

State shows Sgt. Carter pic of the aerosol cans in the burn barrel at Uncle Paul's house. Asks what kind of injuries you'd get if you lit a barrel w/ aerosol cans on fire. Sgt. Carter said since the fire would go upward, you'd have to be leaning right over the barrel. #YustTrial

Next witness: Deputy Dustin Love, worked at Benton Co sheriff's office in 2016. Involved in Yust investigation, went to the trailer near Edwards Mo that Yust was put up in, arrested him. #YustTrial

Dep. Love saw injuries on Yust's face, asked him about it. Yust responded he ran into a tree, was smug and arrogant about it. #YustTrial

Defense cross - Asked Love if he documented Yust's face, Love doesn't recall bc he doesn't have the report in front of him. Asks if Love recorded the conversation, Love says he doesn't recall. And he didn't have his body cam bc he responded in middle of the night. #YustTrial

State shows Love his report from that day, asks Love to confirm again what Yust smugly said about walking into a tree. Love confirms. #YustTrial

Defense recross - says Love just said Yust had injuries on face, didn't note burns. Love said he's not a doctor but Yust had open wounds on his face. Nothing further. #YustTrial

Next witness: Matthew Forest, was a KCPD crime scene tech. Processed scenes in Warsaw & Benton Co Mo on Sept 11 2016. Processed Taylor/Carter's white Durango. #YustTrial

Processed a red gas can in the Durango. #YustTrial

He also took pictures of Yust. Forest is looking thru the pics he took of Yust at the sheriff's on Sept 11 2016. Noticed discolorations on his face. We're seeing these pics now, trying to get screenshot to share. Can see the discoloration he's talking about, redness. #YustTrial

We see an injury on the side of Yust's face, may be a scratch. Measuring the size of the injury on side of face. Roughly 2 cm long on left cheek #YustTrial

Seeing a closeup of Yust's left hand where we see what looks like a scratch. Then a close up of his finger where we see large open, red blisters on left hand, looks like burns. #YustTrial

Here's one of the pics we saw of Yust's face on Sept 11 2016. Can't see hands in this photo. #YustTrial

Here are the blisters on his Yust's hand. #YustTrial

Defense was asking Love about whether he gathered everything in the trailer, if he found any fingerprints or anything on the can. No. Next witness #YustTrial

Next witness: Melanie Fields, worked for KCPD crime scene unit. Did another search warrant on Yust Sept 13 at Warsaw jail. We are seeing more pics of Yust, this time in an orange jumpsuit. Fields said he had healing injuries on both sides face, injury on left side #YustTrial

Fields took pic of singed facial hair and that scratch on left side of face. We see he has a red nose, discolored lips. Scabs on his right hand, injuries on both hands. #YustTrial

Took shavings of his facial hair but no clippings of head hair, which may have also been singed. #YustTrial

Fields was also called to process the scene where Runions' and Kopetsky's remains were found early April 2017. #YustTrial

Here are some of the pics Fields took when documenting Yust's face. #YustTrial

Fields talking about process of figuring out where Runions/Kopetsky's bodies were initially dumped. They focused on the places w/ the most skeletal remains. Found areas with hair. Found areas w/ pupa (insects), which showed remains were at that spot for a while. #YustTrial

I think the defense asked Fields if she was drunk while searching the area....???? She said absolutely not. Afternoon break. I think 15 mins. #YustTrial

Back from break, Sgt. Terence Carter is back. Says again he's seen and interacted w/ suspects who've been burned by setting a fire. #YustTrial

Looking at photos of Yust. State asks if his injuries are consistent w/ a gasoline flash burn, he says yes. State asks what injuries would you get leaning over burn barrel w/ aerosol cans, Sgt. Carter says he'd expect far far worse. #YustTrial

Next witness: Patrick Jones w/ the KCPD crime lab, works w/ trace evidence. He looked at hair samples taken from Yust to see if the hair was singed/burned. #YustTrial

Found that the facial hair he examined had characteristics of being burned. #YustTrial

Next witness: Pam Owens, crime scene tech with KCPD. Processed scene at house on Crescent Sept 14 2016. That's Yust's grandpa Alfred's house. #YustTrial

They found a red book in one of the bedrooms. Inside the book was written,"Love was just a word until you gave it meaning. I love you (heart) Jess." #YustTrial

They also found swabs with blood on them. #YustTrial

Defense asks Owens to confirm they didn't find large amounts of blood in house, no signs of a struggle, no broken furniture, no holes in wall, no clothes w/ blood on it. #YustTrial

Judge says we're breaking for the day, coming back tomorrow at 8:30 that way they can take care of some "issues" and more evidence. #YustTrial

Monday morning, back for the #YustTrial, where we're expected to hear from defense witnesses. To recap: On Saturday the jury heard from the mushroom hunter who found Runions', Kopetsky's remains & other experts who made the ID. @41actionnews

We are starting a little late today. #YustTrial

Judge Collins saying he needs to talk to Yust about something the defense is going to bring up. #YustTrial

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.. #YustTrial

Collins saying he's not asking his defense attys for a decision right now but need to make sure Yust has ample opportunity to speak w/ his attorneys about it. I can't imagine Yust would testify but we'll see. #YustTrial

Can't really hear anything the attorneys are saying because their mics aren't turned on #YustTrial

Mics turned on now right in the middle of a conversation. Something about Jessep Carter. State arguing they can't talk about a note left in Carter's cell... "an offer of proof has to be made before showing to jurors.." #YustTrial

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..." #YustTrial

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." #YustTrial

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." #YustTrial

Judge wants to hear the deposition #YustTrial

Jim Riplinger, MO public defender, is reading deposition of Alfred Yust. #YustTrial

Alfred Yust was deposed July 2019. Riplinger is now reading what Alfred Yust said. #YustTrial

Alfred Yust's son, Kenny, is Kylr Yust's dad #YustTrial

Alfred says he remembers Belton police detectives contacting him in 2010 #YustTrial

Alfred says he would not have lied about what he did in the morning on May 4, 2007. He says he had coffee, read the paper, did lawn work, at 12:30 he went to Carondelet nursing home w/ wife Doris to visit sister in law. 12:45 at nursing home. #YustTrial

2:45 - 3 Alfred says they left the nursing home. Wouldn't have lied. 3:20-5pm rested. 6pm watched the news, Wheel of Fortune, baseball. 10pm watched news. 10:30 showered, brushed teeth. #YustTrial

11pm went to bed. Alfred says Kylr came to his house at 11, 11:30am asking for gas for his truck, he did that occasionally. #YustTrial

Alfred says he doesn't lie because his family was tough. #YustTrial

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 #YustTrial

Alfred said Kylr drove himself to the nursing home that day #YustTrial

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 #YustTrial

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

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 #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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

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. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

I do not believe the jury is seated yet. #YustTrial

The jury is coming in now. #YustTrial

Defense first witness: Brett Bishop, lives in Raymore. In 2007 he lived in Belton, went to Belton High, knew Kara. #YustTrial

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 #YustTrial

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 #YustTrial

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 #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

Witness: Debra Hefling (spell?). She lived off Lacy Ln in Belton, walking distance from the high school. #YustTrial

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." #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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 #YustTrial

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.' #YustTrial

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.

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. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

This is what we heard before... So I'm not going to tweet all of it again. #YustTrial

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.. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

Okay the jury left the courtroom again. I believe we're going to hear from jail guards and decide whether the jury can hear it.. similar to what they did earlier w/ Alfred's deposition. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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

Sorry, Akah said a colleague tried to do CPR. #YustTrial

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

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? #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

Next person: Jonathan Valdry (?). He worked for Jax Co jail in 2018 in internal affairs. Reviewed major incidents inside the facility. He investigated Carter's suicide, wrote reports. #YustTrial

Valdry documented what was in Carter's cell when he ended his life. Defense presenting some photos, asking Valdry to describe what he sees. They're pics of what was in Carter's cell. #YustTrial

Valdry talking about one photo: A notepad w/ writing and other markings. #YustTrial

Valdry says Carter had a bible in the cell, pieces of paper stuffed in the bible's pages like bookmarks. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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." #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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

Billy Bayes is coming in now. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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

Bayes done testifying. #YustTrial

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

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. #YustTrial

Recess #YustTrial

This is Billy Bayes. Forgot to add that before. #YustTrial

Ah we're back. And again the jury is not in the courtroom. This next person is Cindy/Sidney Smith. Police interviewed her. #YustTrial

She knows Carter. Idk why, but we can't see the video in the media room. She knows Yust. Audio just cut out but defense asks her if she knows that Carter either drugged or drug someone. I wish this audio was better, it's horrible. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

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. #YustTrial

Smith said she thought she was taking and what she felt were two diff feelings. She had been in jail for drugs but now she's 4 yrs sober. #YustTrial

Two different things**

Smith says they stopped near cornfields. Woke back up at Anthony's house, little red car parked in his garage. He had two cars. Got in a different car and drove to Warrensburg. Yust wasn't in the car ride, but was there before. She believes she was assaulted. #YustTrial

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

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. #YustTrial

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

Judge says they'll take lunch early and start back up at 12:30. In recess. #YustTrial

I believe Smith said this all happened before Runions went missing in 2016. #YustTrial

I will clarify, I believe we will hear from more people after lunch. Not sure what the jury will be able to hear, however. #YustTrial

...So we came back from lunch just to take a recess again. #YustTrial

Back.. Defense is doing another offer of proof, which just means hearing from a witness without the jury so judge can decide if he'll permit it or not. #YustTrial

Witness: Robert Lundt. Attorney on the case, met with Johneen Robinson and Jessep Carter. Remember Johneen is Carter and Yust's mom. #YustTrial

He was representing Yust, trying to find Robinson. Found out that Carter was at her house. Lundt told Carter they only need to talk to Robinson since Carter's atty wasn't present at the time. #YustTrial

Lundt was there to get background info on Kylr Yust about his family, his relationships. #YustTrial

Lundt said he was leaving when Carter ran out to the car (by himself), leaned in and said "You tell Kylr he better plead guilty cause I've talked to the police.. I've told them everything I did and who I did it with." #YustTrial

Lundt said Carter was hostile, like he was almost threatening them. #YustTrial

Defense says Kylr pleaded not guilty in May 2018 and then the arson happened and then Carter ends his life. They say the not guilty plea was a trigger so it's relevant. State says this is the epitome of hearsay, "Jessep Carter is not on trial, Kylr Yust is on trial." #YustTrial

State says if they can't get into details about what Jessep Carter said about Yust dragging Jessica Runions' body into the woods, then the defense can't get into any of this either. Court is NOT permitting Lundt's statements. #YustTrial

Defense says they have nothing else but have live witnesses for this afternoon. State says they dont want any more delays. #YustTrial

Judge says plan on being here "late" on Tues & Wed so closing statements can happen on Thurs possibly. #YustTrial

One more testimony for offer of proof.. Something about Quik Trip affidavits.. Will find out soon what this is all about. #YustTrial

Lynette Blue contacted QT corporation for employee records back to 2007, asked for biz records affidavit. Blue learned that QT doesn't keep records over 7 yrs old so they could not complete the biz record affidavit. I need to clarify who exactly Lynette Blue is #YustTrial

State asking if she submitted a subpoena, she said she would if she was instructed to. She got an email saying to get a subpoena/court order for these records, but that was not done. She says there are zero employment records from 2007. #YustTrial

Her name is Monette Blue and she's an assistant for the MO state public defender's office. #YustTrial

A lot of back and forth about whether or not she issued a subpoena for these employment records from 2007. Blue confirms again that she was told they'd been purged and that she didn't need to send a subpoena. I dont know whose records we're talking about. #YustTrial

Defense still wants Blue's testimony included.. State says there was no subpoena sent, ever. No evidence of actual emails in question about what information was sought. "This is not even close to admissible, judge." #YustTrial

Judge doesn't want to admit Blue's testimony, doesn't know how this is relevant at all. Defense says it's relevant bc after Kara went missing.. a guy named Jerry who supposedly worked at QT maybe said he might have seen her?? #YustTrial

Judge tells defense they've already asked the detectives about all that. Blue is being brought back in. She was also asked to get Mary Zenoni's records from Ascension medical resorts - she's the aunt that Yust says he went to go visit at Carondelet w/ gpa and gma #YustTrial

Blue said she got a release for records signed by Zenoni. State grills her that she didn't actually see Zenoni sign that release. The paper wasn't completely filled out. And the records don't exist anymore. #YustTrial

Judge agrees w/ state, that he's concerned with admitting Zenoni's affidavit because custodian of records space is not filled out, the affidavit has blanks. Points out that Blue is the one who notarized it, poses a problem, he's going to call her back up to the stand. #YustTrial

Defense asks Blue if she notarized the affidavit from Ascension. Blue says she did meet w/ someone at Ascension. She was told to meet at an office & someone would provide a signed affidavit for her to notarize. #YustTrial

State says what would normally be filled out in an affidavit was not filled out in this case & Blue confirms that. This is pretty convoluted. #YustTrial

State asks her if she was told to do it this way instead of a "hard and fast" subpoena to purposefully muddy the whole thing so it would get into court. She says no. She says there was nothing to subpoena bc there are no records. Judge is going to let her testify. #YustTrial

Defense says they don't need to do offer of proof for Kim Pyles, who works for Hastings Law Firm.. Molly Hastings is one of Yust's attorneys. Judge is bringing the jury back in. #YustTrial

The jury is hearing this testimony from Kim Pyles. She's a criminal investigator. Was a PI from 2001-2010 and then worked for public defender's office. She familiarized herself w/ some of the addresses/locations in this case. #YustTrial

The defense is having her put sticky notes on a map labeling Yust's house, Uncle Paul's house, Runions' burned car, etc. #YustTrial

Pyles was going over drive times from each location. State says, so you didnt think it was important to document the drive time from Yust's house to where the bodies were dumped? Pyles says she didnt, that she did was she was told to do. Monette Blue back to the stand. #YustTrial

This time jury will hear Blue's testimony. She's a paralegal. That was the word I was looking for. So now she's talking about requesting Zenoni's medical records from Ascension, found out they were located in Des Peres Mo. #YustTrial

She went over the same story we just heard. And that was quick, she's done. Attorneys approaching bench. #YustTrial

Judge says we are breaking for the day, back here tomorrow at 8:30am. #YustTrial

I am here at the #YustTrial with Andy now. I'm helping w/ coverage for 4,5 and he's got 6,10. I don't think we've heard Yust speak since he was arrested. And even then we only heard a few words at a time.

Yust is talking about the crazy night that Crystal Taylor described in the days after Jessica Runions went missing. He says he lit something on fire in Uncle Paul's burn barrel and that's how he got burned. He even addressed the pee thing, said it was a drink. #YustTrial

Yust is talking with a soft-spoken voice. His voice isn't very deep. #YustTrial

I don't want to take away from @AndyAlcock2's tweets. But I will now pick up on the live-tweeting too. So you have Andy, me, and @CKnuteKSHB! #YustTrial

Yust says he lied many times throughout the years out of fear, wanting to give up, "might as well be famous for something." #YustTrial

Yust says sorry for bad decisions he's made. His defense asks if he killed Kara and Jessica, he says no. State is ready to cross. #YustTrial

"Quite a story you told," state says. She says she wants to fill in some of the holes in his story though... She says when Kara wanted to break up w/ him to the point that everyone knew it was so hard. Yust says yes. He says they had a toxic relationship. #YustTrial

Yust said he doesn't remember acting out when Kara said she didn't want to talk to him. State asked him if he ever got physical w/ Kara, he said no except for the car ride when he kidnapped her. He said he "pulled her arm." State says he dragged her. #YustTrial

Yust said Kara got in the truck and held her in the truck to keep her from leaving because he was determined to have a conversation w/ her. State: "She wasn't having it was she?" Yust: "no." #YustTrial

State drives the point home that Yust told police that it made him 'really angry' when Kara said she was going to spend time with other guys. He said he'll take their word for it. #YustTrial

State going over the order of protection Kara took out after the incident in Yust's truck. She wrote she was scared about what Yust would do next, that he held a knife to her throat. State saying he was abusive before right, Yust denies it. #YustTrial

"You do what you do when a girl is trying to leave you, you call and call and call right?" State says. Yust says Kara's friend Amy was lying about abuse, Yust calling saying if he can't have Kara no one will. #YustTrial

Yust said they continued hanging out after the car incident bc they wanted to be friends. State moving on to May 4, 2007 .. #YustTrial

State said Yust has always denied he had contact w/ Kara on May 4. But today he said actually I did have contact w/ her. Yust says he went up to Belton to pick Kara up in his truck. #YustTrial

State is grilling him. Saying he put his hands around Kara's throat, strangled her, watched her take her last breaths, and could only think about Trey Monteil's property near Hwy Y being a good place to dump the body. #YustTrial

"So you take Kara out to the area and you drag her out into the woods right?" State says. "No," Yust said. State said and you took every piece of clothing off right? Yust denies. #YustTrial

State says Yust then had to come up with an alibi, so he starts calling his grandpa who was going to see his aunt Mary. Yust said he wanted to visit his aunt. #YustTrial

State said when everyone starts calling him, showing up at his apt asking about Kara later that night, he didn't get concerned because he knew exactly what he did to her. Yust denies & said he wasn't concerned bc she prob ran away, "with other guys." #YustTrial

State points out that on the days up to 5/4 he and Kara were in constant contact but after that she's never heard again and the last time she had any contact w/ anyone.. she was with him. #YustTrial

State: This is the 1st time he's ever said when he picked Kara up, Jessep was w/ him. Yust argues that he told his attys before. But when Kara first went missing he never mentioned that. "YOu want the jury to believe.. that the man that is dead is the one responsible?" #YustTrial

Yust said that's why he thinks Jessep killed himself. That he took the easy way out. #YustTrial

State points out that Yust was interviewed many times & he had ample opportunities to tell the police his version of the truth. Yust: "I did." #YustTrial

Yust said that's why his attorney is doing his case for free is that she believes his story. "Well how thoughtful of her," State says. #YustTrial

State says, "This has been so hard for you hasn't it Kylr?" She's talking about when he collected Kara's missing person posters. He said he was tired of ppl hounding him. "Instead you decide to torture the parents of a missing girl.." state said. #YustTrial

State says instead of dumping missing persons fliers on Kara's yard, he could have gone to the police to tell them his version of the story. Yust said he was resentful of Kara's parents but found peace over the yrs because he'd do the same for his daughter. #YustTrial

Now we're moving on to Jessica Runions. #YustTrial

State is asking about his strained relationship w/ his mom and the jailhouse phone call where he said he dragged Jessica's body out to the woods bc of her. So you confess to killing someone to spite your mom? State said incredulously. #YustTrial

"Kara was long deceased" when Jessica came into your life right Kylr? Yust says he doesn't know when she died but he assumes so. State says, well we know what you said Kylr. Now she's transitioning to all his confessions over the years. #YustTrial

We're talking about the Burger King incident where Nick Yeates said Yust confessed. He said Nick thought he might have said something concerning about Kara. Later in wire tap, Yust is heard coaching Nick. Yust denies, said he told Nick to tell the truth. #YustTrial

Yust said people's statements have changed over the course of time because of all the "pressure from the families and the media." #YustTrial

Moving on to Katelynn Farris. "We all sat thru 6 hours of that wire, and i want to talk to you about your behavior on that wire," State says. #YustTrial

State points out that he was very agitated toward the beginning of the wire. That's when Yust was going on a rant about Farris leaving him. Yust said he wasn't losing his temper, he was disappointed in himself w/ his life. #YustTrial

"You spend 6 hours into manipulating that girl into having sex w/ you," State says. "That didn't stop you from confessing." Yust says he was just making up whatever Farris wanted to hear to "fulfill her fantasy." #YustTrial

"I dumped her in the fucking woods and now her spirit is roaming the woods," State is reading Yust's words in the wiretap to him. Yust is claiming he's not familiar w/ where the girls are dumped. #YustTrial

"If I regret two things it's cheating on you and Kara but I regret cheating more," State continues to read his words to him. #YustTrial

Yust said that he was feeding into her fantasy when they were doing the ouija board. "Youre feeling pretty freaked out right?" state said. Yust replies, "I was acting." "Just like you're acting right now?" State shoots back. #YustTrial

Talking about Yust's friend Seth Duncan's testimony. Duncan testified Yust told him that he and Kara got in a fight and he restrained her. "Before you knew it Kara wasn't breathing... that's what your friend told us," State says. #YustTrial

Yust's friend Aaron Caponetto testified. "He did seem pretty upset," Yust agrees. "Have you ever loved someone so much that you would rather see them dead than w/ anyone else.. I killed Kara, I strangled her, do you remember him testifying that?" State says. #YustTrial

Basically Yust is agreeing with the state that these people testified all of this. But he won't directly confirm that he said any of these things. #YustTrial

"I think we're up to four confessions at this point. Now I want to move on to Candice," State says. Yust said it got violent bc she was "striking" him in the face for cheating on her and he "restrained" her. State: "Again, with the word 'restrained.'" #YustTrial

Yust denies repeatedly choking Candice, he was trying to restrain her. In his interview w/ police, State points out that he demonstrated it. He said he showed strength of his hands. "If I wouldve choked her, that would have caused serious harm... that's not true," Yust said.

State is grilling Yust about statements talking about the strength of his hands. State says ME testified it only takes 1.5 mins to choke someone to death. Says Jessica fought for her life, that's why he had scratches. #YustTrial

Yust denies and said if someone scratched him there would be multiple scratch marks, said he had scratches on his hand because he worked at Extreme Bumper. State says "You know." #YustTrial

We're talking about the nite Jessica went missing. Yust denies being super aggressive, being obsessed w/ Jessica. #YustTrial

"You killed her before she had the opportunity to figure herself out right?" state says. Yust denies.

Yust said Jessica drove him home that nite, he was super drunk. He said he heard Jessep's voice but he was in the back of the car.. and then wakes up at his grandpa's house the next day #YustTrial

"You must be the unluckiest guy in the world right?" State says. "You've had two girlfriends who have gone missing and the last person they're seen with is you." Yust says it's even more unlucky that he had a serial killer for a brother #YustTrial

Now with the pee thing again. State grilling him about peeing his pants because he was so scared of getting caught, that he's pretty sensitive about it. Yust accuses state of lying to the jury about it, "the jury remembers." State says, "Well they should." #YustTrial

Yust says Jessep called the police and told them a bunch of lies after Jessica went missing. #YustTrial

State keeps bringing up the fact that Yust said he fell asleep on that car ride w/ Jessep and Crystal but yet he was so concerned w/ Jessica being missing? Denies again torching Jessica's car. #YustTrial

"It's really convenient you take the stand and for very first time in 14 years after being interviewed... you decide to put blame on Jessep, right?" State says. "No," Yust said. Again says he's told his attys before. #YustTrial

"You'd rather sit in jail and be charged w/ two counts of murder than tell law enforcement that your brother is the person who allegedly did this?" State says. "You'd rather wait until a jury is sitting here deciding your fate?"

"You did this because you were never going to give those families justice," State accuses Yust. He says no, no, no. #YustTrial

Yust said he tried to tell a local radio station about his "discovery" and they just made fun of him and so he stopped trying. #YustTrial

Yust said he didn't want to come forward to talk to police about Kara because he didn't want to get in trouble for violating the restraining order, he said he thought Kara was staying the nite somewhere else #YustTrial

State says Yust let days turn into weeks and weeks turn into years and still didn't come forward to tell anyone about his little tidbit he had. Yust says he was advised by legal team not to talk until he had his day in court. #YustTrial

That was a lot. Julie Tolle, state attorney, has no further questions. Yust steps off the stand. #YustTrial

The defense rests. #YustTrial

Judge Collins now reading the instructions to the jury. Basically, if they havee any doubt they have to find him not guilty. #YustTrial

Had to run out for a live shot.. back to hear closing arguments. State says Yust's arrogance grew bc he thought he got away with Kara's murder, now he sits on the stand accusing the 6 people he confessed to of making it up. #YustTrial

Tolle is going over each person who testified.. Seth Duncan, Aaron Caponetto, Nick Yeates, Candice Mathews, Katelyn Farris. Of Farris: "When she wore that wire that wasn't the first time the defendant confessed to her," state says. #YustTrial

Tolle reading from Farris wiretap: "We're going to the death spot of my ex girlfriend.. The only reason why I told you is to give us time together, I really regret it now." #YustTrial

State says Yust was manipulating Farris, calling himself a failure, a douchebag.. But that he admitted to strangling Kara, throwing her body in the woods, hoping that it would amount to something someday. State says Yust can't keep his mouth shut, wants attention #YustTrial

State tells jury that the reason Yust's friends didnt come forward is because they were scared of Yust. #YustTrial

State says Yust went to prison around 2012.. no confessions since he was away. Then 8 mos after he got out, Runions is dead. #YustTrial

"All recovered from girls was 50 bones each, but here's what we know: We know what defendant told us, we know his hands are his tools, he's proud of strength of his hands, we know he uses his hands to strangle girls.. That's what he does," State says. #YustTrial

State says that when you are strangling someone, you know that what you're doing can cause death. State says they proved that Yust deliberated when he killed Kara and Jessica. #YustTrial

"He in theory held on to this information until very moment when he sits in a jury trial .. because he didnt want to get in trouble for communicating with Kara..? That's not reasonable. Use your common sense when thinking about his credibility," State says. #YustTrial

The jury will consider if Yust is guilty of manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter. The state says he is not guilty of those, he's guilty of 1st degree murder. #YustTrial

Tolle talking about Jessica Runions.. About how Yust was obsessive, he strangled her as she fought for her life. #YustTrial

State telling jury that Jessica's situation is the same w/ Kara's - no blunt force trauma on the bones, both skeletal remains were consistent w/ strangulation. "We know the defendant's preferred method of attacking girls is strangulation," State says. #YustTrial

State says Yust thought about, deliberated on killing Jessica. Deliberation means: reflection upon the matter.. for any amount of time, no matter how brief. #YustTrial

"He can't handle rejection from a girl, and we know that these girls he professes his love to that are going to leave him - he can't handle rejection. We know when the defendant killed Jessica, he did so w/ deliberation," Tolle says. #YustTrial

Tolle continues, "Jessep is the one that knew what the defendant had told him that he did to Jessica, including that he couldn't drag Jessica as far --" Defense objects, approaches bench. #YustTrial

Tolle moves on from what Jessep said Yust allegedly told him... #YustTrial

Tolle tries again to mention what Jessep said, defense objects again. Tolle continues, says Yust was hiding out in a trailer w/ no working utilities. Again mentions how Yust peed his pants. #YustTrial

"And that's a hill the defendant wants to die on," Tolle said, that he's more worried about peeing his pants than telling the truth. #YustTrial

"He's the man that puts the missing persons posters in the parent's yard whose 17 yr old daughter has been missing for 10 yrs. That's who he is. He's the man who murders his 17 yr old gf because he doesn't want anyone to have her," Tolle says. #YustTrial

Tolle calls Yust a monster, to which the defense objects saying it's an improper argument. #YustTrial

"Thank god for Keith Todd, because we wouldn't be here right now," Tolle says, referring to the mushroom hunter who found the remains. Said the defense had the nerve to accuse Todd of trespassing that day. #YustTrial

"The confessions he's made... including admissions he made after he was arrested. Y'all remember the jailhouse call he made to his mom. He wants to say he made those statements out of spite?" Tolle says. #YustTrial

"He's never going to take responsibility for anything in his life, always going to put it on someone else," Tolle says. Yust was heard saying he did it 50% bc of his mom, 50% bc of his dad. #YustTrial

Defense closing arguments now.. #YustTrial

The main defense atty is Sharon Turlington. She's doing the closing. #YustTrial

"I'm going to talk to you about what the evidence says," defense says. Says she's gonna talk about DNA, toxicology, phone records. "What does the evidence say? ..There isn't any," defense says. #YustTrial

"Somehow Kylr is supposed to have pulled off two murders without leaving a trace.. There have been implications of physical evidence but there is not," defense says. #YustTrial

Points out that Runions' dna wasn't found on Yust's clothing. Says he let Kara's family look in his apt and didn't find anything. #YustTrial

Talks about red high top sneakers worn at the get together nite Runions went missing, when he was arrested, nothing found on bottom of his shoes. "It rained the night of Sept 8 into 9. If Kylr was going to go into woods w/ those shoes on.. there should've been mud.." #YustTrial

Defense says they care so much about the Yust peeing his pants story because it's not true. Says the pants were tested by the lab and didn't find any pee. #YustTrial

Going out for a live shot.. #YustTrial

I missed a little bit.. @AndyAlcock2 caught all of what I missed. The defense is going over a timeline, saying that it doesn't give Yust enough time to kill Jessica. Says Jessica's cell hit tower in Belton at 3am while Yust's phone is texting at home. #YustTrial

"Looking at the timelines, nothing about this works," defense says. #YustTrial

Defense says fire dept got to Jessica's burning car around 1:42ish. A tracking device (?) shows Kylr in Kingsville at 1:30, which is over 45 mins away. Says unless the fire goes out, reignites at the time the state "wants it to" this can't happen #YustTrial

Defense said Yust was burned from the burn barrel, that Uncle Paul testified he found a fire in the barrel after Yust, Carter, Taylor left his house #YustTrial

Defense said Jessica smoked weed the nite she disappeared. She's presenting toxicology reports.. #YustTrial

Their expert testified that THC would be in brain tissue 3-5 hrs after smoking it. Runions left friend's house around 11, 11:30 after smoking. Defense said records show Yust is home, texting at 2-2:46am. Says Jessica was alive until at least then. When did she die? #YustTrial

Defense says Yust didn't have an opportunity to kill her if he's at home and Runions phone is pinging at 3am in Belton. And toxicology report would have showed THC. #YustTrial

Defense shows jury a pic of the hair found near Jessica's remains, that it's brown but that she'd just dyed her hair strawberry blond. "Did she dye her hair between 12 and 1am?" Defense says. #YustTrial

"Looking at the science, there's a problem w/ the state's case, problem w/ the investigation.. We should be very suspect of all the evidence presented in this case," Defense says #YustTrial

Says police focused too much on Yust's paintings, his tattoo, his song lyrics. "Tattoos are not the same as DNA or phone records or toxicology, are they? Why are they spending their time on tattoos instead of timelines?" Defene says #YustTrial

Defense about police: All they had to do is go up to Carondelet Manor, talk to Mary Jean Zenoni, that if the police had gotten the video surveillance, "that would have been it." #YustTrial

Says Jessica going missing gave police an opportunity to arrest Yust because they had it out for him anyway #YustTrial

Defense says another possible phone number Carter had was never analyzed. #YustTrial

Said many witnesses changed their statements over time. Led to an environment where everyone knew each other and talked to each other. Says the rogue cop Meirer told them things that weren't true, created "toxic environment, poisoned the investigation." #YustTrial

Says Amy Clark, Kara's friend, only told police about Yust saying if he can't have her no one can - when Meirer spoke with her. Says the investigation should have been handled by objective people & that it wasn't. #YustTrial

Defense saying that Kyle Reynolds has a charge against him for lying to the police about this case, so he's not credible. Says Yeates isn't credible bc he said he thought Yust's confession was a dream, that he figured it out with police. #YustTrial

Defense says Katelyn Farris testified she never felt uncomfortable w/ Yust that day of the wiretap, then MOVED IN WITH HIM six months later. #YustTrial

Defense says Farris wiretap is not compelling evidence. #YustTrial

Defense: Candice Mathews didn't report her alleged assault to the police, instead posted on a Find Kara page, then got back with him. "If someone really tried to kill you.. choked you, punched you in the legs.. Would you get back together w/ them for 2 yrs?" #YustTrial

Says that Mathews was part of a group who was obsessed w/ death metal, sexualized death. That people were hanging out w/ him because he was on the news, he was a 'twisted local celebrity' in this culture. #YustTrial

Defense says Seth Duncan's statement is not credible. He's the friend remember who OD'd on heroin so he was pretty soft spoken on the stand. #YustTrial

Defense asks if the jailhouse call to Yusts's mom was really a confession or "was it a cry for help?" #YustTrial

"This is not evidence of murder in the first degree," Defense says about Yust's lashing out at family, friends, saying drunken things. Defense attacks state's argument about the spot in the woods being "his spot." #YustTrial

Defense says the only argument the state has is that Yust is the unluckiest man in the world, which is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. #YustTrial

Defense talking about unanswered questions, saying we dont know how Kara actually died. #YustTrial

Said we also don't know when Kara died, brings up Brett Bishop who claims he got a phone call from her nite she went missing but that the police never looked at his phone records. Police never checked the QT where someone claimed to see her. #YustTrial

Saying police didn't find anything in Uncle Paul's burn barrel. Mentions the shirt found in the bushes at Yust's neighbor's house. "If Kylr is going to burn a car to hid evidence, burning Jessica's clothes.. why is Kylr putting a shirt w/ his dna & Jessica's dna in the bushes?"

Defense is now alluding to Carter being the one to blame because he set the fire at Uncle Paul's and tried to stop the fire dept from putting it out. Says Carter and Taylor suddenly got married after 15 yrs so she couldn't testify #YustTrail

Wondering what Carter was doing after they dropped Yust off at the trailer, said that they didn't call the police until 2pm that day. "What was going on for those 6 hours? We don't know, we're never going to know." #YustTrial

Defense says police never went to Anthony Armstrong's (the cousin). "They just jumped to the conclusion, hey we've been after Kylr Yust for years, must be him." #YustTrial

"There are 2 young beautiful bright girls who are gone," defense says. "And that's horrible & their families have suffered. But your job is to look at the evidence. The evidence is not based on emotion." #YustTrial

"Maybe Kylr is the unluckiest man in the world, but that's not proof beyond a reasonable doubt... Look at the evidence in this case and find Kylr not guilty on both counts," Turlington finishes up now. #YustTrial

State gets another turn #YustTrial

Tolle: Let's talk about evidence. The phone records of K Kopetsky show her last call was at 10:25am, evidence is that her phone never recovered. #YustTrial

State: Kara's phone is hitting off a tower in KC area, which is where Yust was heading to supposedly visit his aunt. Yust's phone shows he's not making phone calls, texts from around 9-11ish am #YustTrial

State tries to tear apart Deborah Heflin's testimony that she saw Kara that day. Says Heflin is not credible because we know Kara was already dead, never made another phone call after 10:25am. #YustTrial

All the reporters had to step out for live shots! Prosecution still going.. Tolle set a timer for over a minute, I think she's doing this to show how long it takes to strangle someone to death.. to show that there was intent #YustTrial

"That's deliberation," Tolle said as the timer was up. "Put the pieces of the puzzle together, find defendant guilty of murder in the first degree... for killing Kara.. Jessica." #YustTrial

The judge gives the case to the jury for deliberations #YustTrial

We are breaking for the night at 10pm. Hearing that the jury isn't close. A verdict isn't happening tonight, we're told. #YustTrial

.@AFGutierrez is your man for coverage at 10 on @41actionnews. We will all be back tomorrow morning. #YustTrial

Back in Cass County. We're told the jury is already deliberating. They didn't go into the courtroom for anything first, just went straight to the jury room. It's a hurry-up-and-wait situation now. #YustTrial

The jury asked to see 3 of the prosecution's exhibits (evidence) to review. I didn't see what they were and no one would tell us. The attys were flipping thru pages, so it could be data, records, etc. #YustTrial

The jury has been deliberating for about 6.5 hours now including yesterday and today. #YustTrial

Hearing that Yust and defense attorneys are having lunch. Yust is in a cell eating a sack lunch. #YustTrial

Lunch for the jurors will be here in about 20 mins. They're eating Schlotzky's. #YustTrial

The jury asked to see what we assume are phone records, exhibit 41. They also wanted to see a map of Jackson/Cass counties because they're not from here. Judge gave them exhibit 41 but told them they'll have to rely on memory for the map. #YustTrial

The defense also filed a motion to acquit, saying the state did not do its job in proving Yust is guilty of anything - but the judge denied that. #YustTrial

Jury has another question.. going up to the courtroom to see what it is. #YustTrial

Jury requesting to see exhibits 39,40,23,25,27 - again we are assuming they look like phone records. The state attys wheeled in boxes full of stacks of paper. A LOT to review so the judge said we're in a short recess so defense has time to review first. #YustTrial

And they have to make copies for each of the jurors, so that explains why there are so many stacks of paper. #YustTrial

The defense reviewed, now the judge is wheeling these exhibits over to the jury now. #YustTrial

Jury has another question. Going up to check.. be back down soon. #YustTrial

Jury had an issue with instruction 19, which is whether or not Yust was in Cass county on Sept 8 2016 between 11:45pm ish and Sept 9 2016 6am. They said they are not qualified to make that determination since they're not from here. Both sides say, GET THEM A MAP #YustTrial

There are multiple instructions. This one instruction, 19, says if the jury finds that Yust was in Cass county between those timeframes, they should find him guilty. #YustTrial

The prosecution & defense will print out a google map of the nearby counties, I think showing Cass county lines. They'll get that printed out and the judge will come back. #YustTrial

We're pretty sure the jurors have asked for multiple cell phone records. They wanted a map of Jackson/Cass county lines. It appears to me that they are trying to pinpoint phone pings & make sure they know what county they pinged in at what time. I could be wrong! #YustTrial

We hear they're coming back in. #YustTrial

Reminder: If Yust is found guilty of first-degree murder, it's an automatic life sentence. If the jury finds him guilty of a lesser charge, the jury would hear victim impact statements & decide on a sentence. #YustTrial

To clarify: the attorneys will come back in the courtroom w/ the map for the jury. #YustTrial

Judge is having the attorneys look over the note the jury sent him. He also wants it on record that he normally wouldn't allow anything to go back to the jury but both sides are in agreement, wants to make sure Yust understands this. Judge will come back. #YustTrial

The defense looked over the note, the map. The judge will send copies of the map back to the jury to see if that satisfies what they need. #YustTrial

BREAKING: THEY HAVE A VERDICT

BREAKING: We're waiting on a verdict in the #YustTrial

I will be in the courtroom to see reaction. I cannot take my phone so follow @41actionnews @AndyAlcock2 @AFGutierrez for the verdict, any other info. I hope to be able to add any information ASAP. #YustTrial

You've heard it already, but Yust found guilty of voluntary manslaughter on count 1 in the death of Kara Kopetsky, guilty of 2nd degree murder on count 2 in the death of Jessica Runions. Tomorrow the jury will start the process to deliberate sentencing. #YustTrial

Before verdict, both girls' families were already crying, shaking, rubbing backs, Rhonda & Jamie (girls' moms) were holding hands. Jessica's dad/stepmom visibly upset, nervous. #YustTrial

After the verdict, there wasn't a sound. I was sitting behind the families so I couldn't see their faces. #YustTrial

Judge Collins reminded everyone to stay calm. I didn't get to see Yust's face either since he was facing the judge. But afterward as he went back to the defense table, I couldn't read any emotion on his face but he had a mask on too. #YustTrial

Judge Collins was very soft-spoken after reading the verdict, telling the jury what comes next. #YustTrial

Neither of the families wanted to speak to us tonight understandably. The family told me they are waiting until after sentencing to speak publicly. #YustTrial

Back in Cass County.. will hear the judge give the jury sentencing instructions, hear family impact statements, and the defense has witness statements too. #YustTrial

I will be in the courtroom hearing all this, can’t live tweet. @AndyAlcock2 is here, he’s down in the media room with live updates. #YustTrial

Just came down from the courtroom. We heard raw emotional testimony from the girls' families, who were interrupted several times by the defense. I don't remember a trial where the defense interrupted victims' families so many times. #YustTrial

We heard from Kara's mom, dad, stepdad, and little brother, who was 8 years old when she went missing/was killed. Heard from Jessica's mom, dad, little sister, who was 14 when Jessica went missing/was killed. Hearing from the siblings was especially emotional. #YustTrial

The defense called up Yust's neighbors who lived across the street for 15 yrs and two of his friends. The state only had re-cross for one of them: "So you've had all these epic good times w/ this man right? And you're alive, aren't you?" #YustTrial

When the girls' families would say or start to say that Yust will kill again if given the chance, the defense would interrupt and then the state would kind of have to redirect and move on to another question. #YustTrial

The state told the jury that Yust is a registered drug offender who served time in fed prison, got out and "here he is again." #YustTrial

State asked the jury to issue max of 15 yrs for the vol. manslaughter conviction and max of life for the 2nd degree murder conviction. Reiterated that the girls' bodies were left to rot, left for the animals, trees grew from their flesh.He got morbid for a sec. #YustTrial

Ben Butler got kind of metaphoric, using the number of years for sentencing and comparing to the girls' lives being cut short as such a young age.. #YustTrial

Then the defense told jury that they dealt w/ "hostile setting" and "insurmountable odds." But they will always fight for Yust without shame or regret. Telling the jury that the max sentence is not the default. #YustTrial

Defense telling the jury they showed "profound" courage in not finding Yust guilty of 1st degree murder, asking them to be courageous again & give Yust a chance at a furture, that they can help shape/mold Yust #YustTrial

Defense (Molly Hastings) said everyone has "incessantly" pointed @ him, refused to call him by name. Accused the state, the media, the community of a "steadfast effort" to strip him of any humanity. #YustTrial

Defense asked jury to see Yust as they do: an artist, a "goofball," talented, as a child sitting w/ his backpack waiting for his mom to show up but never did. "Yust is more than this trial," defense said. #YustTrial

State (Butler) gets back up there & says he's heard enough about what Yust has done, about him being an artist. Said if Yust is an artist, he took the bones of Kara and Jessica and "painted them across the woods and left them there to rot. That's not life." #YustTrial

Something that stood out to me when Jim Beckford, Kara's stepdad, was testifying -- Her mom has paid Kara's phone bill for the last 14, almost 15, years. So her phone is still on. Jim said he called her number last Sunday just to hear a whisp of her voice. #YustTrial

Thomas Beckford, Kara's now 22 yr old brother, talked about how hard it was on him. Growing up & everyone knowing who he was, talking about his family. "When you do find her, you only find a quarter of her and you wonder how big of a box she'll fit in." #YustTrial

Rhonda Beckford, Kara's mom, really doesn't cry a lot when she does interviews, talks anymore. But she choked up when she talked about her mother, Kara's gma, who died in March & had hoped to live to see justice. But now she's in heaven w/ Kara. #YustTrial

Kara's family said she was spontaneous, exceptional, intelligent, loyal - but that she was also forgiving and that's what cost her her life. #YustTrial

Jessica's mom Jamie spent a lot of time talking about the bond she had w/ her little sisters. Family was everything to Jessica & had a wonderful childhood. She was responsible, took her job seriously. #YustTrial

Jessica's dad, John, talked about feeling disbelief, grief, relief, fear, anger. "I wouldn't be sitting here telling the jury about the impact on my life if on Sept 8 2016 this man didn't take my daughter's life." #YustTrial

Megan Runions, one of Jessica's little sisters, said she lost her best friend. After Jessica went missing she felt so empty inside that she wanted to end her life, but thought about what Jessica would want her to do, so she picked herself up & graduated in her honor. #YustTrial

Mike Kopetsky, Kara's dad, said at one point they thought they'd live the rest of their lives w/ no answer. But now Kara's his "everlasting life," that she reminds him of who his is as a person. #YustTrial

Logan Wolstrom (spell?) and his mom testified for Yust, they were his neighbors growing up when he lived w/ grandparents. Said his mom was never around. He was a great person, "This is not the Kylr I know." #YustTrial

The defense asked Logan's mom if she had any reason to think Yust could have done this. "He didn't," she said. This got some reaction from the victims' families, like shaking heads, wincing. #YustTrial

Sierra West testified she's known Yust since high school, reconnected in college. Said he's super friendly, charismatic, they'd "rock out" & have fun. Said he's a talented artist, had a lot of friends. Never felt scared for her safety & couldn't believe he was charged. #YustTrial

Another girl, only ID'd as A.G., testified she knew Yust in high school thru her boyfriend. Became closer friends after he went to jail a few yrs ago. "The Kylr I knew isn't anything like he's portrayed to be," AG said. Describes him as kind, supportive. #YustTrial

We just got the 30 minute heads-up that the jury has decided on a sentence for Yust. #YustTrial

I'm going up to the courtroom, so again, no phone. @AFGutierrez and @AndyAlcock2 will tweet live updates. The jury deliberated for nearly 2 hours. #YustTrial

SENTENCE: 15 years for count 1, Life for count 2. I saw no reaction in Yust's face. I could just see him staring straight ahead, either at the wall or the table. #YustTrial

The judge will decide if those sentences run concurrent or consecutively on June 7th 2:30pm. #YustTrial

By the reaction I saw from Jessica's family, this is what they wanted. Life is the max. For Kara's, 15 years is the max. However from her family's reaction and what they've said before, 15 years is not enough for them. #YustTrial

In MO, a life sentence for 2nd degree murder is capped at 30 years. So he can get out but will be monitored for the rest of his life. #YustTrial