THE TRIAL OF KYLR YUST: DNA experts testify on evidence linking Yust to Runions death – KMBC Kansas City

A woman who traveled with Kylr Yust on the day after Jessica Runions went missing in September of 2016 said she was scared for her life as Yust was behaving nervously and erratically.Crystal Taylor, Jessep Carters ex-wife, said they traveled to Kansas City so she and Carter could meet up with Yust at his grandfathers house on September 9, 2016. It was after one day after Runions went missing from a party in Kansas City, after leaving with Yust.Carter was Kylr Yusts half-brother. He died by suicide in the Jackson County jail in 2018.Yust is accused of killing Kara Kopetsky in 2007. She was last seen leaving Belton High School in May of that year. He's also accused of killing Runions. They were last seen leaving a party together in 2016. A mushroom hunter found their remains in a Cass County farm field in 2017.After leaving Yusts grandfathers house on Sept. 9, 2016, Carter, Taylor and Yust went to visit Jesseps uncles house, Taylor testified. At the house, Taylor said Yust told her he had broken up with Runions the week before.But, Taylor testified minutes later that Yust received a phone call at the house and overheard him say he had seen Runions that day.As they left Carters uncles house, she saw Yust hide something in the bushes.They returned to Yusts grandfathers house where Yust showed her downstairs to watch TV. Thats when Carter and Yust left for a time, then returned. Carter looked shocked and scared when he returned, Taylor said.Kind of like mind blown, Taylor said.Cass County prosecutor Ben Butler asked Taylor if Carters behavior stood out to her.Yeah, it did. For him to be scared was not like him, she said.[ OPENING STATEMENT UPDATES ] [ SECOND DAY UPDATES ] [ THIRD DAY UPDATES ] [ FOURTH DAY UPDATES ] [ FIRST WEEK RECAP ] [ SIXTH DAY RECAP ] Taylor testified the three traveled around Raytown, Kansas City, Lone Jack, then eventually back to Edwards, Missouri.Along the way, she said Yust asked Carter and Taylor to take the batteries out of their cell phones. She testified they stopped off at a cousins house in Lone Jack where Carter went in to get a gun and give it to her. Police pulled them over around 3:25 a.m., on Sept. 10, where police confiscated the gun on Taylor, and gave Carter a ticket for driving on a suspended license.They returned to Edwards, Missouri, dropped Yust off at a trailer, and gave him some food. Police caflled later that evening, to get statements from Carter and Taylor.Taylor testified in the year after September of 2016, Carters behavior became abusive. She eventually left him to go to a shelter.She later learned Carter was arrested for setting his uncle Pauls house on fire.Carter died by suicide in the Jackson County jail in 2018.The prosecution also called Jarrah Kennedy from the Kansas City Police Department Crime Lab to discuss DNA collected from a red and gray hoodie recovered found near Yust's grandfather's house.Kennedy said there was brownish and blackish staining with four areas of interest on the shirt. She testified genetic information from Yust and Runions was collected from several areas of the shirt.There was also a potential third profile in the genetic mix on the shirt, Kennedy said, but she said she cannot provide an assumption of who it is due to the minimal nature of DNA.Cass County prosecutor Julie Tolle also questioned Matthew Forrest, a former KCPD crime scene technician. In pictures taken by Forrest that were obtained through a search warrant on Sept. 11, 2016, a blister on inside of finger, scratch on side of face and redness on hand could be observed. The pictures were taken days after Runions went missing, and her SUV was found burned. Melanie Fields, KCPD Crime Scene Unit Supervisor, also testified on Sept. 13, 2016 a second search warrant was executed on Yust and more pictures were taken. In the pictures, Fields noticed burnt facial hair, singed hair and injuries to his hand.

A woman who traveled with Kylr Yust on the day after Jessica Runions went missing in September of 2016 said she was scared for her life as Yust was behaving nervously and erratically.

Crystal Taylor, Jessep Carters ex-wife, said they traveled to Kansas City so she and Carter could meet up with Yust at his grandfathers house on September 9, 2016. It was after one day after Runions went missing from a party in Kansas City, after leaving with Yust.

Carter was Kylr Yusts half-brother. He died by suicide in the Jackson County jail in 2018.

Yust is accused of killing Kara Kopetsky in 2007. She was last seen leaving Belton High School in May of that year. He's also accused of killing Runions. They were last seen leaving a party together in 2016. A mushroom hunter found their remains in a Cass County farm field in 2017.

After leaving Yusts grandfathers house on Sept. 9, 2016, Carter, Taylor and Yust went to visit Jesseps uncles house, Taylor testified. At the house, Taylor said Yust told her he had broken up with Runions the week before.

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But, Taylor testified minutes later that Yust received a phone call at the house and overheard him say he had seen Runions that day.

This content is imported from Twitter.You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

As they left Carters uncles house, she saw Yust hide something in the bushes.

They returned to Yusts grandfathers house where Yust showed her downstairs to watch TV. Thats when Carter and Yust left for a time, then returned.

Carter looked shocked and scared when he returned, Taylor said.

Kind of like mind blown, Taylor said.

Cass County prosecutor Ben Butler asked Taylor if Carters behavior stood out to her.

Yeah, it did. For him to be scared was not like him, she said.

[ OPENING STATEMENT UPDATES ] [ SECOND DAY UPDATES ] [ THIRD DAY UPDATES ] [ FOURTH DAY UPDATES ] [FIFTH DAY UPDATES ] [ FIRST WEEK RECAP ] [ SIXTH DAY RECAP ]

Taylor testified the three traveled around Raytown, Kansas City, Lone Jack, then eventually back to Edwards, Missouri.

Along the way, she said Yust asked Carter and Taylor to take the batteries out of their cell phones. She testified they stopped off at a cousins house in Lone Jack where Carter went in to get a gun and give it to her. Police pulled them over around 3:25 a.m., on Sept. 10, where police confiscated the gun on Taylor, and gave Carter a ticket for driving on a suspended license.

They returned to Edwards, Missouri, dropped Yust off at a trailer, and gave him some food. Police caflled later that evening, to get statements from Carter and Taylor.

Taylor testified in the year after September of 2016, Carters behavior became abusive. She eventually left him to go to a shelter.

She later learned Carter was arrested for setting his uncle Pauls house on fire.

Carter died by suicide in the Jackson County jail in 2018.

The prosecution also called Jarrah Kennedy from the Kansas City Police Department Crime Lab to discuss DNA collected from a red and gray hoodie recovered found near Yust's grandfather's house.

Kennedy said there was brownish and blackish staining with four areas of interest on the shirt. She testified genetic information from Yust and Runions was collected from several areas of the shirt.

There was also a potential third profile in the genetic mix on the shirt, Kennedy said, but she said she cannot provide an assumption of who it is due to the minimal nature of DNA.

This content is imported from Twitter.You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Cass County prosecutor Julie Tolle also questioned Matthew Forrest, a former KCPD crime scene technician.

In pictures taken by Forrest that were obtained through a search warrant on Sept. 11, 2016, a blister on inside of finger, scratch on side of face and redness on hand could be observed. The pictures were taken days after Runions went missing, and her SUV was found burned.

This content is imported from Twitter.You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Melanie Fields, KCPD Crime Scene Unit Supervisor, also testified on Sept. 13, 2016 a second search warrant was executed on Yust and more pictures were taken. In the pictures, Fields noticed burnt facial hair, singed hair and injuries to his hand.

This content is imported from Twitter.You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

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THE TRIAL OF KYLR YUST: DNA experts testify on evidence linking Yust to Runions death - KMBC Kansas City