Original subtitles

WHEN A BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL TEENAGE GIRL

MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARS,

HER LOVING FAMILY IS TORN APART.

WHEN SHE WASN'T THERE,

IT WAS LIKE, "SO, WHERE IS MY CHILD?"

THE POLICE HAVE NO CLUE.

WE WERE STILL UNSURE

IF SOMETHING CRIMINAL HAD HAPPENED TO HER.

BUT ONE WITNESS HAS SEEN IT ALL...

"MY GOD. DID YOU SEE THAT?"

...AND THE SECRETS IT HOLDS

MAY REVEAL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO KELSEY SMITH.

SATURDAY, JUNE 2nd. OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS.

IT'S A REGULAR WEEKEND FOR OFF-DUTY COP GREG SMITH,

HANGING OUT AT HOME WITH HIS FAMILY...

INCLUDING HIS 18-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER KELSEY

WHO JUST GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

KELSEY SAID, "I'M GONNA RUN TO TARGET.

I NEED TO GET A PRESENT FOR JOHN."

- WHAT TIME IS IT? - WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

JOHN IS KELSEY'S BOYFRIEND,

AND SHE WANTS TO BUY HIM A GIFT

TO CELEBRATE THEIR SIX-MONTH ANNIVERSARY.

MWAH! I LOVE YOU, DAD.

I SAID, "OKAY."

AND SHE GOES, "I'LL SEE YOU IN A LITTLE BIT. LOVE YOU."

BYE.

THEN SHE WAS OUT THE DOOR, AND I SAID, "LOVE YOU," BACK.

UM...

IT SHOULD BE A QUICK, UNEVENTFUL ERRAND.

BUT IT WON'T BE.

KELSEY CALLS HER MOM FROM THE STORE.

SHE NEEDS HELP FINDING A GIFT, A GIFT BOX.

I SAID, "OKAY, LOOK IN STATIONERY."

AND I WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO HER WHERE IT WOULD BE.

AND I REMEMBER, BEFORE I HUNG UP,

SAYING, "BYE, BABY, LOVE YOU. SEE YOU WHEN I GET HOME."

SHE WAS AT TARGET AROUND 7:00, 7:00-ISH.

AND I KNEW SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO GO OUT WITH JOHN

LIKE 7:30 OR SO.

COME ON IN.

BUT WHEN JOHN SHOWS UP,

KELSEY'S STILL NOT HOME.

WATER? YEAH.

AFTER A HALF-HOUR, JOHN AND GREG START TO WORRY,

ESPECIALLY AFTER GETTING NO ANSWER FROM KELSEY'S CELLPHONE.

THAT'S ENOUGH.

KELSEY WAS THE KIND OF TEENAGER, UNLIKE MOST,

THAT EVEN IF SHE WAS A FEW MINUTES LATE,

SHE WOULD CALL TO LET US KNOW

BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT US WORRYING.

SHE HASN'T ANSWERED ANY OF MY TEXTS.

I'M JUST GETTING VOICEMAIL ALL THE TIME.

THEN I SAID, "CAN YOU GUYS JUST DRIVE OUT THERE AND SEE?

"MAYBE HER CAR'S BROKEN DOWN IN THE PARKING LOT OR SOMETHING,

AND MAYBE HER PHONE DIED."

KELSEY'S SISTER LINDSEY AND JOHN

TOOK OFF IMMEDIATELY FOR THE MALL.

THEY EXPECT TO FIND HER STRANDED IN THE PARKING LOT,

WAITING FOR HELP.

BUT THERE'S NO SIGN OF KELSEY...

I DON'T SEE IT ANYWHERE.

...OR HER CAR.

MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THAT SHE HAD BEEN IN A WRECK,

SHE COULDN'T CALL US.

60 MINUTES AFTER SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME,

GREG HOLDS OUT HOPE

THAT THERE'S AN INNOCENT REASON FOR KELSEY'S ABSENCE.

I'M NOT GONNA PANIC JUST YET.

SO, I STARTED CALLING

THE DIFFERENT POLICE AGENCIES AROUND THE AREA

AND TALKING TO THE DISPATCHERS...

JUST TO SEE IF MAYBE SHE'D BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT

AND, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T KNOW YET,

SEE IF SHE'D BEEN STOPPED BY THE POLICE

FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT POLICE HAVEN'T SEEN KELSEY, EITHER.

I WAS -- I WAS PRETTY ALARMED BY THAT TIME.

EVERYBODY WAS OUT DRIVING AROUND TRYING TO FIND HER CAR.

MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST HEAD HOME.

JOHN AND LINDSEY DETOUR

THROUGH A MALL PARKING LOT NOT FAR FROM THE TARGET.

IT'S RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S IT.

OUTSIDE A MACY'S STORE,

THEY FINALLY FIND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR --

KELSEY'S CAR.

BUT NO KELSEY.

HER PURSE IS HERE, BUT...

SHE'S NOT THERE.

LINDSEY CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY'D FOUND KELSEY'S CAR

ACROSS THE STREET AT THE MALL IN THE PARKING LOT.

WELL, THAT WAS A BAD SIGNAL TO ME,

THAT THE CAR WAS IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.

A SIGNAL THAT THIS COULD BE A CRIME SCENE.

AND SO I SAID, "OKAY, JUST STAY AWAY FROM IT.

LET ME CALL THE POLICE."

FOUR HOURS AFTER KELSEY WAS LAST SEEN,

DETECTIVES ARE CALLED IN.

WE RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM THE FAMILY

AROUND 11:00 P.M. THAT NIGHT.

THEY HAD LOCATED HER CAR

ON THE EXACT OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SHOPPING AREA

WHERE SHE HAD LAST BEEN KNOWN TO BE.

AND IT JUST -- IT LOOKED SUSPICIOUS.

THEY SCOUR THE CAR FOR EVEN THE SMALLEST OF CLUES...

...ANYTHING THAT COULD TELL THEM WHERE KELSEY IS.

WE DID FIND KELSEY'S PURSE.

AS WE WERE WATCHING THE POLICE BAG KELSEY'S CAR,

YOUR STOMACH IS IN YOUR THROAT.

WE FOUND THE WRAPPING PAPER AND THE PRESENT

THAT SHE HAD PURCHASED AT TARGET.

IT WAS KIND OF ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS

WHERE YOU LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND GO, "THIS MIGHT NOT BE GOOD."

AND THINGS WERE ABOUT TO GET MORE OMINOUS STILL.

THERE WAS SOMETHING HANGING OUT OF THE TRUNK.

A BAG OR SOMETHING.

IT KIND OF LOOKED LIKE A TAIL HANGING OUT OF THE TRUNK.

THAT WAS A SIGNAL THAT SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT.

AND TOOK EVERYTHING WITHIN ME

NOT TO JUST WANT TO WALK OVER THERE AND OPEN THE TRUNK.

BUT THIS IS NO JOB FOR A FATHER.

THEY ANXIOUSLY WAIT FOR FORENSICS

TO COME AND OPEN THE TRUNK.

WE HOPED THAT SHE WAS IN IT, BUT PRAYED SHE WASN'T.

I WAS LITERALLY HOLDING MY BREATH

'CAUSE I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT'S WHERE SHE WAS.

AND I WAS HOPING, IF SHE WAS THERE, THAT SHE WAS ALIVE.

AND THEN WHEN SHE WASN'T THERE, IT WAS LIKE,

"SO, WHERE IS MY CHILD?"

KELSEY ANN SMITH.

YEAH!

KELSEY GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL NINE DAYS AGO.

SHE WAS GOING TO GO TO KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

TO BECOME A VETERINARIAN.

SHE'S A MODEL STUDENT, POPULAR AND INDEPENDENT.

VERY OUTGOING. FUN KID TO BE AROUND.

VERY HEADSTRONG.

SHE WENT OUT OF HER WAY TO MAKE YOU FEEL WANTED.

MOST LOVING KID AROUND.

AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REST OF HER LIFE.

AND NOW SHE'S SIMPLY VANISHED.

WE HAD AN 18-YEAR-OLD GIRL

WHO, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, WAS VERY RESPONSIBLE.

IT'S VERY LATE AT NIGHT.

HER CAR IS FOUND IN A LOCATION

THAT SHE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE IN.

WHY IS THE CAR NOT WHERE KELSEY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE?

POLICE DUST FOR PRINTS SO THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER

A FULL PICTURE OF WHO'S BEEN IN KELSEY'S CAR.

BUT THERE ARE NO FURTHER CLUES TO SUGGEST FOUL PLAY.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING TO INDICATE

THAT THERE WAS A STRUGGLE IN THE CAR.

IT WAS JUST DRIVEN THERE AND LEFT.

KELSEY'S DISAPPEARANCE REMAINS SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.

BUT DETECTIVES FIND A WITNESS AT THE PARKING LOT

THAT MAY HAVE SEEN IT ALL.

KANSAS TEENAGER KELSEY SMITH HAS VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE,

BUT INVESTIGATORS MAY HAVE FOUND A VITAL, NEW WITNESS.

THE VIDEO CAMERA, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN

KIND OF LOOKING DOWN, SOUTHEAST, INTO THE PARKING LOT.

BUT IT'S LATE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

CAN'T GET HOLD OF ANYONE TO ACCESS THE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.

EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE CAMERA REVEALS,

IF IT REVEALS ANYTHING AT ALL.

MEANTIME, POLICE LOOK FOR ANSWERS CLOSER TO HOME...

...STARTING WITH KELSEY'S PARENTS.

WHERE IS SHE, GREG?

I DON'T KNOW, BABY.

THANK YOU.

I MEAN, THEY PUT US IN A QUESTIONING ROOM,

AND THEY LEFT US THERE FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME,

AND THERE WAS A CAMERA UP IN THE CORNER, YOU KNOW.

AND I LOOKED AT MISSEY AND I SAID,

"YOU KNOW THEY'RE WATCHING US, RIGHT?

YOU REALIZE WE'RE BOTH SUSPECTS RIGHT NOW?"

SHE SAYS, "YEAH."

AND I SAID, "SO, WE'RE GONNA ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

"SO THEY CLEAR US SO THEY CAN LOOK FOR THE RIGHT PERSON.

BUT IT'S JUST ROUTINE. THEY HAVE TO DO THIS."

HOW YOU DOING?

I JUST WANT TO FIND MY DAUGHTER.

AND THEY ASKED THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY NEEDED TO ASK.

THE PARENTS ARE QUICKLY CLEARED OF ANY SUSPICION.

BUT THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE THE COPS NEED TO TALK TO.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT KELSEY'S BOYFRIEND,

JOHN BIERSMITH?

HE'S A GOOD KID.

IT'S TYPICALLY THE PERSON WHO SAW THEM LAST,

WHO KNEW WHERE THEY WERE LAST,

JUST HAD GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR LAST LOCATION

OR CONTACT WHO WE KIND OF FOCUS IN ON.

OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS,

KELSEY'S SPENT MOST OF HER TIME WITH HER BOYFRIEND, JOHN.

ALL INDICATIONS WERE

WAS THAT JOHN ABSOLUTELY HAD THE LAST CONTACTS WITH KELSEY --

TEXTS, PHONE CALL, YOU KNOW?

SO, WHERE WAS JOHN JUST BEFORE HE ARRIVED AT THE SMITH HOUSE

TO PICK UP KELSEY?

DID THEY HAVE A FIGHT?

WAS THERE ANYTHING KELSEY TOLD HIM THAT WAS UPSETTING?

AND WE PRESSED A LITTLE BIT HARDER,

REPHRASING THE SAME QUESTION IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS

TO SEE IF HE WOULD ANSWER IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

WE PROBABLY PRESSED HIM A LITTLE HARD.

IT WAS, LIKE, TEARING MY MIND APART WHY THEY WERE DOING THIS.

IT PROBABLY LASTED ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF, TWO HOURS.

AND HE WAS ROCK-SOLID.

JOHN'S STORY CHECKS OUT.

HE HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE KELSEY IS

OR WHY SHE'S GONE MISSING.

HOURS INTO THE INVESTIGATION, POLICE ARE NOWHERE.

DAWN THE NEXT DAY,

AND THE FAMILY KICKS OFF ITS OWN SEARCH.

OUR DAUGHTER'S FRIENDS WERE COLLEGE-AGE

AND VERY COMPUTER SAVVY AT THE TIME.

SO THEY GOT A FLYER TOGETHER AND STARTED PRINTING IT OFF.

KELSEY'S POLICE-OFFICER DAD TAKES CHARGE OF THE OPERATION.

WE'RE ON THE CLOCK.

WE'VE GOT 48 HOURS, OR WE'RE NOT GONNA FIND HER.

AND IF WE DO FIND HER, WE'RE NOT GONNA FIND HER ALIVE.

THEY WOULD ASSIGN PEOPLE TO CERTAIN AREAS

AND SAY, "YOU LOOK HERE."

AND THOSE PEOPLE WOULD TAKE FLYERS AND KNOCKED ON DOORS.

WE WERE GOING DOOR TO DOOR ASKING IF ANYBODY'S SEEN HER LATELY.

WE HAD THIS PRINTOUT.

WE WOULD DIVIDE AND CONQUER,

PRETTY MUCH, THE OVERLAND PARK AREA,

TRYING TO TELL EVERYBODY AND ANYBODY THAT WOULD LISTEN

WHAT'S GOING ON.

KELSEY'S FAMILY DOES EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER

TO TRACK DOWN THEIR DAUGHTER.

BUT 12 HOURS SINCE KELSEY'S DISAPPEARANCE,

INVESTIGATORS MAY HAVE AN EYEWITNESS AFTER ALL

WHEN THEY FINALLY GAIN ACCESS

TO THE PARKING LOT'S CCTV CAMERA.

WE WENT BACK, AND WE GOT THE MACY'S VIDEO.

WE TOOK A COPY BACK TO OUR COMMAND CENTER.

WE NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT TIME KELSEY'S CAR WAS PARKED THERE,

AND IF WE COULD SEE ANYONE

GETTING OUT OF HER CAR AFTER IT WAS PARKED.

IT'S THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

POLICE SCROLL THROUGH HOURS OF VIDEO,

AND AT 9:17 P.M.,

TWO HOURS AFTER KELSEY WAS LAST HEARD FROM,

THEY SPOT SOMETHING.

THE MACY'S VIDEO WAS VERY GRAINY.

THERE ARE ALSO PARKING-LOT LIGHTS

THAT ARE SHINING AT THE CAMERA,

SO EVERYTHING IS A LITTLE OBSCURED.

AND ALL WE CAN SEE IS HEADLIGHTS

COMING INTO A DARK PARKING LOT.

IT'S KELSEY'S CAR.

THE CAR DOOR OPENS, AND SOMEONE GETS OUT.

BUT THE FOOTAGE IS TOO BLURRY TO SEE WHO.

SO, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE FROM THE MACY'S VIDEO

IS KELSEY'S CAR ARRIVES AT 9:17 P.M. AND PARKS.

THAT'S ALL WE CAN SEE.

IT'S A HUGE LETDOWN.

BUT FOR KELSEY'S PARENTS, THERE'S A NEW RAY OF HOPE.

THE FAMILY'S PUBLICITY GENERATES A PROMISING TIP.

YES, SHE WAS WEARING A PINK SHIRT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT

HAVE CAPTURED SOMEONE MATCHING KELSEY'S DESCRIPTION.

THAT LESS-THAN-FIVE-MINUTE DRIVE,

IT'S JUST RIGHT UP THE STREET FROM OUR HOME,

THE ENTIRE TIME, YOUR STOMACH IS IN YOUR THROAT

AND YOU'RE JUST HOPING, "PLEASE, LET THIS BE MY CHILD."

I HOPED THAT IT REALLY WAS HER,

BECAUSE THEN I KNEW SHE WAS ALIVE, AT LEAST.

THE SMITHS STRAIN TO GET A GOOD LOOK

AT THE GIRL WITH HER BACK TO THE CAMERA.

IS IT KELSEY?

YOU HOPE IT IS BECAUSE YOU'RE HOPING FOR ANY GLIMPSE

OR ANY GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR YOUR CHILD.

MY HEART JUST DROPPED WHEN I SAW THAT.

IT WASN'T HER.

THAT'S -- THAT'S NOT HER. SORRY.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

IT'S A HEARTBREAKING DISAPPOINTMENT.

THEIR DAUGHTER IS STILL OUT THERE,

AND NO ONE KNOWS WHERE.

YOU KIND OF PUT YOURSELF IN PLACE OF THE PARENTS.

BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE EMOTION KICK INTO IT TOO MUCH,

'CAUSE YOU KIND OF LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR OBJECTIVE AS A DETECTIVE.

WITH THE CLOCK TICKING, DETECTIVES' ONLY HOPE

IS TO TRACE KELSEY TO THE POINT OF HER DISAPPEARANCE.

THEY KNOW SHE CALLED HER MOM FROM TARGET

SOMETIME BEFORE SHE WENT MISSING.

IN THE TARGET STORES,

THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM,

AND THEY'RE KNOWN NATIONWIDE

AS KIND OF A CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

IN RETAIL SURVEILLANCE.

WE KNEW THEY HAD CAPABILITY

TO NAIL DOWN SPECIFIC TIMES AND DATES.

IF KELSEY WENT TO TARGET,

SURELY SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT ON CAMERA.

WE WERE HOPING THAT'S WHERE THE KEY WOULD BE.

INVESTIGATORS WOULD BE HAPPY

WITH JUST ONE CAMERA'S GLIMPSE OF KELSEY.

LITTLE DO THEY KNOW,

THE STORE'S 40 CAMERAS HAVE FILMED HER ENTIRE SHOPPING TRIP.

KANSAS TEEN KELSEY SMITH

VANISHED INTO THIN AIR 17 HOURS AGO.

MY CHILD IS MISSING. HELP ME FIND HER.

HER FAMILY IS RACKED WITH WORRY.

SHE'S MY LITTLE GIRL.

AND HOPE NOW RESTS IN ONE PLACE...

...SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE FROM THE 40 CAMERAS

SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT STORE.

CAN YOU MOVE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT AREA?

RIGHT THERE. YEAH, THERE SHE IS.

YEAH.

IT'S KELSEY.

SHE HAD INDEED ARRIVED AT THE LOCATION

THAT SHE HAD TOLD HER PARENTS SHE WAS GOING.

POLICE HAVE HIT PAY DIRT.

KELSEY'S ENTIRE TRIP HAS BEEN CAPTURED ON CAMERA.

THEY CAN NOW PIECE TOGETHER HER JOURNEY THROUGH THE STORE.

AT 6:54, SHE ARRIVES IN THE PARKING LOT.

SHE'S SEEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR

AND WALKING TOWARDS THE STORE OUT OF SIGHT.

AND THEN ADDITIONAL CAMERAS COULD THEN BE PULLED UP,

WATCHING HER WALK IN THE FRONT DOOR.

AT THIS POINT, WE WERE LOOKING TO SEE

JUST IF KELSEY HAD MADE CONTACT WITH ANYONE INSIDE THE STORE.

WE BASICALLY JUST FOLLOWED HER THROUGH THE STORE

CAMERA BY CAMERA.

JUST BEFORE 7:00, KELSEY MAKES THAT CALL TO HER MOM.

SO FAR, IT LOOKS LIKE AN ORDINARY SHOPPING TRIP.

SHE WAS VERY CALM IN THE VIDEO.

SHE'S CASUALLY WALKING AROUND THE STORE SELECTING HER ITEMS.

SHE GOES TO THE CLERK...

...CHATS WITH THE CLERK AS SHE'S PAYING FOR HER ITEMS...

...AND THEN LEAVES THE STORE.

JUST 10 MINUTES AFTER ARRIVING, KELSEY RETURNS TO HER CAR.

THERE SHE IS. SHE'S LEAVING.

THE CAR BACKS UP AND LEAVES THE PARKING LOT.

AT NO POINT DID WE SEE HER TALK TO OR MAKE CONTACT WITH ANYONE.

DETECTIVES ARE STUMPED.

VERY NORMAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.

OR IS IT?

WE KNEW THERE WAS THAT ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION

THAT WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE,

AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE OR WHO WE WOULD GET IT FROM.

WE HAVE NO FURTHER LEADS AS TO WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO HER.

WE ARE...SORT OF IN THE DARK.

ONCE MORE, COPS ARE AT A DEAD END.

AS AN EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTING DAY DRAWS TO A CLOSE,

THE SEARCH FOR KELSEY HITS THE 18-HOUR MARK

AND DREAD SETS IN.

AS THOSE MINUTES START TICKING AWAY,

YOUR GUT IS JUST CONSTANTLY IN KNOTS.

AND YOU DO PANIC A LITTLE BIT WONDERING, WHERE IS YOUR CHILD?

ONE SIDE OF ME WAS A POLICE OFFICER,

JUST TRYING TO LOOK AT IT STRICTLY --

"THIS IS JUST EVIDENCE. JUST LOOK AT THE FACTS."

AND THEN THE OTHER SIDE WAS THE DAD.

AND THEY HAD A HARD TIME GOING SIDE BY SIDE.

AND THE POLICE SIDE

WAS NOT NEARLY AS OPTIMISTIC AS THE DAD SIDE WAS.

YOU DON'T EAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOUR CHILD'S EATING.

YOU DON'T SLEEP.

IT WAS JUST THE MOST GOD-AWFUL TIME IN MY LIFE.

IT'S 24 HOURS SINCE KELSEY SMITH VANISHED,

AND THE CLOCK IS STILL TICKING.

WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN,

FRUSTRATED POLICE TAKE A SECOND, MORE DETAILED LOOK

AT THE TARGET FOOTAGE.

ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

WE DECIDED TO VIEW THE VIDEO AGAIN

TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT WE HAD MISSED.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING.

"WELL, LET'S TAKE IT OVER TO COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTER,

AND WE'LL BLOW IT UP ON THE WALL."

WE GATHERED IN A GROUP

'CAUSE ALWAYS MORE EYES ON SOMETHING ARE BETTER.

SHE ENTERS THE CAR PARK AT 6:57...

WITH THE FOOTAGE BLOWN UP, 10 SETS OF EYES

EXAMINE EVERY FRAME FOR ANY OVERLOOKED DETAILS.

WE WATCHED ALL THE SEGMENTS OF THE VIDEO.

WE WERE HOPEFUL TO SEE ANYTHING --

THAT SHE PICKED UP SOMEBODY, AND THEY LEFT, YOU KNOW,

OR SOMEBODY ELSE WALKED OUT TO THE CAR WITH HER, AND THEY LEFT.

WE WATCHED THIS VIDEO OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WHAT WE HAD SEEN BEFORE IS,

WE HAD SEEN KELSEY WALK TO HER VEHICLE.

SHE PLACES HER PACKAGES

IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

SHE WALKS AROUND THE REAR OF HER CAR,

AND SHE GETS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE,

AND THE CAR BACKS UP AND TAKES OFF.

THEY WATCH THE CLIP OF KELSEY APPROACHING HER CAR AGAIN.

THE PICTURE'S QUITE LARGE, SO IT'S PIXILATED,

SO IT'S KIND OF BLURRY.

AND AS WE'RE STANDING THERE,

WE SEE SOMETHING THAT WE HADN'T SEEN BEFORE.

LET'S PLAY THAT BACK AGAIN.

SHE WALKS AROUND BEHIND THE CAR,

AND AS SHE OPENS UP THE DOOR,

BEFORE SHE GETS IN, BEFORE SHE SHUTS THAT DOOR,

THERE'S A FLASH.

MY GOD. DID YOU SEE THAT?

SOMEONE COMES RUSHING UP FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN,

OUT OF VIEW OF THE CAMERA, AND RUSHES UP BEHIND KELSEY.

THE CAR DOOR SHUTS,

AND THERE'S PROBABLY A 12-, 15-SECOND HESITATION,

AND THE CAR SIMPLY BACKS OUT AND DRIVES OFF.

I THINK, FOR A MOMENT,

YOU PROBABLY COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP IN THAT ROOM.

EVERYBODY STOPPED WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

"MY GOD. DID YOU SEE THAT?"

WE STOOD THERE IN SILENCE.

JUST, YOU KNOW,

WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID, "IT'S KIDNAPPING."

OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS.

POLICE HAVE FOUND WHAT COULD BE THE SMOKING GUN

IN KELSEY SMITH'S DISAPPEARANCE.

"MY GOD. DID YOU SEE THAT?"

AN APPARENT ABDUCTION IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

WE KNEW SOMETHING CRIMINAL HAD HAPPENED TO HER.

IT'S HUGE.

IT'S HUGE BECAUSE WE HADN'T EVEN SUSPECTED AT THIS POINT

IT WAS GONNA BE A KIDNAPPING.

YOU JUST KIND OF RUN THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD,

KNOWING WHAT I KNOW, YOU THINK, "MAN, THIS IS BAD."

THEN I KNEW THAT SHE WASN'T --

YOU KNOW, SHE WASN'T MAD, SHE JUST DIDN'T COME HOME.

IT WASN'T SOME, YOU KNOW, PRANK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WHICH I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS, ANYWAY,

BUT I WAS HOPING, MAYBE.

I KNEW THAT SOMEBODY HAD HER.

THAT...

THAT FEELING OF POWERLESSNESS COMES BACK,

AND IT'S LIKE, "I CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP HER."

AFTER SEEING THAT FIGURE RUSH BEHIND KELSEY IN THAT VIDEO,

I KNEW THAT WE HAD TO FIND HER IMMEDIATELY.

THERE'S LITTLE TO GO ON.

IT'S A BLUR.

I MEAN, YOU GET THE GENERAL MALE FIGURE.

THEY KNOW IT'S A LONG SHOT,

BUT PERHAPS HE'D BEEN TRACKING HER BEFORE HE ATTACKED.

WE THOUGHT IF HE WAS OUTSIDE THE TARGET,

WAS HE ALSO INSIDE?

SO WE WENT BACK TO THE INSIDE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO,

AND WE STARTED GOING THROUGH IT PIECE BY PIECE.

IS THERE SOMEONE ON THE PERIMETER

THAT MAY HAVE BEEN WATCHING HER?

SOMEONE WE MISSED?

THEY PLAY AND REWIND OVER AND OVER.

EVERY TIME WE SAW KELSEY ENTER THE CAMERA VIEW,

THIS INDIVIDUAL WEARING THE LIGHT SHIRT AND DARK PANTS

WOULD ALSO ENTER THE CAMERA VIEW,

AND HIS EYES WERE ALWAYS FOLLOWING HER.

HE WAS NOT SHOPPING.

THE TERM WE USE IS HE WAS TROLLING.

JUST LOOKING, YOU KNOW, FOR OPPORTUNITY.

SOMETIMES LOOKING BACK OVER HIS SHOULDER

AS HE WALKED PAST HER.

HE'S WATCHING HER.

HE WAS ABSOLUTELY WATCHING HER TO SEE WHAT SHE DID,

IF SHE WAS MEETING ANYONE INSIDE THE STORE,

IF SHE KNEW ANYONE INSIDE THE STORE.

HE WAS WATCHING TO SEE WHEN SHE WAS GOING TO LEAVE THE STORE.

ONCE HE SEES THAT KELSEY GOES TO THE CHECKOUT STAND,

HE MAKES A BEELINE --

JUST STROLLING, MAKES A BEELINE OUT THE DOOR.

HE WANTED TO BE OUTSIDE BEFORE HER.

IT'S A HUGE BREAK.

NOW IF ONLY THEY CAN GET A CLEAR SHOT OF HIS FACE.

WE PULLED THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FROM THE EXIT DOOR.

THERE'S THAT SHORT HALLWAY IN BETWEEN THE DOORS,

AND THERE'S A CAMERA LOOKS RIGHT DOWN.

WE CAN VERY CLEARLY SEE HIS FACE.

WE CAN VERY CLEARLY SEE HIS CLOTHING.

EVERYTHING DOWN TO WHAT TYPE OF SHOES HE'S WEARING.

IT'S A PERFECT PICTURE.

SKINNY WHITE MALE WITH A FLAT TOP, YOU KNOW.

25 HOURS SINCE KELSEY SMITH WAS ABDUCTED,

THE RACE IS ON TO FIND THIS PHANTOM.

WE RELEASED THIS PHOTOGRAPH TO THE MEDIA

TO ASK THE PUBLIC FOR HELP.

WHEN WE PUT THE PICTURE OUT,

THE PHONE CALLS ROLLED IN UNBELIEVABLY FAST.

MOST OF THEM WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE WAY OFF

'CAUSE IT WAS A FAIRLY COMMON LOOK.

WE RECEIVED ALMOST 2,000 TIPS.

BUT EVEN WITH HELP FROM NEIGHBORING DEPARTMENTS,

OFFICERS ARE OVERWHELMED.

IT'LL TAKE WEEKS TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE TIPS,

SO AGAIN THEY TURN TO CCTV

TO SEE IF THEIR SUSPECT DROVE TO THE PARKING LOT.

WE KNEW THAT WE HAD THIS FIGURE RUSH UP BEHIND HER

AND PUSH HER INTO THE CAR,

AND THAT HER CAR HAD BEEN FOUND WITH ALL OF HER BELONGINGS

IN THE MACY'S PARKING LOT.

TWO HOURS AFTER HER ABDUCTION FROM TARGET,

WHO IS PARKING KELSEY'S CAR IN THE NEARBY MACY'S PARKING LOT?

WE SEE THE CAR COME INTO THE PARKING LOT AND PARK.

THAT'S BASICALLY ALL WE CAN SEE FROM THE VIDEO.

WHAT IT DOES GIVE US IS A TIME.

DETECTIVES HAVE AN IDEA.

MAYBE THE KIDNAPPER CAME BACK FOR HIS OWN CAR.

GOING OFF THAT 9:17 P.M. TIME STAMP,

WE WENT BACK TO THE TARGET STORE,

LOOKED AT THE PARKING-LOT VIDEO FROM THE TARGET STORE AGAIN

FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED AFTER 9:17 P.M.

AND WE SAW A DARK-COLORED PICKUP LEAVING THE PARKING LOT.

IS THIS THE KIDNAPPER

PICKING UP HIS TRUCK FROM THE TARGET PARKING LOT?

IF IT IS, THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO PICK OUT THE SAME VEHICLE

ARRIVING EARLIER IN THE DAY.

KELSEY ARRIVED AT THE TARGET PARKING LOT AT 6:54 P.M.

SO, WE BASICALLY BACK THE VIDEO UP, PLAY IT BACKWARDS.

THIS TRUCK APPEARS JUST SECONDS BEFORE SHE DOES.

AND SO WE FOLLOW IT ON THE VIDEO

BACK AROUND TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LOOK AT THE DRIVER.

KIND OF FUZZY.

WHITE MALE, SHORT HAIR, WHITE T-SHIRT.

SO WE'RE THINKING, "OKAY, WE MIGHT HAVE THE TRUCK."

WHITE MALE IN A BLUE PICKUP.

IT NARROWS DOWN THE SEARCH CONSIDERABLY.

THEY STILL NEED THE PUBLIC'S HELP, AND THEY GET IT.

I ANSWERED THE PHONE AND SPOKE TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO TOLD ME,

"I KNOW WHO THE GUY IS ON THE VIDEO."

THE NAME THAT HE GAVE ME ON THE PHONE WAS EDWIN HALL.

AND HE OWNS A BLUE PICKUP TRUCK.

THREE AND A HALF DAYS AFTER KELSEY SMITH WAS KIDNAPPED,

OVERLAND PARK INVESTIGATORS

HAVE A LEAD ON THEIR FIRST SOLID SUSPECT.

WE GOT A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS --

A CO-WORKER WHO KNEW HIM AND ONE WAS A FRIEND.

THEY WERE SURE THAT THE PICTURE

WAS A GENTLEMAN NAMED EDWIN HALL.

BUT WITH HIS FACE ALL OVER THE MEDIA,

HE COULD BE MAKING A RUN FOR IT.

OFFICERS ARRIVE AT HIS ADDRESS JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.

EDWIN HALL AND A FEMALE,

WHO WE LATER LEARNED TO BE HIS WIFE,

WERE LOADING A VEHICLE WITH BOXES AND BAGS AND THINGS,

AND IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE GETTING READY TO LEAVE.

HOWDY.

DETECTIVE MILLER.

COULD THIS BE THE MAN WHO ABDUCTED KELSEY SMITH?

POLICE TAKE EDWIN HALL'S FINGERPRINTS,

AND THEY'LL BE COMPARED WITH THOSE FOUND IN KELSEY'S CAR.

DETECTIVES PRESS HALL FOR ANSWERS.

WHERE IS KELSEY SMITH?

THROUGHOUT THE INTERVIEW, HE -- HE DENIED KNOWING KELSEY.

SO, YOU KNOW KELSEY?

HALL ADMITS HE IS THE MAN SEEN FOLLOWING KELSEY IN THE VIDEO.

"YEAH. YEAH, I THINK I DID SEE HER," YOU KNOW?

"SHE WAS QUITE CUTE, AND SHE HAD NICE LEGS, TOO."

HE ADAMANTLY DENIED HAVING ANY CONTACT WITH HER

ONCE SHE LEFT THE STORE.

THIS GUY STILL THINKS HE'S SMARTER THAN WE ARE.

YOU COULD TELL HE WAS LYING.

DETECTIVES BRIDGES AND MILLER

ARE SURE HE KNOWS WHERE KELSEY IS,

BUT THEY HAVE NO HARD EVIDENCE UNTIL...

WHILE EDWIN WAS BEING QUESTIONED,

THE LAB CAME BACK WITH A FINGERPRINT MATCH.

HIS FINGERPRINT MATCHED A FINGERPRINT

THAT WAS FOUND ON THE SEAT-BELT RELEASE

OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IN KELSEY'S CAR.

THAT PROVES HE WAS THERE.

THE FLASH OF THE FUZZY PERSON ON THE VIDEO WE SAW WAS HIM,

AND THERE'S NO DENYING IT.

SOON AS WE HAD THAT FINGERPRINT MATCH,

I KNEW THAT HE HAD DONE SOMETHING WITH KELSEY.

EDWIN HALL ADMITS TO STALKING KELSEY IN THE TARGET STORE.

HE WATCHED HER SHOPPING,

THEN WAITED FOR HER IN THE PARKING LOT.

ARMED WITH A HANDGUN, HE MADE HIS MOVE.

MY GOD! WHAT IS -- STOP IT!

DON'T MOVE.

OPEN THE DOOR.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. GET IN THE CAR!

OKAY. DON'T SAY ANYTHING.

PUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. OKAY.

PUT THE KEYS IN. OKAY, OKAY.

THEN HE FORCED HER TO DRIVE AWAY.

TWO HOURS LATER, HE RETURNED ALONE...

AND ABANDONED KELSEY'S CAR IN THE MACY'S PARKING LOT.

HE THEN WALKED BACK TO THE TARGET...

...GOT INTO HIS TRUCK, AND DROVE HOME.

THREE AND A HALF DAYS AFTER KELSEY'S DISAPPEARANCE,

A SEARCH PARTY MAKES AN UPSETTING DISCOVERY.

WE GET A CALL FROM THE SEARCHERS THAT THEY HAD FOUND KELSEY.

SHE'S NOT ALIVE.

KELSEY HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED

AND STRANGLED TO DEATH.

WE WERE AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY

WHEN WE WERE TOLD KELS WAS GONE, THAT THEY HAD FOUND HER.

AND I JUST REMEMBER SCREAMING, "NOT MY KELS!

NOT MY KELS!"

EDWIN HALL IS CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF KELSEY SMITH.

HE GAVE A FULL CONFESSION TO THE CRIME

IN ORDER TO AVOID THE DEATH PENALTY.

HE PLEADS GUILTY

AND IS SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

HE SET OUT THAT DAY LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO ATTACK,

AND HE FOUND KELSEY.

WE'VE ASKED EDWIN HALL ABOUT OTHER MURDERS IN THE MIDWEST

THAT HE MIGHT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR,

AND HIS REPLY WAS, "NO, I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY.

THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME OF KILLING SOMEONE."

MY POLICE INSTINCT TELLS ME IT'S A LIE.

I DON'T THINK ABOUT HIM. I REALLY DON'T.

HE DOESN'T MATTER IN KELSEY'S STORY.

HE'S THE MEANS TO THE END OF HER LIFE.

BUT IF I FOCUS ON HIM, THEN HE TAKES MORE JOY FROM MY LIFE,

AND I'M NOT GONNA ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

THERE'S A QUOTE FROM LINCOLN, WHICH I HAD READ,

AND HE HAD SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF,

"IT'S NOT THE YEARS IN YOUR LIFE THAT MATTER.

IT'S THE LIFE IN YOUR YEARS."

AND THAT'S KELSEY.

AND THAT'S WHAT -- THAT'S HER EPITAPH.

THAT'S WHAT WE PUT ON HER HEADSTONE.

YOU KNOW, I'VE OFTEN SAID TO OTHER PARENTS

THAT EVERY BIT OF PAIN OF NOT HAVING HER HERE

WAS WORTH THE 18 YEARS AND 30 DAYS OF JOY OF HAVING HER.

I WOULDN'T GIVE IT UP FOR ANYTHING.

THE VIDEO ABSOLUTELY SOLVED IT FOR US.

IT DID TAKE SOME GOOD POLICE WORK.

IT DID TAKE SOME LUCK.

BUT HAD WE NOT HAD THAT VIDEO,

I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS CASE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED.