Teen Went Shopping for an Anniversary Gift by Herself. A Predator Was Lurking in the Parking Lot

Mar. 15, 2025

Kelsey Smith.Photo:Overland Park Police/ZUMA Press

Overland Park Police/ZUMA Press

On the evening of June 2, 2007, Kelsey Smith, 18, told her father, Greg Smith, she had plans to shop for an anniversary gift for her boyfriend, according toInvestigation Discovery. That was the last time anyone would ever hear from her.

The recent high school graduate left her house at about 6:30 p.m. and drove to the Target store in Overland Park, Kan., knowing she’d only have about an hour to shop before her special date. After the hour passed, Kelsey still wasn’t home and her calls and texts went unanswered, per ID.

Concerned, Kelsey’s parents and 18-year-old boyfriend, John Biersmith, went to the store to search for her but found no sign of her or her car in the parking lot, ID reported. Soon after, her father, who worked with police, contacted authorities to see if his daughter’s car had been involved in any car accidents, but there were no reports.

According toOxygen, Kelsey’s loved ones continued to search the area surrounding the store. Hours later, they found Kelsey’s car parked across the street in a lot outside the Macy’s store — but she wasn’t inside. Police who were called to the scene noted that her keys and phone were missing and scrubbed the car for fingerprints.

As the investigation continued, her immediate family members and boyfriend were ruled out as suspects and authorities checked Kelsey’s phone records to determine her whereabouts, Oxygen reported. But police weren’t able to immediately obtain those records.

After reviewing the footage, authorities decided to release a photo of the suspect to the public in the hopes of identifying him. As tips began coming in, investigators were able to narrow down a name: Edwin Hall.

Kelsey Smith.Overland Park Police/ZUMA Press

In July 2008, Hall, then 27, pleaded guilty to capital murder, aggravated kidnapping, rape and aggravated sodomy,KMBCreported. Due to his guilty plea, he avoided the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Edwin Hall.Overland Park Police

Overland Park Police

“I can’t find the right words to say today,” Hall said at his sentencing hearing, per KMBC. “I am so sorry for what I have done. That’s it. That’s all I can say.”

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According toThe Kansas City Star, Hall admitted he zeroed in on Kelsey that evening at Target after believing she looked like a 12-year-old girl who had “nice legs.” Hall was charged in a separate case involving a 14-year-old girl with whom he claimed he had a consensual relationship in 2004. But prosecutors agreed to drop the charges after his guilty plea in Kelsey’s case, the outlet reported.

Additionally, in 2009, the Kansas legislature passed theKelsey Smith Act, which requires cell phone companies to quickly provide phone location information to law enforcement in emergency situations, such as a kidnapping.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

source: people.com