Kylr Yust’s attorneys cleaned up their client as much as they possibly could but, hell, it’s almost impossible to polish a turd.
The jury in his Cass County murder trial realized that, and the jury today convicted him in the strangulation slayings of Kara Kopetsky, 17, and Jessica Runions, 21.
Specifically, the jury, which was selected two weeks ago in St. Charles County and then brought to Harrisonville, found Yust guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the 2007 death of Kopetsky and of second-degree murder in the 2016 death of Runions.
I didn’t attend any of the trial, but I could tell from the coverage that Cass County Prosecutor Ben Butler and his assistant, Julie Tolle, had a ton of circumstantial evidence, and they presented their case in very organized and convincing fashion.
The defense attorneys, including Sharon Turlington, an experienced public defender from St. Louis, did the best they could to establish a “look-over-there” defense (revolving around their contention that Yust’s now-dead step-brother did the deeds), but it came off as desperate and outrageous.
I don’t know why the jury settled on manslaughter in the death of Kopetsky, but KSHB-TV’s story suggests there was less evidence in that case, it being nine years older than the other.
The KSHB story says Yust faces five to 15 years in prison for the manslaughter charge and up to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years for the murder charge. He’s 32 now, so he’s going to be over 60 before he has the opportunity to be a free man again.
The sentencing phase begins Friday morning.
I’m sure the victims’ mothers are tremendously relieved tonight. Rhonda Beckford and Jamie Runions became fast friends after Jessica’s death, and they and other family members turned out in force at every hearing that was held in the case the last couple of years.
I attended a few of those hearings, and after each one, assistant prosecutor Julie Tolle would meet with family members and tell them where things stood and what to expect. I covered many cases and trials in Jackson County when I was with The Star, but I never saw one where the relatives and friends of victims bonded like they did in this case.
I hope this verdict gives Beckford and Jamie Runions a semblance of peace of mind. Those women’s daughters were snatched away by a thoroughly evil young man who resorted to murder when he was getting dumped. Referring to Kopetsky, Yust told a woman friend, “If I can’t have her, nobody can.” Chilling stuff.
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I’ve called Yust and David Jungerman — who is charged with killing Kansas City attorney Thomas Pickert in October 2017 — public enemies No. 1 and No. 2. (Both are so rotten it’s impossible to distinguish between No. 1 and No. 2.) I’m very gratified that one of those guys’ cases is now resolved — assuming, anyway, that Yust’s conviction holds up on appeal.
Now it’s time to get on with Jungerman, whose case seems mired down in endless motions while he sits in jail.
A lot of credit for getting Yust “to the dock” goes to Cass County Circuit Court Judge William B. Collins, who, battling defense delays and logistical challenges stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, kept pushing both sides toward a trial.
Now, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge John Torrence should follow Collins’ lead and get the Jungerman case to trial. Yes, Jungerman, who turned 83 last month, could die in jail before getting his day in court, and that would be alright. But it would be tremendously gratifying to hear a verdict read in open court, like the verdict that was read today in Cass County.
“We the jury find the defendant guilty.”
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Thanks for citing Judge Collins’ excellent efforts to move this trial forward to a conclusion. He personifies the nexus between justice and judgment.
Can you venture a guess for the reasoning between the two verdicts? Kara’s mother says no justice has been done. Also, why the final sentencing takes until June??
Sentencing always takes a while unless it’s a plea deal and everything has been worked out in advance.
I’m sure Rhonda Beckford wanted a murder conviction, instead of manslaughter, in her daughter’s case. Very understandable. There must have been considerably less direct testimony linking Yust to Kopetsky’s disappearance and death than Runions. Nevertheless, if the jury believed, as it did, he was responsible for Kara’s death, it’s hard to understand why it’s manslaughter instead of murder. Manslaughter implies it was not premeditated or even intentional, and that’s hard to fathom.
But, WHY?? (I’m relentless.) Is the judge going over all the testimony, and busy with other cases?
The split convictions may have been that the prosecutor’case was not as strong or felt there were errors by law enforcement that they knew he was guilty but not sure as to the severity of the killing. Who knows except the the 12?!
The delay in sentencing is for a probation officer to compile a comprehensive report of Kylr called a pre-sentencing report. The officer may recommend the sentences recommended by the jury, probation or for him to serve 120 days shock time in prison before being put on probation. The judge does not have to give him probation but sentence him for the periods of time the jury recommended. The jury recommended the maximum sentences so the judge cannot give him more time in prison. He can order the sentences to run concurrently or consecutively.
Alright, alright, Gayle! I told the judge I’d never give his number out, but I’m going to make an exception your case because you are maddeningly persistent…Here it is…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us18AUBM2RI
Har har har de har har!!
Clarity arrives, compliments of “Biiiill” Stilley!
Thank you, all! :-)
Not to be a wet blanket on your enthusiasm, Fitz, but I believe John Torrence was the judge in the Mertensmeyer case and Jungerman has a boatload of money.