Thread by @MattFlenerKMBC

Lunch break until 12:30.

@kmbc #YustTrial

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

The judge denied it.

The case moved on.

@kmbc #YustTrial

NOTE: I have deleted previous tweets from my timeline identifying a witness in the case this morning. The witness testified about sensitive details regarding an assault.

The judge has yet to rule on whether her testimony can be included.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Back from lunch for a quick aside between attorneys. Sounds like they were getting the jury lined up to come back, but now the judge is putting that on hold. It was hard to hear why.

@kmbc #YustTrial

We are back for a defense "offer of proof."
Jury still not in room.
We are hearing from Robert Lundt -- one of Kylr Yust's former public defense attorneys. Testifying about meeting with Johnine (sp?) Robinson (Yust's mother) and Jessep Carter. November of 2017.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Jessep Carter was there in the house in November of 2017, Lundt testifies.
He told Carter "we don't want to talk to you. You are represented. We don't have a way to get a hold of your lawyer."
"We don't want to talk about the facts of the case in front of you."
@kmbc #YustTrial

Lundt said attorneys were there to get the "whole background story of Kylr's life."

Robinson answered all questions, Lundt testifies.

Attorneys go to leave. Lundt testifies Jessep Carter came out to approach vehicle. He was by himself.

"He waved us down."
@kmbc #YustTrial

LUNDT: "He said, you tell Kylr he better plead guilty because I've talked to the police, I've talked to the FBI. ...I've told them everything I did and who did it with."

He was kind of hostile, almost threatening.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecution: Jessep Carter is not on trial. Kylr Yust is on trial. They want to put Carter on trial.

Judge Collins rules the jury WON'T hear Lundt's testimony about Jessep Carter's statement.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecution: Because the jury has had to wait all day today, the state will be prepared to close on Wednesday if the defense rests on Wednesday.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense is asking to see if they can make closing arguments on Thursday.

"We'll have a good idea tomorrow afternoon," Turlington said about when she will know closing arguments can happen.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Now, a paralegal for the Missouri public defender's office is on the stand. Jury still not in room.

She's talking about contacting Quiktrip for records. This may have to do with an alleged sighting of Kara Kopetsky at the Belton Quiktrip.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecution establishes the paralegal did not seek a subpoena for Quiktrip records.

She was requesting records from 2007.

QT had no records she was requesting.

Turlington: Did you need to send them a court order because there was no records?

Paralegal: No.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Now, arguments back/forth between prosecution and defense about the QT employment records.

Judge said, "I can't even get to how this is relevant to anything."

Judge will NOT permit the affidavit or the public defender's paralegal to testify about QT records.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The defense is trying to make the argument they wanted to talk to a QT employee who may have been able to testify about potentially seeing Kara there. And -- the defense got no records to show who the QT employee was.

But, argument didn't stick.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Now -- paralegal back testifying re: trying to get records from Ascension healthcare regarding Kylr Yust's great aunt.
Yust's alibi in the Kara Kopetsky case says he went to visit his great aunt at Carondolet Manor nursing home on the day Kopetsky went missing.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecution/defense now arguing about the Ascension records and whether the paralegal can testify.

Judge questions how well the affidavit about records is filled out.

Turlington says "this is notarized."

Judge: By the paralegal.
Get her back up here.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Paralegal now testifying about Ascension rep providing affidavit about not having employment records. Paralegal said she then notarized it.

Prosecutor Ben Butler: He did not fill out the form completely. Then, you notarized it?

@kmbc #YustTrial

"There is no email traffic or recognition of what the affidavit is signed for," Butler said.
Butler:"You don't know what there is no records of?
Paralegal: "Yeah, there is no records for Mary Zinone."
Judge WILL let paralegal testify about affidavit for Ascension @kmbc #YustTrial

At 1:46 p.m. the jury returns nearly four hours after they last heard defense witness testimony. They did get lunch. But, other than that, they've been waiting.

Kim Pyles, criminal investigator, for the Hastings law firm is now testifying.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Pyles is now testifying about the events after Jessica Runions went missing on Sept. 8, 2016.

Pyles investigated the case for the defense.

Talking about timelines showed a map. After short testimony, done.

@kmbc #Yusttrial

Paralegal now testifying about trying to get medical records of Kylr Yust's great aunt from Ascension healthcare.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Paralegal contacted the custodian of records for Ascension. She got a business affidavit that the Ascension custodian of records filled out. She found they had no records for great aunt. She notarized the affidavit.

@kmbc #YustTrial

State asks no questions.

Paralegal is done.

Defense asks to approach bench.

@kmbc #YustTrial

At 2:00 p.m. defense is done presenting for the day.

Judge calls a recess for the day.

The jury heard from only five defense witnesses today.

Defense says they have 16 witnesses tomorrow. More on Wednesday.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Some observations here...based on what we've heard today. The jury ***could*** start deliberating this case - later this week. No guarantees. But if closing arguments happen Wednesday or Thursday as we heard today, it's feasible.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins is taking advantage of the rest of the day to ask the defense and prosecution to come up with jury instructions.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The defense has had years to prepare for this trial. I'll be asking -- after trial -- why they only had five witnesses ready to go on day one of their case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

We're back for a conference about jury instructions.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The judge grants one hour and fifteen minutes for closing arguments for both the defense and prosecution.

@kmbc #YustTrial

At 3:35 p.m. we are done for the day.

@kmbc #YustTrial

YUST TRIAL DAY 8: We're expecting up to 16 witnesses today in the double murder trial for Kylr Yust.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Here is Monday's recap. The defense's case started with several issues.

@kmbc #YustTrial

kmbc.com/article/the-tr…

The jury is coming in to hear the first defense witnesses of the day.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense calls Matt Bauchle (sp?). He works for Ignite Medical Resort - Carondelet.

Where Kylr Yust's great aunt lived.

From 2007 to today, several ownership changes, he testifies.

Standard procedure for keeping medical records is seven years.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense calls James Trainum. He is a case review consultant on police practices. He reviewed the police investigations for the defense team.

Here is Trainum's book on Amazon.

amazon.com/Police-Generat…

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum is testifying about tunnel vision and confirmation bias during police investigations.

@kmbc #YustTrial

He talks about evidence collection failure, evidence evaluation problems, and evidence analysis problems.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"High profile cases put a lot of pressure on," to do something quickly, Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"If we feel that a witness is not being forthright, we resort to those very coercive tactics," Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Supervisory issues.

If supervisors aren't well trained to look and go back and be devil's advocates, it can cause problems, Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum talks about forensic problems in investigations.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum said reward money can cause problems during investigations.

"The reward should not be linked to a condition," Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

As for emotional connection to families:

"It's hard not to become and advocate and try to do the best you can to solve this case and get the bad guy," Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

James Trainum, a former Washington D.C. police detective, talks about police investigative failures during the double murder trial of Kylr Yust.

Trainum says he was paid $10,000 by Yust's defense team to consult in this case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum said he started reviewing the case in 2019, spending at least 160 hours going over the case.

He created a timeline of the case.

He reviewed witness interview transcripts and depositions.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum testifies police did not collect enough evidence regarding Kylr Yust's alibi in the Kara Kopetsky case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The gold standard investigators want during investigations from suspects:

"I'm telling you information you didn't know."

And it's something you can go out and check.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum said investigators could have gone to interview staff at the nursing home where Yust said he was with his grandfather on May 4, 2007.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Now, Trainum is talking about outside investigators in the Kopetsky case.

"They began to conduct their own investigation. They began interviewing witnesses, approaching witnesses," Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum said they had a lot of access to inside information about the case because of Kansas City Missouri police officer Joshua Meierer.

Back/forth questions and objections by prosecution.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum said he reviewed a deposition from Ofcr. Meierer. He said Meierer did not document many things during his investigation.

"He didn't put down what he was finding out," Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum testifies he saw problems with the Belton Police investigation.

"There might be evidence that take them in another direction. There might be evidence that would strengthen the case right there."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum says KCPD Officer Joshua Meierer broke several rules about interviewing witnesses by giving them leading questions and false info.
Defense: How does that affect the witnesses?
"It impacts their reliability," Trainum said. "Their ultimate reliability."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum said family members can become a problem during police investigations if they conduct their own investigations.

"It definitely can muddy up the waters," Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Re: supervisory issues.

Reigning in Officer Meierer was one of them, Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Media attention can become a problem. Supervisors will start making decisions based on appearance rather than what's good for the investigation, Trainum testified.

Media had access to police reports they shouldn't have had, Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Specific examples of investigative failure.

Witnesses changed statements over time.

"You always want to know why a witness changes their statements," Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The defense brings up Amy Clark.

Prosecution objects.

After what looked like a somewhat heated meeting at the bench, Judge Collins is sending the jury out.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense/prosecution arguing about Trainum's testimony regarding Amy Clark.

It sounds like Trainum slipped somehow in his testimony, but I'm not exactly clear how.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"Your job is not to tell people what the jury should decide," Judge Collins tells Trainum, away from the jury.

"I will be extremely cautious," Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum now talking about Amy Clark getting approached by Officer Meierer to give a statement. Trainum said before she talked to Meierer, family members of Kopetsky spoke with her.

Clark testified earlier in the trial she noticed Yust had abused Kopetsky.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Questioning Trainum, defense attorney Sharon Turlington brings up "Ice Princess."

Prosecution objects.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum talking about Ice Princess. He said police did not document evidence about Ice Princess.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Turlington now bringing up Kylr Yust's art and tattoos.

Turlington goes to hand something to Trainum.

Prosecution objects. They approached the bench again.

Prosecution firing several salvos of objections and approaches during Trainum's testimony.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Questioning resumes about Yust's art/tattoos.

Prosecution objects again.

"Same arguments we made at the bench," Tolle said.

Questioning resumes.

Trainum looking at FBI report about Yust's tattoos. Then, a separate report about tattoos. Then, another report about tattoos and drawings.

@kmbc #YustTrial

More defense questions for Trainum about several witnesses in the same community.

Prosecution objects again.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Questioning resumes regarding several witnesses in the same community.

Trainum testifies you don't want cross contamination going on during investigation. You have to realize it happens.

@kmbc #YustTrial

RE: Kara Kopetsky case, does the cross contamination becomes an issue?

Memories fade. Memories get altered. Exposure to media. Records disappear. People die, Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense: How did Kopetsky case affect Runions case?

Trainum: There was even more pressure for police to solve this thing. Rush to judgement, skipping some of the investigative measures they should've taken, he said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense: Are your opinions in this case within a reasonable degree of certainty as to investigative failure.

Trainum: Yes.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecution now questioning Trainum about reviewing Kara Kopetsky's protection order and statements made by Kopetsky about Yust.

"It was less than a week later, that Kara went missing and was killed," Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"The place that is a real good starting place is when you have a suspect, a boyfriend," who has a history about domestic abuse, Tolle said.
"In reality, that man sitting right over there was the prime suspect because he had a history of abusing Kara," Tolle said.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Re: phone records.
Tolle: "You're aware, then, that the last phone call that Kopetsky makes is 10:25 on 5/4?"
"I don't have my chart with me but that sounds about right," Trainum said.
Yust texting/making calls, not sleeping, as he told police, Tolle said. @kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle is *really* picking apart what Trainum knew about phone records. She is trying to emphasize for the jury the evidence prosecutors have in the case about Kara's phone records and Yust's alibi.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Back/forth between Trainum and Tolle.

"We know that the last call that Kara accepts before walking out of Belton High School is from that man sitting right over there," prosecutor Julie Tolle said.

"I believe so, yes," Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum said he doesn't remember the emails Kylr sent to Jessica.

You didn't read them? They would stick out right? Tolle said.

"The defendant's pretty pitiful in them, and absolutely desperate to hold on to this relationship," Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle, in her questioning, is getting in digs about Trainum not reviewing certain timelines/reports the prosecution has presented as evidence in the case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Kylr Yust pictured here with his defense attorney Molly Hastings.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle questioning Trainum about Jessica Runions' case now.

@kmbc #YustTrial

It is becoming clear what Tolle is doing while questioning Trainum. She is using this cross/ex. to go over the very important facts of the cases and narrative again.

She's basically getting Trainum to agree to all the things with Yust that happened.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle: And so you're criticism of the KCPD is that this was a suspect driven investigation.

Trainum: No, that's not correct.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle going after Trainum for the money he was paid vs. his criticism of reward money during investigations.

"I'm not being paid to testify," Trainum said. "I am being paid to review and provide an opinion."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Your opinon today is Kylr Yust was the primary suspect in Kara and Jessica's deaths, Tolle asks.

"That is my opinion, yes," Trainum said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Sharon Turlington, Yust's main defense attorney, getting back up for redirect of Trainum.

She's going over more of the alleged investigative failures.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Turlington: No one is going to disagree that it would be appropriate to consider Kylr a person of interest in these cases.

Trainum: That's correct

(Important context continued in next tweet)

@kmbc #Yusttrial

Turlington: If someone is a person of interest, does that mean that all other information should be excluded?

Trainum: No, because of confirmation bias.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum is done.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Morning recess.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins now bringing James Trainum back for an "offer of proof," away from the jury.

This is an argument about what he might testify about in front of the jury.

Trainum is now talking about Billy Bayes as an alternative suspect.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The defense is arguing there are multiple people who say Bayes confessed to them.

Prosecution objects to Trainum testifying about Bayes.

Bayes testified during an offer of proof yesterday he had nothing to do with Kara's disappearance.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins: I've never heard of this ever before.

Collins allows defense to ask Trainum about law enforcement following up on Bayes' leads.

Trainum said law enforcement did not do enough to investigate Billy Bayes' leads.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecution: What about hearsay? There is one witness, who says Billy Bayes told him.

Bayes said on the stand yesterday, I've never met the guy.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Trainum is done, again.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Michael Strong with the Belton Police Department now on the stand for an offer of proof, away from the jury.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Testimony is about a woman's tip regarding a gold colored station wagon.

Strong is done for the offer of proof.

@kmbc #YustTrial

John Mogilnicki, KCPD, now on the stand for an offer of proof for a traffic stop he made in 2007.

Plate didn't match car. Sounds like similar car to what witness told Belton PD.

Jessep Carter came out of house and went toward vehicle, Mogilnicki testified.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"We have placement of a very similar car in the location where the bodies were actually located," Molly Hastings said.

There is no offer of proof or testimony from, the woman who made report to Officer Strong, prosecution argues.

Hearsay, prosecution argues.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins *excludes* testimony of the two officers in the case regarding testimony about seeing Jessep Carter near the car in 2007.

This is after the prosecution argued Jessep Carter is not the suspect in this case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Jury is now returning.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense calls Judy (sp?) Young. Lives in South Kansas City.

Sept. 11, 2016. She called KCPD about a car she had seen. It fit the description of a car police wanted to find in Jessica Runions' disappearance.

@kmbc #YustTrial

She saw a dark-colored "hatchback" car in an area where illegal dumpers dump trash. (I didn't catch the exact location.)

@kmbc #YustTrial

She told police it was Sept. 9, 2016 when she saw the vehicle.

@kmbc #yusttrial

Matt Vigil has no more questions.

No questions from prosecution.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Anthony "Tony" Armstrong takes the stand. Anthony Armstrong is his son.

Son is Jessep's cousin.

Prosecution asks to approach the bench.

@kmbc #YustTrial

This is Tony Armstrong on the stand.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins is now sending the jury back out for a short recess.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust attorney Matt Vigil now talking to Tony Armstrong without the jury present. Talking about reviewing surveillance video from his property.
Anthony Armstrong = Jessep Carter's cousin. Jessep stopped at Armstrong's house in Lone Jack w/ Yust, Crystal Taylor.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Butler now cross examining. Apparently the surveillance video was sold in a transaction.

Armstrong wanted to know why Jessep was at the house.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Jury not present, still.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Butler: Isn't it your belief your son is a member of the Russian czar family?
Isn't it true that your family has seen and had communications with the Russians, right?
Armstrong: I have nothing to do with that.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Butler: Was the video recorded in Russia or in Missouri?

Armstrong. It was recorded in Missouri.

Butler: It could be Russian time zones?

Armstrong: It wasn't made in Russia. It was made in Missouri.

@kmbc #YustTrial

(This is quite a sidetrack)

@kmbc #YustTrial

Butler trying to point out problems with the chain of custody (Russia? Missouri?) of the surveillance video.

@kmbc #yussttrial

Yust defense attorney: Did you doctor the DVR?

Armstrong: No.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Ben Butler: "This witness himself fails in the form of credibility. Let alone this tape, which we have not seen."

Collins: Video has been handed off to multiple people.

Collins is not going allow Anthony Armstrong to testify about video.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Now, Judge Collins calls Armstrong back to testify about what he observed the day of Sept. 9, 2016. He saw Jessep's car in the driveway and another vehicle.

The house is southeast of Lone Jack.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Butler establishes on cross/ex. that Anthony Armstrong did not see Jessep Carter on Sept. 9, 2016.

@kmbc #YustTrial

There is discussion about why Anthony Armstrong testified about seeing Jessep Carter's Tahoe.
Testimony earlier in trial said Jessep drove a Durango.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Hard to see where defense is going here with this argument about Jessep Carter at Anthony Armstrong's property.

Butler arguing Tony Armstrong isn't credible.

The judge rules the witness is not reliable in regards to his testimony. Tony Armstrong is excluded.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yet another witness excluded for the defense.

@kmbc #YustTrial

We're back. We are now hearing "offer of proof" testimony from Lisa Taylor Austin, away from the jury. She is a psychotherapist, gang expert, and counseling expert.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Here is Lisa Taylor Austin testifying via Webex.

She is now going to testify about coded messages via gang culture.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Allen Edmonds from @NorthCassHerald has a great explanation for offer of proof arguments.

https://twitter.com/NorthCassHerald/status/1382017414238507010

@kmbc #YustTrial

Lisa Taylor Austin is now testifying about a coded message on a notepad found in Jessep Carter's jail cell. Judge Collins has already not allowed two jail guards to testify about this issue. Will be interesting to see if he allows this witness.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Taylor Austin testifies the drawing on the note pad appears to be some sort of coded message.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Taylor Austin said she reached out to multiple people, including Kylr Yust, about the coded message. She asked Yust about how he was related to Carter. She asked if anyone in his family was a freemason. She asked him to try and decipher the message.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Taylor Austin said she also reached out to a Jewish rabbi to see if the note was written in Gematria.

If you're wondering...

web.library.yale.edu/cataloging/heb…

@kmbc #YustTrial

Taylor Austin said she cannot tell definitively what the coded message meant.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Taylor Austin testified she tried use a bible to decode the message. She didn't have the exact bible Jessep Carter had.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust told Taylor Austin a family member was a freemason, according to her testimony. Yust said the family member would sometimes communicate in Gematria.

@kmbc #YustTrial

She said that prisoners and criminal street gangs often use a "bastardized" or street version of Gematria.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Just to be clear. This testimony is NOT before the jury. We're still in an offer of proof argument.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecution finally objects after about 40 minutes. Prosecutor Julie Tolle asks to cut off the testimony, since the evidence is not relevant.
Judge Collins lets Taylor Austin finish her testimony.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust's main defense attorney Sharon Turlington questions Lisa Taylor Austin, an expert in gang messaging and coded messaging, about a note found in Jessep Carter's jail cell after he committed suicide in the Jackson County jail in 2018.

Taylor Austin has possible and probable opinions about the message.
"Lines 4 and 5 do have a message."
Line 5 starts with Letter I and ends with G, she said.
"I kill or G"
"I tell 11 G"
"I don't know what g means." It could mean girls, guys, she said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

State has no questions for the witness. Witness dismissed for now.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Arguments about Taylor Austin's testimony begin.

Turlington said Jessep Carter was found alone. Notepad was found in his cell. No reason to believe anyone else wrote it, she said.

She argues Jessep Carter was involved in multiple parts of the Runions case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"This code person doesn't meet the reliability test," based on multiple ways she interpreted the code found in Jessep Carter's jail cell, Collins said.

The jury will NOT get to hear Lisa Taylor Austin's testimony.

Another blow to the defense's case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense calls forensic anthropologist Dr. Rick Snow.

Snow's bio:

forensicscsi.com

@kmbc #YustTrial

Snow says he's testified for prosecution in criminal cases 10 times.

Defense once.

@kmbc #YustTrial

If I wasn't clear -- the jury *IS* back to listen to Dr. Rick Snow.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Snow reviewed a number of documents on the crime scene, recovery, background on the two girls, for the defense.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Snow also came to Missouri to examine the remains of Kara Kopetsky and Jessica Runions.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Snow is now testifying about how investigators can make mistakes in recovering human remains.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Snow said the remains were found over a very large area.

He said many remains were scattered by coyotes and dogs.

The major problem he found was the investigation about the origins of where investigators found the remains.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Snow said he *did* agree about the origin site of the remains.

He wanted to see if investigators found a hyoid bone, especially in a strangulation case.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyoid_bon…(lingual%20bone,cervical%20vertebra%20(C3)%20behind.

@kmbc @YustTrial

He said investigators should've driven a stake into the ground at each origin site, then measured from the stake where investigators found bones.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Dr. Rick Snow testifying on behalf of the defense at the double murder trial of Kylr Yust on April 13, 2021.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Dr. Snow testifies if investigators would've conducted a proper recovery effort they could've recovered the hyoid bones of Jessica Runions and Kara Kopetsky.

@kmbc #YustTrial

No questions by prosecution for Dr. Snow.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Kevin Winer KCPD Crime Lab director now on the stand for defense. During the Runions case, he was supervisor of trace evidence section of crime lab.

@kmbc #YustTrial

He is testifying about red high top shoes. Missed some of his testimony due to a quick bathroom break!

@kmbc #YustTrial

He did some research if there was rainfall on Sept. 8.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Winer is done.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Nicole Blackwell works in the DNA section of KCPD Crime Lab.

She is on the stand, now.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Blackwell said she was asked to examine Kylr Yust's clothing gathered on Sept. 11, 2016.

She was asked to see if there were any urine stains on Yust's jeans.

Flourescent stains but nothing consistent with urine stains, Blackwell said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Blackwell said she saw a bloodstain on the bottom sole of Yust's left shoe using a stereoscope.

Looked like a normal pair of shoes. Red. Darker staining areas on them.

Two bloodstains on Yust's shirt, Blackwell said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecution. There is no way to know whether shirt/shoes/jeans were wearing are the same ones worn on the night Jessica Runions went missing.

Blackwell: Correct.

@kmbc #YustTrial

edit: shirt/shoes/jeans *Yust was wearing*

Brianna Bennett Moore (sp?)

She casually and briefly dates Kylr Yust in late August 2016.

Went to a wedding with him.

She added him on FB and he messaged her.

@kmbc #YustTrial

She reached out to Kylr Yust because she watched an episode of Disappeared. She was curious if she could get to know him and figure anything out.

Defense: Did you?

Moore: "I did not.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Sandy Schneider (sp?), property manager of Apple Creek Apartments. Yust lived there.

She testified about posters on property saying "we know what you did."

Quick testimony.

She's done.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Recess to let jury leave.

@kmbc #YustTrial

More offers of proof witnesses to come, it sounds like.

Judge Collins steps out.

Not exactly sure what is going on. But, it sounds like we are in a short recess.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge and attorneys are back.

Sounds like a witness will testify at 3 for an offer of proof -- not before the jury. No other offers of proof today.

Judge is updating jury.

Jury is going to recess for the day.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Jury gone.

Judge talks briefly about jury instructions. Says they will finalize tomorrow.

Stand in recess until 3 (i believe).

@kmbc #YustTrial

We are back for an "offer of proof" hearing away from the jury.

Witness called to stand -- initials J.S. -- who does not want to be on camera.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Witness J.S. testifies during offer of proof hearing.

In 2007, he lived in the KC area. He knew Billy Bayes.

Bayes was an acquaintance of J.S. -- a "customer."

@kmbc #YustTrial

J.S. testifies Bayes told him there was the "missing Belton girl." A man (P.S.) and guy named K.Y. was there.
Was two other men with K.Y. initials other than Yust in Belton.
@kmbc #YustTrial

J.S. testifies the missing girl was doing drugs.
They were getting high. Bayes shot her up and "they flocked."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Flocked = overdosed. They started to take her to hospital. She died. They disposed of body. Bayes mentioned it to J.S. more than once, J.S. testifies. Bayes worried he was going to jail for the rest of his life, for shooting her up then flocking, J.S. testifies. @kmbc #YustTrial

J.S. testifies he talked to police in 2008. He said he reviewed police reports today before he testified.

"There's stuff in there I didn't say," J.S. said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Butler: Doing OK? Sound mind? Any substances? You want to say your piece here in court?

J.S. It bothered me before. Now, you got a situation where somebody's gonna go to prison for something they didn't do, J.S. testifies.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Butler: Bayes did it, is that what you believe?

J.S.: Yes.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Butler: Billy Bayes, P.S., and one of the K.Y. brothers from Belton.

Butler: Did they kill Jessica?

J.S. I moved out of the area.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Butler: July 11, 2008. Do you remember that month?
Did you point the finger at Billy to get out of jail?

J.S.: I did my days and I got out of jail.

Butler: The idea of pointing the finger at Billy was so that you would get out of jail.

@kmbc #YustTrial

J.S. testifies he was selling Bayes crystal meth in 2007 and 2008.

I just want to make sure that if you were selling crystal meth to Billy Bayes at the same time he admitted to you to doing this. Could it have been because of an issue?

@kmbc #YustTrial

J.S.: You know what? My drug dealing days are over.

Butler: Those were your clients. Bayes and P.S.

In '08 could things have been foggy, were you using drugs then?

Could that have influenced your memory, Butler said.

No, J.S. said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"I did not walk back off my statement," J.S. testifies.

J.S. is done with the offer of proof argument.

Now, prosecution/defense going back/forth between judge.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins rules he will NOT allow J.S. to testify before the jury due to reliability issues.

@kmbc #YustTrial

We are done for the day. The defense has a couple more witnesses tomorrow. Then, we could roll right into closing arguments.

The big question. Will Kylr Yust testify?

@kmbc #YustTrial

Also...to be clear about J.S.'s testimony...Billy Bayes took the stand yesterday away from the jury to say he had nothing to do with Kara Kopetsky's disappearance/murder.

@kmbc #yusttrial

Five total defense witnesses Judge Collins excluded today.

@kmbc #YustTrial

YUST TRIAL DAY 9: Kylr Yust's defense team is expected to call more witnesses today. Closing arguments could happen, too.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins is now going over jury instructions with prosecution/defense.

@kmbc #YustTrial

This is a procedural step for the prosecution/defense to get on the same page before the jury receives instructions on how to deliberate.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury is not in the courtroom, yet.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Looking ahead to closing arguments. Judge Collins has given prosecution/defense one hour and fifteen minutes each.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury can deliberate several charges. 1st/2nd degree murder. Voluntary/involuntary manslaughter. Not guilty. The jury will get separate verdict forms for each case, according to the instructions Judge Collins is reading before the court.

@kmbc #YustTrial

CONTEXT: I am unsure if the jury will be able to deliberate all the charges for both girls. It was hard to hear the judge and keep up with the instructions on count two.

@kmbc #YustTrial

After jury instructions, Kylr Yust's lead defense attorney Sharon Turlington approaches the bench to talk to Judge Collins with the prosecution there, too. I cannot hear the arguments or conversation.

@kmbc #YustTrial

It sounds like there was an argument about Tony Armstrong's testimony on Tues. Judge Collins reiterates he excluded Armstrong and any surveillance video Armstrong would reference. Collins says he allowed defense to include the video in evidence for an appeal.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense is trying to argue again to include Lisa Taylor Austin, the psychotherapist who tried to decode the message found in Jessep Carter's jail cell. Judge Collins said he had reliability and relevance issues with her testimony, so he excluded her.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense calls Jon Thomas. Works for Jon Thomas and Associates.

Thomas has a specialty in crime scene/fire investigation.

jonthomasassociates.com

@kmbc #YustTrial

Thomas said the defense paid him for his opinion. Not paid based on his testimony.

"I am going to state the facts that I see and that's it," Thomas said.

Thomas reviewed Jessica Runions' SUV fire. He wrote a report.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Here is a link for today's story. My tweets will show up in this story.

@kmbc #YustTrial

kmbc.com/article/the-tr…

Vehicle was not processed on scene of fire, Thomas said.

Thomas said there is no documentation of the SUV on scene, Thomas said. There is no documentation that anyone from law enforcement stayed with the vehicle from when found to when processed.

@kmbc #YustTrial

It's important to document the SUV on scene because there was glass that could've melted.

"There is documentation showing that fire debris was not collected correctly and placed in arson cans," Thomas's report says.

@kmbc #YustTrial

There is no documentation that anybody looked at the electrical in the vehicle to rule that out, Thomas said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Thomas said he had concerns with how investigators processed evidence from the scene.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Thomas said he saw no pictures or evidence of glass on the ground at the SUV site in south Kansas City.

Thomas now talking about how a fire puts itself out.

Thomas said he could not determine if the fire put itself out due to documentation issues.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Thomas said he cannot testify to Yust's injuries.

"I am not a doctor," he said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Thomas said from his experience in law enforcement it is very likely if someone poured accelerant they got it on their clothes.
He now talks about timeline.
He said there are problems with the documentation to know if the SUV exploded.
Defense done questioning.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecution now cross/ex. Thomas.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Asst. prosecutor Julie Tolle now asking Thomas about his opinion regarding the fire.

She is going back/forth over what he knows regarding incendiary fires, chain of custody of Jessica Runions' SUV.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle now going after his testimony of not being able to determine Kylr Yust's injuries.

Tolle: Common sense tells us that those are injuries consistent with being in a fire.

Thomas: Yes, some type of fire, yes.

Big point, here.

@kmbc #YustTrial

After a short redirect by defense, asst. prosecutor Julie Tolle gets up to ask Thomas -- based on his experience -- that a fire is a pretty good way to destroy evidence.

"Yes it is," Thomas said.

Tolle: "No further questions."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Dr. Ronald Henson with Beron Consulting now testifying for the defense.

Here is his bio:

beron.us/dr-ronald-e-he…

@kmbc #YustTrial

Henson testifies about reviewing a toxicology report for Jessica Runions.

They found nicotine and caffeine but no THC.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Henson cannot say whether THC was in Runions' system.

He testifies there could've been a lack of availability for testing.

@kmbc #yusttrial

Defense now done questioning.

Asst. Prosecutor Julie Tolle now saying he has no degree in toxicology.

Tolle points out he is speculating since Jessica's body was found seven months later.

Tolle has done her research. You can tell by her line of questioning.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Dr. Ronald Henson, a defense expert witness, is on the stand. Assistant prosecutor Julie Tolle is now questioning him about his opinions about Jessica Runions' toxicology report.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle pointing out there is no single study on how THC is found in *decomposed* brain tissue.
Henson/Tolle arguing re: "decomposed bodies" vs. "decomposed brain tissue."
"There is a study," Henson said. "There is an article."
Tolle: No further questions, judge.
@kmbc #YustTrial

The decomposed bodies/decomposed brain tissue issue got very tense. Tolle was going after Henson for his expertise and how he is able to testify about THC found in decomposed bodies or brain tissue.

This was a powerful moment in court.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Short redirect.

Cross/ex.

Tolle: You can't say whether THC was present in Jessica Runions' brain tissue, right?

Henson: You can't tell that it was there, Henson said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Now on the stand.

Tim Riplinger, an employee for the Missouri state public defender's system.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Riplinger testifies he was able to get in a car and calculate the drivetime from Kylr Yust's house (grandfather's house) in South KC and the location the mushroom hunter found human remains in Cass County.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Riplinger said he plotted the route in his phone. He used the most direct route, then drove the route.

It took him 32 minutes to drive from south KC to the remains location.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Riplinger is done.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins is now sending the jury out of the courtroom for a 15 minute recess.

@kmbc #YustTrial

@kmbc Tim Riplinger, an employee for the Missouri state public defender's system, shows Kylr Yust's attorney Sharon Turlington a map of the route he took to drive from Kylr Yust's house to a location where a mushroom hunter found remains of Kopetsky and Runions.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Still in recess.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Court is back in session.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Jury entering the room.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense calls Eric Grabski.

Digital forensic analyst w/Envista Forensics. He has experience in analyzing cell phones/phone records.

envistaforensics.com/experts/Grabsk…

@kmbc #YustTrial

Here is defense expert witness Eric Grabski testifying on 4/14/2021 on Day 9 of the trial of Kylr Yust.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Grabski got discovery documents of phone records.

He said it was difficult to analyze since not a lot are in digital format.

@kmbc #YustTrial

He is now talking about a report he prepared on Kara Kopetsky's cell phone records.

@kmbc #YustTrial

A lot of detail here about what type of records he analyzed w/ Kopetsky's records. Call detail records, voice, text, cell site records.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust attorney Matt Vigil just asking a lot of questions about records here. Waiting for him to make the point....

OK, there's the point.

Sounds like Grabski is testifying about the lack of location data in records.

@kmbc #YustTrial

1:03 p.m. on Kara Kopetsky's phone records.

Data transaction. A network number. A stamp to show there was data usage on the phone.

The way data was recorded back then it's much different than now.

@kmbc #YustTrial

AT&T records data sessions today defined as bytes up/bytes down. Not necessarily chronologically.

In 2007, data usage wasn't nearly as common. It was recorded similarly to a text message, chronologically.

@kmbc #YustTrial

1:03 transaction. Does that indicate the phone was being used?

Can't testify for sure, but more than likely being used. A Motorola Razr.

"Chances are it was a user initiated data transaction," Grabski said.

Did you actually have to open phone up to use data, Vigil asks?

Grabski: Yes.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Grabski now showing cell phone tower records.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The 1:03 p.m. transaction for Kara's phone happened just north of the transactions for Kara's phone at 10:25 a.m. and 12:17 p.m. from a tower near Belton High School, Grabski testifies.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Vigil: Do we know where Kylr was during the day of 5-4?

Grabski: No

Vigil: That's because of the lack of location data?

Grabski: Yes.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Grabski testifies there is no way to see if Kara and Kylr were in the same location via phone records on 5-4-2007.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Grabski now talking about cell phone records he analyzed for the Runions case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Grabski testifying about analyzing Runions and Yust phone records.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust's phone was active from 12:58 am to just past 6 a.m. in the morning on Sept. 9.

Last Network Event Location System activity was 2:57 a.m. from Runions phone on Sept. 9 on a tower in Belton.
NELOS does *not* mean phone was used but a network event occurred.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Can't tell an exact location. But, a phone call made on Sept. 8 was made from same tower from Runions' phone.

Grabski testifies NELOS records are often difficult to interpret.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Vigil: On 2:57 a.m. were the phones belonging to Runions and Yust in the same location?

Grabski: No it does not appear that way.

Vigil: Did Mr. Yust's phone ever go to the area where the remains were found?

@kmbc #YustTrial

Cross/ex. Julie Tolle now questioning Grabski about May 4, 2007.

Calls between them just after 9:13 a.m.

Kara is active on the phone up until 10:25 with voice calls. No outgoing calls after that.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Julie Tolle now questioning about Kylr Yust's phone records.

Tolle: A lot of communication between Yust/Kopetsky in the weeks before 5-4-2007.

Tolle: He never makes a call to Kara again after 5-4-2007, right?

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle questioning about Yust's phone records.

5:58 a.m. Kylr Yust to Kara Kopetsky text.
Incoming text at 9:02 from Kara.
9:03 incoming text from Kara.
11:08 outgoing to Kara
11:4x?? outgoing to Kara
a couple other times that afternoon, Tolle establishes.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle: Is it feasible that someone would send texts to a victim to kind of create an alibi?

Grabski: That's possible, yes.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Now, to Yust's phone on Sept. 9, 2016., even though phone is on and active 12:56:55 a.m.-2:06:28 a.m. no outgoing/incoming phone calls text messages, Tolle establishes.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Matt Vigil now questioning Grabski again.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Grabski done.

@kmbc #YustTrial

After a small conference, the jury is now recessing for lunch.

The trial will resume at 12:45.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins is now going over whether Kylr Yust wants to testify.

We are going to get an answer at 12:30 if Yust will testify after his lawyers have a chance to discuss.

There are no other witnesses, Collins said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Quite the cliffhanger over lunch, here.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Can you imagine the conversation between Kylr Yust and his attorneys right now on whether he chooses to testify in his own defense?

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins has excluded nine witnesses from Kylr Yust's portion of the case. One other witness wasn't allowed to testify about a certain matter, making the total 10.

Most of the excluded witnesses had reliability or relevance issues, Collins has explained.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The poll has closed. Most of you think Kylr Yust will not testify. We are going to find out shortly.

@kmbc #YustTrial

https://twitter.com/MattFlenerKMBC/status/1382376107794595841

Yust has made a decision on his testimony -- but none of the overflow room was able to hear.

Ugh.

We will find out shortly.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins is now asking for a set of alternate instructions and verdict forms for the jury.

@kmbc #YustTrial

BREAKING: Kylr Yust ****WILL**** testify.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Kylr Yust tells Judge William Collins he will testify in his double murder trial. Yust is accused of killing Kara Kopetsky and Jessica Runions nearly a decade apart.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense calls Kylr Yust.

"I'm Kylr Yust."

Turlington: Kylr how old are you?

Kylr: 32.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Kylr describes his grandparents as his parental figures.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust looking at defense exhibit R. A picture of him and his grandparents for the church directory.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies he had a half brother Jessep Carter.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies his aunt Karen got him interested in music.

"My mom wasn't really in my life," Kylr said.

He says he sang a lot when they were together.

Yust said after his aunt died he started listening to more negative music.

@kmbc #YustTrial

He says his friend Nick Yeates and him started talking about a band. They joined the band Seraphim.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Met her in the summer in 2006 at the QT in Belton.
He and a couple of friends had walked to QT from the skate park.

In the backseat of the car. Yust: Kara said "Hey, who are you? You're hot?"

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust says Kara was really outspoken, "really pretty," a great person.

He says they dated 9 months.

@kmbc #YustTrial

RE: The kidnapping of Kara Kopetsky before protection order.

Yust says he did not have a weapon.

"We were through a rough period of an on and off kind of relationship.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Kara was really responsible. She always had a job. I didn't have one, Yust testifies.

We were arguing over that.

I was trying to patch things up, smoke a cigarette. I took her chocolates.

@kmbc #YustTrial

I wanted to talk to her. I was backed into a parking spot. I grabbed her. Put her in the car, Yust testifies.

Drove down/back 71 highway for about 15-20 minutes and dropped her off at Dominoes.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Re: Amy Clark testimony

Turlington: Did you say, "If I can't have her no one can"

Yust: "No."
@kmbc #YustTrial

Turlington: "Did you ever say I'm going to slit your mother ***ing throat."

Kylr: "Absolutely not."
@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust: "We never stopped contacting each other," after the protection order.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust says they talked on the phone on May 4, 2007.

"She wanted me to pick her up from school," Yust said.

He told her he would be there between her classes.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Turlington: Did you go pick her up? Was there anybody with you?

******Yust testifies Jessep Carter was with him as he picked up Kara Kopetsky******

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies Kara came out of school and left with him and Jessep.

They went back to his apartment.

"After I picked her up, I disclosed the information I didn't have any weed yet."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Kylr Yust testifies in his own defe

Yust testifies he asked Kara Kopetsky if he wanted to go with him to see his great aunt at the nursing home.

She didn't.

She wanted to be dropped off at the skate park. He said Jessep Carter was going to drop her off.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"Kylr, do you really know what happened?"

"No"
@kmbc #YustTrial

There is testimony here about Yust contacting Kyle Reynolds for drugs, but I'm unsure of the timeline, due to the fast nature of testimony.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust said he then went to his grandfather's house.
Arriving about 11:30.

@kmbc #YustTrial

He testifies he got to his grandfather's, they went to gas his truck up, then he drove separately from his grandparents to the nursing home, leaving about 2:30-2:45. He remembers going back to his apartment to change his clothes to change into a jeans/t-shirt.

@kmbc #YustTrial

When he got back, he went to Kyle Reynolds house to see if he had pot. He hung out at Reynolds house to smoke pot and hang before brand practice. Band practice was at Nick Yeates house.

At least a couple of hours.

Went back to Belton apartment.

@kmbc #YustTrial

He said friends started to reach out to say Kara was missing. He said he wasn't super concerned that night about Kara missing.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust said said he talked to police on May 7, 2007. He willingly went to the police station.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust is speaking softly into the microphone during his testimony.

He testifies he did not tell police the truth on May 7. He didn't want to get in trouble because of the ex-parte order.

I was just more worried about getting in trouble because of the ex-parte.
@kmbc #yusttrial

Yust said he continued to not tell the truth, because he was afraid about getting in trouble.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust said rumors started flying.

He said people wanted to start to get to know him because they thought he did something.

He said his friends started to not contact him.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust said he became depressed.

"Kara didn't show back up. I think I started drinking more and using different kinds of drugs."

Yust said he started hanging out with more people who gravitated toward him because he was a suspect in the case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Re: Nick Yeates testimony. Yeates was in the Seraphim.

Kylr is referencing some taped statement at Waffle House.

I missed the context here.

@kmbc #YustTrial

RE: The Katelynn Farris Hidden Wire FBI recording.

Turlington establishing how Yust gave her a tattoo. Yust testifies that Farris moved to NC for a contract marriage for $450/mo.

He testifies he wasn't happy because, "We were seeing each other at the time."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust said Farris started texting asking about what happened to Kara.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Turlington: What did she say in the text?

Yust: "She asked if I had anything to do with Kara's disappearance and I told her no."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testified Farris texted him the following:

"Well it's too bad because having the hands of a killer on my body would be so sexy....That's when I started feeding into her fantasy."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies he knew the plan was to go out to a field where Kara was buried.

Did you think there might even be something up that whole day?

Yust said he had his suspicions.

"I was just at a really low point in my life and I wanted to get her attention."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Turlington: Were you really worried?

"No. Because I didn't do anything to Kara."

@kmbc #YustTrial

The next day the FBI came to the house.

He pulled out the cell phone and showed FBI Agent Hauger the text messages.

Yust said he just wanted to fulfill Farris' fantasy.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies he did not confess to Seth Duncan.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies he did not confess to Candice Matthews (St. Clair).

He testified he did not choke Candice Matthews (St. Clair) or punch her in the legs.

Yust pleaded guilty after he restrained her after she hit him, he testifies.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust now testifying about being arrested for drug charges in 2013.

DEA, Swat, FBI arrested him.

Served 45 months.

@kmbc #YustTrial

RE: Testimony from Aaron Caponetto and Nick Kirkbride.

Yust testifies Candice Matthews broke up with him right before he was to go to prison on the drug charges.

He got a fifth of Jim Beam and started drinking.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"I remember ranting," Yust said.

He rambled about Aunt passing away.
Kara going missing.
The gossip mill, and getting hounded out of every job he got.

I remember saying I want to get up on stage and kill myself because my life was horrible, Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

CrimeWatchers Daily with Ofcr. Joshua Meirer showed up at his door after he got out of jail.

Yust testifies he started hanging out with Jaxon Mallett. Jaxon's girlfriend was Jessica Runions.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies he didn't want to get involved with Jessica because of his friendship with Jaxon.

But,

"I wanted affection. I wanted attention. I just got out of prison," Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"Jessica was.....(pause)
she was just so cool."

She knew how to cook, she knew how to do everything.

Very responsible. She was fun, joking, Yust said.

*Interesting thing to notice: The tamber of Yust's voice raised when he started to talk about Jessica.*
@kmbc #yustTrial

Now, Sept. 8, 2016, the day Jessica went missing.

He testifies Jessica texted him and said "Do you want me to come by and pick you up."

He agreed.

Turlington: How much do you think you drank that night?

"Too much," Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Turlington: Do you remember anything from that night?

"Certain parts of it are more like snapshots," Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies he was apologetic for hitting Allyn Alvarado's car after he left the party.

He testifies Jessica was trying to get him into his grandfather's house.

"That's when I saw my brother's white Durango show up."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies he got up early the next day. He used the restroom. Capone our cat was standing there. He liked to be let out to do his business in the bushes each day.

Yust noticed Jessica's car was still out front.

@kmbc #YustTrial

He looked through his grandfather's house to see if she spent the night.

Yust testified he texted her.

He didn't get a response.

He went to work, hungover. He was in rough shape.

His grandfather picked him up.

He went home.

(All Yust's testimony)
@kmbc #YustTrial

When he got back, Yust noticed Jessica's car was gone.

@kmbc #YustTrial

He testified about something regarding contacting Jessep, (but I didn't catch it.)

@kmbc #YustTrial

When Jessep Carter arrived on Sept. 9, 2016 he noticed Carter was drinking, Yust testifies.

Carter was with his wife, Crystal Taylor.

They left his house, went to uncle Paul's.

Yust testifies Carter had a room at uncle Paul's.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust said Carter's demeanor was confusing at uncle Paul's.

Yust testifies he was outside with Crystal. He was sitting in the seat of the Durango with the door open.

Allyn Alvarado called and said Jessica was missing. He told Yust to make a police report.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Turlington: After 2007, did you ever have any reason to believe that your half brother had done anything?
"I'm starting to get worried. I'm starting to get very concerned."
"Several times throughout the night...I asked him where's Jessica, are you with Jessica?"
@kmbc #YustTrial

As for the burn barrel, Yust testifies Carter had his fists clinched.

Yust asked to deescalate. "Is this Paul's burn barrel?"

Yust said Carter poured some gas in.

Yust tried to light it, he leaned in, and he got burned, he testified.

@kmbc #YustTrial

From uncle Paul's he went to his grandfather's house for about a half-hour to an hour.
Kylr said he and Jessep went to garage to talk.
He said Carter left. Yust stayed in the garage, smoking cigarettes, feeling"like the world was just...I was just very upset."
@kmbc #YustTrial

He says Carter was gone 30-45 minutes. Yust said they left for the lake. They went to cousin Anthony's house.

(Missed some of this testimony after what happened at Anthony's).

@kmbc #YustTrial

They left Anthony's. Yust got woken up by police lights.

Yust said an energy drink spilled on his pants. He didn't pee his pants, he testified.

@kmbc #YustTrial

He recalls Crystal Taylor had a gun.

@kmbc #YustTrial

After the traffic stop, Crystal drove. They stopped at a Casey's, then Jessep Carter started driving, he said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies he thought he was going down to the lake "to encounter Jessica," he testified.

Yust said he thought he would get blamed based on what happened to Kopetsky.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"I knew something weird was going on," Yust testified.
"When I got dropped off at the trailer I was afraid."

He testified he got an aluminum baseball bat and a hammer.

He testified it was weird after he got dropped off at the trailer.

@kmbc #YustTrial

He testified he slept a long time because of his burns.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies he heard a noise outside. He saw a state trooper vehicle.

"I remember there was a command for me to come out with my hands out, so that's what I did," Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifying about his recorded jail phone call with his mom. He testified he thought he would get blamed for Jessica's disappearance.
Turlington: How did you feel?
Yust: Just like giving up.
Yust testified he had thoughts about life being a nightmare.

@kmbc #YustTrial

He testified, "Screw it, I've got nothing else, I might as well be famous."

@kmbc #YustTrial

He testifies he blamed his mom because "at that point in time I felt really alone," and the only people I wanted to turn to were my grandfather and my mom"

He felt like they would be there.

@kmbc #YustTrial

When she started accusing me, I just kind of snapped, and sarcastic, smart allecky, jerk kind of way, said this is your fault, Yust said.

"I was just trying to hurt her feelings because I was really hurting inside," Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

I think at times I made decisions and said things out of fear, and spite, and insecurity and hopelessness.
I didn't want to get in trouble. At times I wanted attention.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"At times, I just felt like it was pointless and I just wanted to give up, and thought I wanted to be famous for something, right?"

@kmbc #YustTrial

"Looking back now, at the decisions I made then. I know I made the wrong ones and my actions and choices affected other people and myself, and I'm sorry," Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Turlington: "Did you kill Kara?"

Yust: "No."

Turlington: "Did you kill Jessica?"

Yust: "No."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecutor Julie Tolle now talking to Kylr Yust.

She is asking him about the kidnapping that cause the protection order.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle: May 4, 2007.

Tolle: Up until this very minute. You have always denied having contact with Kara on May 4, 2007. It becomes crystal clear to the jury. You're communicating all morning long with Kara.

Yust: Yes.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle now confronting Yust about strangling Kara Kopetsky.

Yust: "No."

Tolle: You drive out there to Tre Monteil's property.

Yust: I hadn't met Tre until much later.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Cass County prosecutor Julie Tolle is laying out the facts in her questioning.

Yust keeps denying.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Regarding visiting his great aunt:

Tolle: You knew that you needed to create an alibi, because you had just killed Kara.

"That has nothing to do with it," Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust testifies that he didn't know it was a serious situation.

Kara's parents and aunt show up to her apartment later that night.

"I didn't get concerned at that point...because she had tried to run away from home before."

@kmbc #YustTrial

More back/forth between Tolle and Yust.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle: "This is the very first time that you have ever said your brother Jessep Carter was with you when you picked up Kara?"

Yust said he told his attorney years ago.

@kmbc #YustTrial

You want the jury to believe that the man that is dead is the one who is responsible?

Strong interaction here, but I missed the exact quotes.

"I think he killed himself because I said I wasn't guilty," Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust: I told Ms. Hastings years ago.

"That's why she's doing my case for free now, because she believes in my defense," Yust said.

"How thoughtful of her," Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"At one point I had a whole lot of resentment toward Kara's family because of the way they treated me," Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Now -- onto Jessica.

"I did love Jessica, yes," Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

On the recorded jail call to his mom.

Tolle: Out of spite you confessed to killing a girl you proclaimed to love?

I don't know that was a confession because I wanted to make my mom feel like crap, Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle is really going after Yust here.

Now onto the confessions.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Re: a confession to Nick Yeates, who wore a wire.

I cannot remember any testimony of Yeates wearing a wire.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust is talking about the day with Farris.

Back/forth between Tolle Yust about this day.

"I was trying to fulfill her fantasy, yes."

"You spend six hours trying to manipulate that girl into having sex with you," Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

In all of these years, the past four years, you haven't ever come to know where Kara and Jessica were found?

Yust says he has never been to the location.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Regarding the statement about cheating on Farris and killing Kara w/Yust saying he regretted cheating on Farris more.

"I did say that, yes," Yust said.

Silence from Tolle.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle going after the statement Yust made to Seth Duncan. Now onto confession to Aaron Caponetto.

Tolle going over each of the confessions with Yust one by one.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Talks about Nick Yeates
"So, I think we're up to four confessions at this point?" Tolle said.
Now to Candice Matthews (St. Clair). "I did restrain her," Yust said.
Later: "I pushed her back onto the bed and restrained her there as she tried to hit me," Yust said.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Now onto Jessica. Kylr talking about scratches on his face.

Quick back/forth.

Tolle: It's consistent with someone digging into your face, right?

I missed what Kylr said here, but this was a powerful moment, as Kylr remained silent for a few seconds.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle: You must be the most unlucky guy in the world, right?

Yust: Why?

Tolle: Because the both of your girlfriends went missing and were killed.

"Anyone who has a brother who's a serial killer is unlucky," Yust said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle and Yust going back/forth over him peeing his pants.

Yust gets frustrated.

WOOOOOOW>>>>>

This is a massive back/forth.

Approach the bench.

Yust takes a deep breath and looks toward the jury.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Now back/forth between Yust/Tolle.
This is such a powerful cross examination.
Tolle: So you wait until a jury is sitting here deciding your fate, to tell them your truth? Yust: "I mean this is the only chance I have right?
Tolle: You had so many other chances.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust said he reached out to local radio host Scott Parks to tell his story, show his discovery, and "he kind of made fun of me," so he didn't talk any more.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle and Yust going back/forth more.

She talks about how Yust rehearsed today's testimony with his defense team.

Yust is done at 3:02 p.m.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Taking a break to write tv scripts.

Back shortly.

@kmbc #YustTrial

We're in a recess, FYI.

@kmbc #YustTrial

We are back w/o jury present.

Judge Collins now going over new jury instructions since Yust testified.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Re-threading

https://twitter.com/MattFlenerKMBC/status/1382433189990309889

Outside for live shots. See you at 4.

@kmbc #yusttrial

Prosecutor Julie Tolle now into the state's closing argument.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle laying out the facts of the case again.

@kmbc #YustTrial

She's going over the confessions, Yust's moods.

@kmbc #YustTrial

One of the very first things he said in the car with Katelynn Farris:

"We're going to the death spot of my ex-girlfriend. The only reason I told you was to get time with you."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle is recounting what Yust told Katelynn Farris on the FBI wire while they were at the restaurant on Feb. 11, 2011.

"I strangled the f' out of her and threw her in the f'ing woods."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Regarding reasonable doubt.

"You also get to use reason and common sense," Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle: "He dumped the girls in his spot. In a place that they weren't found -- for Kara for ten years, and for Jessica seven months."

@kmbc #YustTrial

"Strangulation is deliberation," Tolle said.

Tolle said it takes a minute and a half to strangle someone.

The defendant is guilty of murder in the first degree for Kara, Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Regarding his blame for Jessep Carter today.

"He in theory held onto this information until this very moment" because he wanted you to believe he didn't want to violate an order of protection for Kara?

Use your common sense, Tolle told the jury.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The latest:

kmbc.com/article/the-tr…

@kmbc #YustTrial

Less than 24 hours after Jessica Runions went missing, her car was found burning not far from where he left? Tolle said.

"She fought. We know she fought because he had that scratch down his face."

@kmbc #YustTrial

"Jessica's not having it. She's fighting for her life."

"That scratch on his hand, is absolutely consistent with her trying to peel his hands off her neck."

Regarding her car, he was burning the evidence that could link it back to him, Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle continues to point out arguments.

I need to step away for a few minutes.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Thank God for the mushroom hunter, Tolle said.

Otherwise we wouldn't be here right now, she said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The pattern of making confessions and then recanting them is crystal clear, Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Find him guilty of killing Jessica/Kara of murder in the first degree, Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust's lead defense attorney Sharon Turlington is now making closing arguments.

I am stepping away for a few minutes. @kmbc's @BrianKMBC is here to provide coverage as well.

Back around 5:10 p.m.

@kmbc #YustTrial

I'm back.

She's talking about cell phone records again.

"Just looking at the timelines, nothing about this works," Turlington said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

When Jessica Runions disappeared, she had just died her hair strawberry blonde, Turlington said.

There is a photo of the hair at scene. How did it turn brown? Did she have enough time to dye it? She said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

We should be very suspect of all the evidence in this case, Turlington said.

She is now getting into the botched investigation.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Tattoos are not the same as DNA or phone records or toxicology, are they, Turlington said.

Why are they spending time talking about tattoos instead of timelines?, Turlington said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"In 2016, they already knew what they wanted to believe," Turlington said.

"They thought, great we got him," Turlington said. "They didn't do any investigation then, either."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust's defense attorney Sharon Turlington speaking to the jury for closing arguments in the #YustTrial

@kmbc #YustTrial

Kylr Yust speaks with his defense attorney Molly Hastings during closing arguments.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"I do not want to blame the victim's family in this case," Turlington said.

"I understand why they would've thought Kylr was involved, but that doesn't mean they should've been handling the investigation," Turlington said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Turlington argues we don't know what caused Kara Kopetsky's death.

We don't know when she died, she said.

We don't know how/when Jessica died, Turlington said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

There are a lot of emotions that we all have in a situation like this, Turlington said.

All of you are going to have to talk about this in your deliberations, Turlington said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Turlington: "But, your job as jurors is to look at the evidence. And, the evidence is not based on emotion."

The evidence shows Kylr is not guilty, she said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"I ask that you look at the actual evidence in the case When you look at phone records, toxicology, how long it takes to drive somewhere, trace evidence, pants, shoes, Kylr's house. There's none of that. None of it."

Turlington said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Defense done.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle getting back up to re-argue evidence.

Then, the jury gets the case.

I need to run out for live shot. I will return after.

@kmbc #YustTrial

I'm back.

Still in prosecution's closing argument.

"Now, he's trying to manipulate you all," Tolle said. "Today is the day it ends."

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle now going to have the jury spend a minute and a half in silence thinking about the case.

A minute and a half is how long it takes for someone to strangle someone to death, she said.

There is a timer counting down on the big screen in the courtroom.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"That's deliberation," she said after the timer stopped.

When you go back to the jury room to put the puzzle pieces together.

Find him guilty of killing Kara for murder in the 1st degree, Tolle said.

Find him guilty to killing Jessica for murder in the 1st degree, Tolle said.

The jury has the case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

We'll open a twitter poll for the next three hours.

Based on the evidence/testimony at trial do you believe Kylr Yust is guilty of first degree murder?

@kmbc #YustTrial

While we wait, the prosecution and defense teams are upstairs in the courtroom, waiting, too.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust is upstairs in the courtroom, too, while the jury deliberates.

I saw Kylr Yust and his attorney Molly Hastings sharing food out of the same plastic container. Couldn't tell exactly what they were eating.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust is still upstairs in the courtroom just waiting with his attorneys. They are talking, and at points, laughing together. Several Cass County deputies are in the courtroom as well.

The prosecution has left the courtroom as the jury deliberates.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury just asked questions:

Could they have maps from both the prosecution and defense, and Al Yust's deposition?

Also -- a smoke break.

The judge granted the smoke break, but said the jury had to rely on collective memory for the other items.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury asked an earlier question, too (about 30 minutes earlier) before I arrived in the courtroom to hear.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Two more jury questions.

They asked to see testimony of Belton PD’s Steve Edson(sp?). The judge told them to rely on collective memory.

@kmbc #yusttrial

The jury also requested to stop at 10 PM. The judge said the jury instructed they are *not* close to making a decision. The jury said they have some jurors who have to take medication.

@kmbc #yusttrial

Just stepped out of the courtroom. As of 9:42 p.m., Yust and his defense team are still waiting in there. I saw Yust and his lawyers look up at the clock. There are six deputies in the room with them. Still waiting for word the jury is done for the night.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The Kopetsky and Runions families are now leaving the courthouse for the night. @kmbc #YustTrial

The jury of 10 women and 2 men from St. Charles County left the courtroom at 10:12 p.m. They will return tomorrow morning to deliberate. Judge Collins instructed the jury not to deliberate back at the hotel. #yusttrial @kmbc

What a day! See you tomorrow!

@kmbc #YustTrial

YUST TRIAL DAY 10: Jury deliberations continue.

I am walking up to the courtroom right now to listen to the proceedings.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury has started deliberations.

Kylr Yust and his defense attorneys are meeting in a small holding cell just off the courtroom.

Yust’s attorney Matt Vigil brought a box of Lamar’s donuts.

It is sitting on the defense’s table in the courtroom.

@kmbc #YustTrial

On with @PeteMundo shortly.

https://twitter.com/PeteMundo/status/1382649470643544065

@kmbc #YustTrial

Thanks for the time @PeteMundo.

The waiting game continues here at the courthouse as jurors deliberate.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury just came back with another question to see state's exhibits 3, 7, & 8.

I couldn't tell exactly what those are. But, from the back row of the courtroom, they looked like phone records.

They also asked for a smoke break.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Here is a picture of Kylr Yust on Day 10. He is waiting in the courtroom with his defense team as the jury deliberates.

@kmbc #YustTrial

I am back down in the media room. All four KC tv stations are represented, along with the Star and the North Cass Herald.

Silence, as we all file stories and wait for the verdict.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Some of the Kopetsky/Runions families are waiting outside the courthouse talking to each other on this crystal clear day.

The jury has had the case for almost six hours, now.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust has returned to his cell to eat lunch, according to a pool photographer in the courtroom.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Still waiting. The jury had a working lunch.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Yust and his defense team remain seated in the courtroom as the jury deliberates. The families are in a separate building as they wait.

@kmbc #YustTrial

We are nearing 10 hours the jury has had the case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The defense - at 9:42 pm last night - filed a motion for judgment of acquittal.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The judge denied the acquittal motion last night, FYI.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury asked to see:

Map of Cass/Jackson County line.
(Judge said jury should rely on collective memory)

Exhibit 41. *May* be phone records based on what I saw in courtroom line of sight, but I cannot say exactly what they include.
(Judge gave this to jury)

@kmbc #YustTrial

Jury has another question. Up to the courtroom to hear. Back soon.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Just stepped out.

The jury asked for five more exhibits.

Some look like phone records, again.

One record had AT&T in the corner I saw as the cart of evidence got rolled in.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury requested and received exhibits 23, 25, 27, 39 & 40. Again, some of these looked like phone records from my line of sight in the courtroom.

@kmbc #YustTrial

At 4:30 on @kmbc -- @KMBCBianca explores the charges Kylr Yust is facing for the Kopetsky and Runions case. 1st/2nd degree murder. Voluntary/Involuntary manslaughter or not guilty.

@kmbc #YustTrial

At 4:30 -- @KMBCBianca is looking at what the jury has requested today. She'll explore more about the charges later tonight at 6 on @kmbc

@kmbc #YustTrial

@kmbc #YustTrial

https://twitter.com/kmbc/status/1382806486049558538

Jury has another question.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Jury says they do not feel qualified to make a decision on count 2 (Runions) instruction 19 w/o seeing map of Cass/Jackson county line. This specifically deals with Yust being present in Cass Co. from 11:42 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. from Sept. 8, 2016-Sept. 9, 2016.

@kmbc #YustTrial

This time frame is directly after Jessica Runions was last seen.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecutors are now printing off a couple of options for maps the defense can review. It sounds like the jury will get a map of the Cass/Jackson County line. @kmbc #yusttrial

Jury has the cass/jackson co. map.

@kmbc #yusttrial

Sources tell @kmbc earlier phone records requested today by the jury come from an FBI analysis of phone records for Crystal Taylor and Jessep Carter. @kmbc #yusttrial

Will the jury believe Jessep Carter was with Crystal Taylor at home near Lake of the Ozarks on the night of Sept. 8, 2016 morning of Sept. 9, 2016?

Yust testified Wednesday he heard Jessep's voice in south KC that evening.

@kmbc #yusttrial

https://twitter.com/MattFlenerKMBC/status/1380518013682737155

Still waiting.

We have passed hour 14.

@kmbc #yusttrial

Hour 15, now, of the jury having the case.

@kmbc #yusttrial

BREAKING: We have a verdict in the Kylr Yust Trial.

Standby...

@kmbc #YustTrial

We are told we have 30 minutes to hear.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The courtroom is set.
Family members are in the court.
Deputies are guarding the door.
Six designated journalists, including @BrianKMBC, are in the courtroom.
I am watching the verdict in the media room to tweet once I know the verdict.
@kmbc #YustTrial

Here we go!!!

@kmbc #YustTrial

#BREAKING: The verdict in the Trial of Kylr Yust.

KARA KOPETSKY - COUNT 1 - Guilty of voluntary manslaughter.

JESSICA RUNIONS - COUNT 2 - Guilty of murder in the second degree.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Jury is going to recess.

We are going into scheduling.

Then jury will come back in.

Sentencing phase will begin tomorrow.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury will go back to their hotel tonight.

They'll come back tomorrow morning at 8:30 for the sentencing phase of the case.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Sentencing for voluntary manslaughter: 5-15 years.
Sentencing for second degree murder: 10-30 years or life in prison.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Sentencing will happen from the jury itself.

The judge can decide if the sentences run concurrent or consecutive.

@kmbc #YustTrial

@kmbc #YustTrial

kmbc.com/article/raw-vi…

@kmbc #YustTrial

https://twitter.com/kmbc/status/1382891344193060873

One last image from the Cass County Justice Center tonight.

@kmbc #yusttrial

A KC attorney has helped me understand sentencing phase. (It’s complicated).

Yust faces 45 years (M2+VM), if he does *not* make parole and sentences run consecutive.

Yust is 32.

Max age would be 77, but *could* get credit for time served, so out earlier.
@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury did not convict on first degree murder. If they would have, Yust would have never gotten out of prison. Now, he will be eligible for parole.

@kmbc #YustTrial

On Murder Two charge (10-30 yrs.) he *must* serve 85% before parole since it is a “dangerous felony.”

Also, the “life sentence” of M2 in Missouri (Felony Class A) is actually capped at 30 yrs.

Voluntary manslaughter is range of 5-15 years, parole eligible.

@kmbc #yusttrial

The other big key? Will Yust serve “consecutive” or “concurrent.”

A *lot* of scenarios ahead to figure out his sentence.

Bottom line, Kylr Yust has a chance of getting out of prison someday.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Missouri’s sentencing guidelines aren’t super clear on all these scenarios, but you can take a look here:

courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=45…

@kmbc #yustTrial

YUST TRIAL DAY 11: Sentencing begins at 8:30.

Follow @MattEvansKMBC for the first developments early this morning. I will join in progress.

kmbc.com/article/kylr-y…

@kmbc #YustTrial

Threading @MattEvansKMBC for updates as sentencing phase begins. I will join in progress later this morning.

@kmbc #YustTrial

https://twitter.com/MattEvansKMBC/status/1383049024509521924

@kmbc #YustTrial

https://twitter.com/MattEvansKMBC/status/1383063929782468616

.@MattEvansKMBC has done a remarkable job tweeting the sentencing phase this morning.

Read his powerful thread.

Now in the closing arguments of sentencing phase. I am at the courthouse to continue @kmbc's coverage through the day.

https://twitter.com/MattEvansKMBC/status/1383079057819119617

@kmbc #YustTrial

"Life is the cost of all this death that we have sat through," prosecutor Ben Butler said.

"Life on that page is what we need."

- Referencing the jury instructions to give Yust a life sentence (capped at 30 years in MO for 2nd degree murder).

@kmbc #YustTrial

This sentence isn't what we hoped for, but we respect what you've done, said Yust's defense attorney Molly Hastings to the jury.

"We will continue to fight for you in the next steps," Hastings says as she turns to Kylr Yust in the courtroom.

@kmbc #YustTrial

You had an opportunity to send Kylr to prison for the rest of his life, Hastings tells the jury.

"We are so very grateful that you unilaterally rejected that," she said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

As for a sentence...

Hastings: "Now, he has a chance to be on the other side of it. What do you want that person to look like?"

@kmbc #YustTrial

Hastings says the media, the prosecution, and the defense have painted Yust as a monster.

If you were to see him as we do as these people who've come in on his own behalf...

"Kylr Yust is more than this trial..."

@kmbc #YustTrial

"Despite popular opinion, Kylr Yust is worth something," Hastings said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"We will never stop fighting for him," Hastings said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"I've watched his demeanor of nothing during this trial. You've seen his actions of nothing in this case," said prosecutor Ben Butler.
Butler refutes Yust is "artist."
An artist who painted the bones of Kara Kopetsky and Runions over a farm field, Butler said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Front page of the @NorthCassHerald this morning:



@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury is now deliberating sentencing recommendations for Kylr Yust. This is what they are trying to decide.

https://twitter.com/MattFlenerKMBC/status/1382936464032468992

@kmbc #YustTrial

@kmbc #yustTrial

https://twitter.com/kmbc/status/1383106103660138497

An hour has passed since the jury went to deliberate sentencing recommendations for Kylr Yust.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury has decided.

Just got a 30 minute notice.

@kmbc #YustTrial

#BREAKING: We will know how many years a jury recommends Kylr Yust to spend in prison within the next 30 minutes.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The Kopetsky and Runions families are now walking back into the courthouse.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The jury spent a little more than 1.5 hours deliberating sentencing for Kylr Yust.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Still in a holding pattern.

Several friends/family/community members have joined the overflow room to hear the sentence recommendations.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge is back.

"This is part of our process," Judge Collins said to the audience. "Remain calm."

Jury now entering room.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Kylr Yust just before sentencing.

@kmbc #YustTrial

#BREAKING: A jury has recommended the following sentences for convicted killer Kylr Yust.

The Kara Kopetsky voluntary manslaughter case -- 15 years in prison.

The Jessica Runions second degree murder case -- life in prison.

Yust will be eligible for parole.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Sentencing will actually happen June 7, 2021 at 2:30.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Jamie Runions and Rhonda Beckford speak with journalists after today’s sentencing.

@kmbc #YustTrial

The families, prosecution, defense, and jury have all left.

Journalists are still in the overflow room filing their stories.

What an emotional two weeks.

Here is today's story.

@kmbc #YustTrial

kmbc.com/article/jury-r…

NEW: @kmbc 9 Investigates is back in court this afternoon for the sentencing of convicted killer Kylr Yust. A Cass County judge will make his recommendation for sentencing at 2:30.

@kmbc #YustTrial

kmbc.com/article/kylr-y…

UPDATE: Still a couple of more cases on the docket before Kylr Yust is scheduled to appear for sentencing. The judge could also take up Yust's motion for a new trial. The prosecution has issued a rebuttal to that motion.

@kmbc #YustTrial

A jury found Yust guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Kara Kopetsky and second-degree murder in the death of Jessica Runions back in April.

@kmbc #YustTrial

At that time, jurors recommended the maximum sentence for both convictions — 15 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and life in prison, which is capped at 30 years in Missouri, for the second-degree murder conviction.

@kmbc #YustTrial

At Monday afternoon's hearing a judge will ultimately hand down Yust's sentence and decide whether or not they will be served consecutively — back to back — or concurrently — at the same time.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Cass County Presiding Judge William Collins just called "The State of Missouri vs. Kylr Yust."

But wait...

They're now going into a short recess.

@kmbc #YustTrial

RETWEETING: Perspective on Yust's sentencing.

https://twitter.com/MattFlenerKMBC/status/1382936464032468992?s=20

@kmbc #YustTrial

The sentencing hearing of Kylr Yust is now underway.

@kmbc #YustTrial

BREAKING: Judge William Collins has DENIED a motion for a new trial for Kylr Yust.

@kmbc #YustTrial

It's been 14 years in Kara's case and almost 5 years in Jessica's case. We ask that the defendant finally be punished for stealing the lives of Kara and Jessica, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Julie Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"It took Jessica's life before we were able to get justice for Kara, and that is just tragic, but it an odd way, Kara saved Jessica," said assistant prosecuting attorney Julie Tolle.
@kmbc #YustTrial

"This man has never once taken responsibility that he did to either girl," Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Let's just be clear, that if his brother (Jessep Carter) was the one responsible for this, there were opportunities for over 14 years for this man to come forward and get justice for these families, Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"There is no amount of time that can truly bring justice," assistant prosecuting attorney Julie Tolle said.

Tolle keeps noting before the judge how Kylr Yust is smirking during her speech.

@kmbc #YustTrial

"The manipulation ends today. It ends today," Tolle said. "Kylr Yust deserves every minute of every day..." in the department of corrections, Tolle said.

"We will be at every parole hearing that Kylr Yust has, as will the family members," Tolle said.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Prosecutor Julie Tolle asks for Yust's sentences to run consecutively.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Tolle is done.

"We ask the court to run these sentences concurrent," said Yust's lead attorney Sharon Turlington.

@kmbc #YustTrial

BREAKING: A Cass County judge has sentenced Kylr Yust to the following:

15 years in prison for the death of Kara Kopetsky.

Life in prison (capped at 30 years in Missouri) for the death of Jessica Runions.

A judge says the sentences will run consecutively.

@kmbc #YustTrial

SERIOUS back and forth between Judge William Collins and Kylr Yust. Yust is refusing to answer Judge William Collins questions. Yust is back talking to the judge.
Judge Collins is asking multiple times if Yust's attorneys have done everything. Yust now silent.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins is describing EVERYTHING that is happening right now into the record.

Yust's attorneys have said they will APPEAL.

Now in recess.

@kmbc #YustTrial

Judge Collins followed the jury's recommendations in this case. The only thing he decided today was if the sentences would run consecutively/concurrently.

Judge Collins said they should run consecutively (back to back).

@kmbc #YustTrial

@threadreaderapp unroll