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| Kopetsky,Kara 17, 5/4/2007; Kansas City Missouri Remains Found | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 10 2007, 10:43 AM (3,410 Views) | |
| monkalup | Jun 10 2007, 10:43 AM Post #1 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/141246.html Posted on Thu, Jun. 07, 2007reprint or license print email Digg it del.icio.us AIM Another family waits and wonders 17-year-old Kara Kopetsky of Belton has been missing for more than a month. By MEGAN ROLLAND The Kansas City Star Jim and Rhonda Beckford, like thousands of others across Kansas City, watched with trepidation Wednesday as news unfolded about a body found just six miles from their Belton home. Theirs, though, was a special brand of fear. Their 17-year-old daughter, Kara Kopetsky, has been missing since May 4. So while the search for Kelsey Smith took place, the Beckfords’ fears mounted. Tarnished relief came after about an hour, when a Belton police sergeant arrived to tell them it wasn’t Kara Kopetsky. Jim Beckford, Kopetsky’s stepfather, said the news was bittersweet because he knew it meant someone else’s little girl was dead. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the Smiths,” said Rhonda Beckford, who is still waiting for news about her daughter. The police departments in Overland Park, where Smith was abducted, and Belton are comparing notes, but Belton Police Chief James Person said Thursday that no connection had been found. The Beckfords said it was difficult to discount similarities in the cases, especially parts of the physical descriptions: Kara Kopetsky is a white female, 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and weighs 115 pounds, with light brown hair and hazel eyes. “The only difference between Kelsey and Kara was we didn’t see her being abducted and we don’t have any proof of her being abducted,” Jim Beckford said. Soon after Kelsey Smith disappeared, surveillance video showed her being pushed into her car. Rhonda Beckford said Kopetsky had walked to school on May 4. The last time she talked to her, she said, was just before school started; Kopetsky called home on her cell phone because she had forgotten a textbook. She also reminded her mother to wash her clothes for work. Beckford dropped the book off at the front desk of the school and said Kopetsky had picked it up later. Kopetsky was last seen in a surveillance video at Belton High School at 10:30 a.m., walking down the hall. But she did not attend her afternoon classes, and she has not been heard from since. Rhonda Beckford started worrying when her daughter was late coming home from school. Jim Beckford went to the Popeye’s restaurant where she was expected for her shift at 4 p.m. No one there had heard from her, he said. “She’s never gone this long without contact with us — never gone a day without seeing us,” he said. The 17-year-old’s room is exactly the way she left it the morning of May 4. A half-empty glass of water still sits on her desk. The iPod she had recently received is right next to her cell-phone charger. Person said that investigators had looked up cell-phone records and contacted people Kopetsky had called, but that there was no activity on the phone after she was last seen at school. He said Kopetsky might have been sighted at a Burger King in Louisburg, Kan., on May 17, and a composite photo of a man who was possibly with her was released soon afterward. That report frustrated Kopetsky’s friends and relatives, who said posters about Kopetsky were taken down as rumors spread that she had been found. Crystal Evans, 17, who has known Kopetsky since eighth grade, said it was uncharacteristic of her friend to run off. “She’s very open and would tell everyone what she’s doing and what she’s thinking,” Evans said. “She would have talked to someone.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tips sought Belton police are still chasing leads in the case of Kara Kopetsky and ask anyone with information to call 816-474-TIPS (8477). To reach Megan Rolland, call 816-234-7814 or send e-mail to mrolland@kcstar.com. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Jun 10 2007, 10:44 AM Post #2 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/Home/De...TY&pageId=1.1.1 Kara Kopetsky's Family Hopes For New Leads Last Edited: Thursday, 07 Jun 2007, 10:27 PM CDT Created: Thursday, 07 Jun 2007, 5:08 AM CDT Kara Kopetsky Kansas City's Top News Related Items Videos Links Find Kara Kopetsky Find Kara on MySpace BELTON, MO. -- Investigators aren't ruling out a possible connection between Kelsey Smith's murder and the disappearance of a Belton teen. Kara Kopetsky's family went on the Nancy Grace show on CNN on Thursday night. They're hoping the national attention for Kara's disappearance will help bring their daughter home. During Wednesday night's press conference, police said they are working with Belton police. They aren't saying there's a connection, but they also aren't ruling out that possibility. Kara, 17, has been missing for more than a month. Kara and Kelsey are both brunette, about the same size, and around the same age. Kara's parents said their daughter had no reason to run away. There's been no activity on her cell phone or debit card since May 4. Belton police said there's no evidence to suggest that Kara was abducted, but there's also no evidence suggesting she wasn't. FOX 4 spoke to Kara's mother earlier this week when Kelsey was missing. She said it's heart-wrenching to watch the coverage. "We just want them to know, we know what they're going through. We know exactly what they're going through," said Jim Beckford, Kara's step-father and Rhonda Beckford, Kara's mother. Kelsey's body was found not far from where Kara disappeared and Edwin Hall used to live near the area. "I guarantee he knew our area," Beckford said. So far, police said there's no evidence linking the cases. Kara's mother said police are becoming more concerned that her daughter did not just run away. She said on Monday that the longer this goes the more suspicious police are becoming. Two weeks ago, three people thought they saw Kara near Louisburg, but those sightings were not verified. This is still a missing persons case. Police said that the national attention has brought in some new tips for Kara's case. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Jun 10 2007, 10:46 AM Post #3 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/09/...in2907018.shtml Cops Probe For Link To Missing Teen Police Investigate Man Suspected of Murdering Kansas Teen With The Disappearance Of Kara Kopetsky, 17 BELTON, Mo., June 9, 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kara Kopetsky, 17, is seen in a recent photo in Belton, Mo., Friday, June 8, 2007. Kopetsky disappeared from Belton High School May 4 and her case has received renewed interest in the wake of Kelsey Smith's body being found in nearby Grandview, Mo. (AP Photo/ Beckford family) Quote “We didn't have evidence that she was abducted, and we didn't have surveillance video like in the Smith case.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Belton police Capt. Don Spears (AP) Authorities investigating the murder of Kelsey Smith, the 18-year-old woman who was abducted from a Target store parking lot and found dead three days later, have also been looking into the disappearance of a Belton teenager who was last seen more than a month ago. Even though no link has been established between the disappearance of Smith and that of Kara Kopetsky, 17, who was last seen at Belton High School, blocks from her home, on the morning of May 4, Belton police Capt. Don Spears said two Belton detectives are assigned to work with investigators on the Smith case. He said Belton police were examining evidence at the home of Edwin R. Hall, 26, who was charged Thursday with kidnap and murder in Smith's death and is being held on $5 million bond. Belton police were also considering an additional search of the wooded area where Smith's body was found, which is about six miles north of Kopetsky's home. Smith and Kopetsky did not know each other and did not have any friends in common, Spears said. He said his office has received about 25 new tips on Kopetsky's disappearance since Monday, two days after Smith was abducted from the Target parking lot. None of those tips have been helpful, however. John Douglass, chief of police in Overland Park, where Smith's abduction took place, said this week he “would not discount the possibility” that the Smith and Kopetsky cases were connected. “We are working with the Belton police and certain representatives from the Missouri side,” Douglass said. The departments would look at the evidence in both cases “from every single possible fashion,” but so far there was no connection. Authorities working the Smith case received more than 500 leads between Saturday, when Smith was abducted, and Wednesday, when her body was found. Spears attributed much of that attention to the video images caught on Target's surveillance cameras, which showed Smith entering and leaving Target, as well as images of what appeared to be a struggle at her car before the car left the parking lot. More than 50 detectives were assigned to the Smith case. Spears said that when a lead comes in about the Kopetsky case, he assigns “six or seven” detectives to investigate. “We didn't have evidence that she was abducted, and we didn't have surveillance video like in the Smith case,” Spears said. “We're concerned. There's nothing to indicate she's a runaway. And there's nothing to establish she was abducted. But it's possible she was abducted.” When investigators in the Smith case announced Wednesday that a body had been found in Longview Lake Park, Kopetsky's parents, Jim and Rhonda Beckford, waited nervously until Spears told them the body was that of Smith, and not Kara's. “Sitting here, a month later, and then you see somebody that has the same physical characteristics and not less than 30 minutes apart in distance wise and you start associating things,” said Jim Beckford, Kara's stepfather. “We didn't have the resources and the video tape, and we didn't have proof that Kara was abducted.” Beckford also noted that his stepdaughter disappeared the same day a tornado struck Greensburg, Kan. The story dominated media coverage in the area. Spears said most media didn't give Kopetsky's disappearance the attention he thought it warranted. Kopetsky is about 5 feet 5 inches tall and 125 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Smith was 5 feet 6 inches tall and 120 pounds with long brown hair and brown eyes. The Beckfords said Kara had called the morning she disappeared asking her mother to wash her work clothes because she had to be at work at 4 p.m. She also left behind her debit card. Her checking account has not been touched. No calls had been placed on her cell phone since the morning she disappeared, so her phone records were no help, unlike the Smith case, where police were able to track signals from her phone to the general area where her body was found. “I'm trying to clear up confusion that she was a runaway,” Mrs. Beckford said. “We had not argued. She had no reason not to come home. ... We had normal teenager parent conflicts, but we were always able to talk it out.” There was a report that Kopetsky may have been seen at a fast food restaurant in Louisburg, Kan., on May 17. A composite photo of a man who was possibly with her was released soon afterward. The Beckfords didn't recognize the man. “That morning was a really bad day, and I was feeling down,” Mrs. Beckford said. “It brought my hope back. But I would have felt a lot better if there was surveillance (cameras) and we could have seen whether it was her or not, because now we have no idea.” © MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Jun 10 2007, 10:49 AM Post #4 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/st...8a-8677ae6fbf4a Family of missing Belton girl sets up fund Posted By: Timothy Donley Related Links FindKaraKopetsky.com BELTON, Mo. – The family of a missing Belton girl have set up a fund to help find her. Anyone wishing to assist in the efforts to find Kara Kopetsky should send donations to: Kara Kopetsky Fund c/o Bank of Belton 204 Main St. Belton, MO 64012 Kopetsky, 17, went missing May 4 from Belton High School. She left all of her clothes, her iPod and phone charger. Belton Police believe she was seen on Thursday in Louisburg, Kan. in the company of a young man, however the sighting remains uncomfirmed. She is described as a white female standing 5-foot-5 and 125 pounds. She has hazel eyes and brown hair. There’s no surveillance video of Kopetsky, and no description of the vehicle she was in. Anyone who has seen Kopetsky or the person in the composite sketch is asked to call the Belton Police Deptartment at (816) 331-1500 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS. The family has set up a website: www.findkarakopetsky.com. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Jun 10 2007, 10:50 AM Post #5 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/20..._is_kara_k.html Tuesday, May 08, 2007 Where is Kara Kopetsky? Belton police are looking for Kara Kopetsky, 17, a Belton High student who went missing late last week. She is 5 feet 5 or 5 feet 6 and 115 to 125 pounds with light, almost blond hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 331-1500, ext. 232, or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS (474-8477). UPDATED: I talked with Capt. Don Spears at Belton PD, and they have no reason to believe Kopetsky's a victim of foul play. Still, they're classifying her case as "endangered-missing" because nobody's had any contact with her since last week. (Her cell's been shut off.) Police say it's possible she's on her way to visit a friend in St. Louis, but they qualify that with a very big MIGHT. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Jun 10 2007, 10:51 AM Post #6 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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BELTON, Mo. - Belton Police believe Kara Kopetsky was seen on Thursday in Louisburg, Kan. in the company of a young man. This sighting is uncomfirmed. Kopetsky, 17, was reported missing earlier this month. She was last seen before her disappearance at Belton High School on May 4. She is described as a white female standing 5-foot-5 and 125 pounds. She has hazel eyes and brown hair. Police released a composite sketch of the person Kopetsky was spotted with in Louisburg. He has been described as a white man about 19 years old, standing about 5-foot-8 and 130 pounds. He has medium brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone who has seen Kopetsky or the person in the composite sketch is asked to call the Belton Police Deptartment at (816) 331-1500. http://groups.google.com/group/alt.true-cr...9c3bad?lnk=raot |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Jun 10 2007, 10:53 AM Post #7 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2...rl_believe.html Parents of Missing Belton Girl Believe Link to Kelsey Smith Case By Jennifer Thompson Published Jun 07, 2007 Click to contact me Click to rate content Currently 4.30/5 1 2 3 4 5 4.3 out of 5 Adjust font size Save for Later Email to Friends Post a Comment Print Mode Publish Your Own Parents of Missing Belton Girl Believe Link to Kelsey Smith Case<br><br> <a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/273429/parents_of_missing_belton_girl_believe.html">http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/273429/parents_of_missing_belton_girl_believe.html</a> <br><br> Submit your original video, text, audio and images to Associated Content to gain exposure and even earn cash. <a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/join.html">Get started</a>. <br><br> <a href="http://www.assoiatedcontent.com"><img src="http://www.associatedcontent.com/images/ac_horizontal.gif" border="0"></a> Content Showcase DVD Sniffer Dogs - Can They Beat the Pirates?Top Ten Reasons for EverythingFrom the Alcoholic X-Files: Thai Scorpion Vod...Why I Hate Home Improvement StoresHallmark's Hilarious Hoops & YoyoHollywood Salary Cap Proposal?Top Facts About Breast CystsGet Faster Boot Times with Your Computer Romantic French Phrases Just over a month ago, another Kansas City metropolitan area girl went missing; her name is Kara Kopetsky. She lived in Belton, Mo., with her mother, Rhonda Beckford, and her stepfather, James Beckford.She is 17, according to NBC Action News. Some believe there is a link between Kopetsky's case and the case of Kelsey Smith, the 18-year-old Overland Park girl who was abducted from a Target store last Saturday. Smith's body was just found on Wednesday and on Thursday, a man was arrested in the case. His name is Edwin R. Hall, and he is to be arraigned. The girls have some things in common. Both are quite young and have brown hair and brown eyes. Smith's body was found near Belton, in Grandview, Mo. Kopetsky went missing from Belton High School and has been missing since May 4. There are flyers across the city alerting the public to Kopetsky's disappearance. Her parents were keeping abreast of Kelsey Smith's case, hoping it would lead to clues about Kara's case. "It's almost one month to the day that Kara came up missing that Kelsey came up missing," her stepfather pointed out. "They said it was abnormal for that to happen. They said she has no reason to leave or runaway. Kara had no reason to leave or runaway," Rhonda Beckford said top NBC Action News. The Bradfords are frustrated that a bogus rumor came about that Kara Kopetsky was sighted in Louisburg, Kan., some time ago. It is misleading and has some thinking that Kara is safe. The Bradfords want the public to know that the rumor is untrue and that Kara is still missing. James Bradford said, "That sighting was not confirmed or verified there was no surveillance tape video tape to back it up." Rhonda Bradford added, "People out there if you have fliers up please leave them up cause she's still missing." In an interview with NBC Action News on Monday, Kara's parents sympathized with the then missing Smith. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them and we know what they're going through," they said. The police have not drawn any conclusions between the two cases and have not necessarily confirmed that they suspect it, but the parents of Kara Kopetsky believe that there is too much in common between the two for it to be a mere coincidence. They want the police to take the possibility seriously. Sources: NBC Action News, Parents Question Connection Between Missing Teens, http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/st...9e-46e01c974c52 |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Jun 10 2007, 12:52 PM Post #8 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/1...960/detail.html Belton Family Still Searching For Missing Teen Kara Kopetsky Disappeared On May 4 POSTED: 4:56 pm CDT June 8, 2007 UPDATED: 5:54 pm CDT June 8, 2007 Email This Story | Print This Story Sign Up for Breaking News Alerts BELTON, Mo. -- It's been more than a month since a Belton family has heard from its teenage daughter. Kara Kopetsky, 17, disappeared on May 4. She was last seen on surveillance video in her high school hallway. Relatives said there are no apparent clues as to her whereabouts. KMBC's Dan Weinbaum reported that police said there is no evidence as to whether Kopetsky ran away or was a victim of abduction. Her mother, Rhonda Beckford, said nothing seemed to be wrong the day she vanished. She said she hasn't moved anything in Kopetsky's room -- she wanted everything to remain the same. "Here we are, over a month later, and I have still no idea where my daughter is, no idea what happened to her," Beckford said. There have been rumors that Kopetsky ran away. However, her parents said Kopetsky hasn't touched her bank account, she hasn't used her cell phone and she didn't take any clothes. "There has been no contact with family or any friends. She hasn't accessed her MySpace account -- it's like she's disappeared," said Jim Beckford, Kopetsky's stepfather. Several weeks ago, there was a possible sighting of the teen in Louisburg, Kan., but nothing definitive has come of it. Belton police said they are still investigating and still have Kopetsky listed as missing. "The more we get our story out, Kara's face out, somebody somewhere knows something and will call and tell us, that's our hope," Rhonda Beckford said. Kopetsky's friends said they're going to mount a search on Sunday. Anyone with information in the case can call the TIPS Hot Line at 816-474-TIPS. Callers can remain anonymous. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Jun 10 2007, 12:54 PM Post #9 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.myspace.com/findkarakopetsky |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| wv171 | Jun 12 2007, 10:08 PM Post #10 |
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Advanced Member
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KARA ELISE KOPETSKY Case Type: Lost, Injured, Missing DOB: Feb 17, 1990 Sex: Female Missing Date: May 4, 2007 Race: White Age Now: 17 Height: 5'5" (165 cm) Missing City: BELTON Weight: 110 lbs (50 kg) Missing State : MO Hair Color: Brown Missing Country: United States Eye Color: Hazel Case Number: NCMC1072327 Circumstances: Both photos shown are of Kara. She was last seen on May 4, 2007. Kara's ears are pierced twice. Her navel is pierced. Kara has a scar on her forehead. When she was last seen she was wearing a white tank top and jeans http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/ser...earchLang=en_US |
| "Hey Beavis, we need a chick that doesn't suck. No, wait a minute, that's not what I mean." -Butthead | |
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| Ell | Jun 18 2007, 09:41 PM Post #11 |
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Heart of Gold
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Police consider possible link in missing person case to murder suspect Associated Press - June 9, 2007 4:33 AM ET BELTON, Mo. (AP) - Police are checking to see whether the suspect in the murder of a Kansas teen-ager last weekend may also have been involved in the disappearance of a girl in Missouri. Twenty-6-year-old Edwin Hall is charged in the murder of 18-year-old Kelsey Smith. She was abducted from a store parking lot in Overland Park, Kansas, last Saturday and her body was found three days later in a wooded area across the border in Missouri. In nearby Belton, Missouri, police have been looking for 17-year-old Kara Kopetsky, who was last seen May Fourth at school. Belton detectives are now working with investigators in the Smith case and have searched the suspect's home for evidence. They're also considering another search of the woods where Smith's body was found. It's about six miles from Kopetsky's house and her parents feared the worst until the body was ID'd as Smith. They don't think Kopetsky ran away. No calls have been placed from her cell phone and her bank account hasn't been touched. http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6634931&nav=2HAB |
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Ell Only after the last tree has been cut down; Only after the last fish has been caught; Only after the last river has been poisoned; Only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten. | |
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| Ell | Jul 4 2007, 07:05 AM Post #12 |
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Heart of Gold
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Kara E Kopetsky, age 17 was reported missing on 05-04-07. She was last seen at the Belton High School on that date. She has not contacted family members and is not answering her phone. She is described as a white female 5'6" tall, 115 pounds with red medium length hair and hazel eyes. If you have information on the whereabouts of Kara, you are urged to contact the Belton Police Department at 816.331.1500 so that her welfare and safety can be confirmed. http://www.beltonpd.org/ |
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Ell Only after the last tree has been cut down; Only after the last fish has been caught; Only after the last river has been poisoned; Only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten. | |
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| monkalup | Jul 29 2007, 11:45 PM Post #13 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/208822.html Digg it del.icio.us AIM NEWS ACROSS THE METRO | Activities benefit Kara Kopetsky’s family Activities to benefit family of missing teen Some Belton residents have set up a motorcycle “poker run” run and other activities today to benefit the family of missing teenager Kara Kopetsky. Events will begin with a 10 a.m. registration for the bike ride at Guichos Mexican Cantina on Missouri 58 west of U.S. 71. Participants will leave at noon for a 90-mile ride and make designated stops, where they will pick up playing cards. Cash prizes will be given to the riders who have the best poker hands at the end of the ride. At Guichos, other community events are planned, including a car wash, raffles and cake walk. Public safety officials will be on hand to offer fingerprint identification for children. There is a $10 entry fee for the poker run. Guichos will offer a Mexican food buffet for $10, with 10 percent of the proceeds going to the Kara Kopetsky fund. Family members have said they are using money from the fund to help with awareness and search efforts. Kopetsky, 17, has been missing since May 4. She was last seen at Belton High School. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Jul 29 2007, 11:45 PM Post #14 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.findkarakopetsky.com/ |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| wv171 | Sep 9 2007, 04:02 PM Post #15 |
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Advanced Member
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Up to $20,000 Reward being offered for information that leads to finding Kara and bringing her home http://www.findkarakopetsky.com/ |
| "Hey Beavis, we need a chick that doesn't suck. No, wait a minute, that's not what I mean." -Butthead | |
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| monkalup | Sep 25 2007, 06:22 PM Post #16 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.womenboxing.com/NEWS2007/news072307alcanter.htm Alcanter and ChildSeek Network team up to "Fight for the Missing" Source: Press Release July 23, 2007 (JULY 23) On July 27, 2007, at 8:00 p.m, at the Community America Ballpark, T-Bones Stadium, 1800 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, pro female boxer Franchesca Alcanter, the ChildSeek Network will bring the faces of missing children to the ring. This will be the First Ever Professional Female MMA bout in Kansas City history. Team Alcanter will be bringing attention to missing teen Kara Kopetsky. Link Belton Police believe Kara Kopetsky was last seen on Thursday in Louisburg, Kan. in the company of a young man. This sighting is unconfirmed. Kopetsky, 17,. was last seen before her disappearance at Belton High School on May 4. She is described as a white female standing 5-foot-5 and 125 pounds. She has hazel eyes and brown hair. Police released a composite sketch of the person Kopetsky was spotted with in Louisburg. He has been described as a white man about 19 years old, standing about 5-foot-8 and 130 pounds. He has medium brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone who has seen Kopetsky or the person in the composite sketch is asked to call the Belton Police Department at (816) 331-1500. Franchesca is from Kansas City Missouri and has been fighting since 1999. Her uncles and grandfather were fighters so it is in her blood. Franchesca worked as a model and at one time was Miss Hawaiian Tropic. She later became a round card girl which brought her to the ring. It was then she realized where she wanted to be and began working toward a career in boxing. The ChildSeek Network is a non-profit 501c (3) organization based in Oregon that assists families and law enforcement in the search to bring missing persons home. ChildSeek Network fosters community involvement through education, events, and resources. For more information contact the Child Seek Network at (503)685-9382 or 503-957-9963. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Sep 25 2007, 06:23 PM Post #17 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.kansascitykansan.com/articles/2...rts/sports2.txt Alcanter to fight in MMA Published: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 7:55 PM CDT Kansas City, Kan. native and professional boxer Franchesca Alcanter is taking on a new challenge. Already ranked 10th in the world as a boxer, Alcanter will become the first woman in Kansas City history to participate in a mixed martial arts bout. Alcanter will be one of 12 fights on the card which will be held at 8 p.m. July 27 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. George Clark, Alacanter’s manager, said the fight is something Alcanter has looked forward to for sometime. “I’m excited about it,” he said. “I think she can make a statement in this sport.” Clark said Alcanter has worked hard to prepare herself for this event. He said she has looked good in workouts. “I think she’s doing better in this sport than boxing,” he said. Alcanter is also bringing attention to the disappearance of Kara Kopetsky. Before her disappearance, Kopetsky, 17,was last seen at Belton High School on May 4. She is described as a white female standing 5-foot-5, 125 pounds. She has hazel eyes and brown hair. Police released a composite sketch of the person Kopetsky was spotted with in Louisburg. He has been described as a white man about 19 years old, standing about 5-foot-8 and 130 pounds. He has medium brown hair and brown eyes Anyone who has seen Kopetsky or the person in the composite sketch is asked to call the Belton Police Department at (816) 331-1500. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Sep 25 2007, 06:23 PM Post #18 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/De...mp;pageId=3.1.1 Four Months Later, Kara Kopetsky's Family Still Searching Last Edited: Wednesday, 05 Sep 2007, 10:11 PM CDT Created: Wednesday, 05 Sep 2007, 10:11 PM CDT Kara Kopetsky's family was hoping someone could still tell them where their daughter was, four months after she disappeared. Kansas City News BELTON, MO. -- The family of a missing Belton teenager is asking the public to don't stop looking for her. It's been four months since anyone has seen or heard from Kara Kopetsky, 17. Everywhere you go in Belton, you see these signs. A constant reminder that Kopetsky is still missing. It's also a sign that even now this community will not let her disappearance be forgotten. Jim and Rhonda Beckford, her parents, say their goal is to paint the town purple, Kopetsky's favorite color. Purple ribbons were tied to trees and purple signs were in yards. "So anytime you see the ribbons or signs you remember she's still missing and keep looking for her," Rhonda said. Kopetsky was last seen leaving Belton High School May 4. She didn't take anything with her and hasn't used her cell phone or bank account since then. "We never thought it would go this long as far as it has," Jim said. "Four months later and we don't know more than we did day one. How does someone, especially a 17-year-old-girl, disappear," Rhonda said. For the past four months, her family has tried to stay positive, but four months is a long time. "I try to keep my hope alive," Rhonda said. "It's hard for me to believe she'd go four months without having any contact because I feel my daughter, I feel she loved us." A huge group of volunteers helped pass out the new signs a couple weeks ago. The sign's message is simple: she is still missing, there's a reward for information, so call police. Kopetsky would have been a senior this year and her family said she was looking forward to her senior year. They hope someone out there knows something. The reward is now $20,000 for information in the case. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Oct 6 2007, 11:04 PM Post #19 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/305768.html Sense of dread unfolds after body is found in Belton By MIKE SHERRY and BRIAN BURNES The Kansas City Star Video from the scene On a warm and breezy Friday night, the lure of homecoming brought a steady stream of cars to Belton High School’s football stadium. For some, though, the game with St. Joseph Central took a momentary backseat to a more pressing question: “Is it Kara?” Just hours earlier, a crew surveying for the Missouri Department of Transportation had found a body in thick underbrush near Route Y and U.S. 71. That spot was less than two miles from the high school where Kara Kopetsky vanished the morning of May 4. She hasn’t been heard from since. Was it, in fact, Kara’s body? “We all hope it isn’t, pray it isn’t, but I don’t know,” said Austin Huffman, a 17-year-old senior who would have counted Kara among his classmates this fall. “She has been missing for so long.” About 1:30 p.m. Friday, workers for the highway department found the body, which was “deteriorated,” said Steve Porter, a MoDOT spokesman. Several hours later, authorities removed the body from the scene to begin the forensic examination. Law enforcement authorities said the body was so badly decomposed that they could not determine its gender, its age or a cause of death. Asked whether the body could be that of the missing teen, Detective Sgt. Brad Swanson of the Belton Police Department said, “I’m not going to jump to any conclusions.” The department, he said, knows of two other missing teens: a girl about 14 or 15 years old who ran away two weeks ago, and a 17-year-old boy who also was classified as a runaway. Swanson said Friday’s find appeared to be the body of someone who was at least a teenager, and not that of a child. This morning, the Jackson County medical examiner’s office will attempt to determine a cause of death. Swanson said that, because authorities had dental records and DNA on file, they expected to make a quick determination about whether it was Kara’s body. Along with the remains, authorities found what appeared to be athletic pants and a knit-type shirt. Surveillance tapes made the day of Kara’s disappearance showed that she was wearing blue jeans when she left the school. There were no other personal effects that might help identify the body, Swanson said. Word of the discovery quickly reverberated through the community, where “Find Kara” signs dot front yards, five months after the 17-year-old’s disappearance. Jerry Holmes and his wife, Shelley Yeager, turned out for the game. Earlier they had taken note of a homecoming parade float dedicated to finding Kara. “It’s everybody’s fear,” Holmes said, but they hoped that if it was Kara, the find would provide closure for the family. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- @ Go to KansasCity.com for a video report from the scene. To reach Mike Sherry, call 816-234-7806 or send e-mail to msherry@kcstar.com. To reach Brian Burnes, call 816-234-7804 or send e-mail to bburnes@kcstar.com. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| Ell | Oct 7 2007, 08:28 AM Post #20 |
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Heart of Gold
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Female body found in Belton; still no ID Today's Headlines more>> Armored Car Suspect Arrested New Rules for Blackwater Security Personnel Sam's Club Recalls Cargill Beef War on Terror Ally Wins Election Associated Press - October 6, 2007 2:14 PM ET BELTON, Mo. (AP) - Authorities are working to identify a female body found in Belton yesterday. Authorities hope to determine whether the body is that of Kara Kopetsky, who disappeared May 4th after leaving Belton High School, which is near where the body was found. The body was found by highway survey crews in thick brush. The Belton police department knows of only one other missing girl, a teenager who ran away two weeks ago. Police say the body that was found was not her. http://www.kbsd6.com/Global/story.asp?S=7178000 |
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Ell Only after the last tree has been cut down; Only after the last fish has been caught; Only after the last river has been poisoned; Only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten. | |
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| wv171 | Oct 12 2007, 09:23 PM Post #21 |
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Advanced Member
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10/06/07 - The body found on Friday in Belton, MO has been determined to not be that of Kara. While the family is very happy with this news, our hearts go out to the family of this person. It is our hope that the police will be able to determine this person's identity soon. This only intensifies our belief that Kara is alive and out there somewhere. Whoever knows where she is, please contact the police or one of the family members to help us find Kara. We know someone knows something that can help. Please have mercy on her family and give us something to find Kara. BODY WAS NOT KARA'S |
| "Hey Beavis, we need a chick that doesn't suck. No, wait a minute, that's not what I mean." -Butthead | |
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| monkalup | Feb 20 2008, 09:09 AM Post #22 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.kansascity.com/273/story/493015.html Dear Kara: 'Granny' needs you Moore Before, when I would see or hear about a missing person, I would pray they would be found safe and returned to their family. As time passed and something would be on the news or in the paper, I only gave it a passing thought. I think most people do this, until it happens to your loved one. It doesn’t matter the length of time that passes; each day is as empty as the first. It doesn’t get any easier; in fact at first your hope is that they are away on their own free will, but as time passes you know it isn’t so. You are so thankful for the support from the media and the public. With each bit of media coverage you hope someone will call with a tip. When strangers ask if they can give you a hug and say they will keep you in their prayers, sometimes these are the things that keep us sane, because there are times we are not so sure we are. Kara Kopetsky has been missing for 9½ months, and today is her 18th birthday. She called me “Granny.” And today I should be taking her shopping. It was something we always did on her birthday. I thank God for giving her to me for 17-plus years. But I wasn’t through loving her. We are trying so hard to find her. Our hearts still beat, but there is an echo because of the piece that is missing. We start each day with a prayer, that this will be the day someone comes forward or Kara is found. We pray each night for the strength to get through another tomorrow. We plead to whoever knows anything, no matter how small, to come forward. They can call 911, the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS or the Belton Police Department at 816-331-1500. There is a $25,000 cash reward for information that brings Kara home. Please help us bring Kara Kopetsky home. I ask you to remember the many who are missing, some for years. Please don’t assume that any missing person is a runaway. Take a few seconds to say a prayer for their return. Sandy Moore is the grandmother of Kara Kopetsky. She lives in Grandview. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Feb 20 2008, 09:15 AM Post #23 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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Missing teen Kara Kopetsky's family wants answers By LISA GUTIERREZ The Kansas City Star July 21, 2007, Page E-1 Seventeen-year-old Kara Kopetsky of Belton hasn't been seen since May 4. All her family and friends have left of her are pictures like this, propped up against a vigil candle that her stepfather and mother, Jim and Rhonda Beckford, keep burning in their living room. Below, family photos of Kara as a happy child and with her brother, Thomas. MISSING Kara (it’s pronounced CAR-uh) Kopetsky Last seen: May 4 at Belton High School Appearance: White female; 5 feet, 5 inches tall; 125 pounds; light brown hair; hazel eyes; scar on forehead What she was wearing: Blue jeans, black studded belt, gray T-shirt with white skulls on it, black and gray Vans sneakers with bleach splotches and black leather hobo bag If you have information: Call the TIPS Hotline, 816-474-TIPS (816-474-8477) Fundraiser: Kara Kopetsky Poker Run, 10 a.m. to noon July 28, sponsored by Blue Springs Harley-Davidson. The ride begins at Guicho&8217;s, 110 Cunningham Parkway, next to Blockbuster in Belton. All-day activities include a bake sale, car wash and raffles. For info, call the Harley dealership, 816-224-5005. "You kind of go back and forth. If she is trying to come back home, are we putting so much attention on this that she's scared to?" MIKE KOPETSKY, KARA'S FATHER The first door on the left leads into Kara's bedroom. She always kept it closed. She wanted Thomas, her 8-year-old half brother, to stay out. She didn't want her parents to hear her climbing in through the window when she forgot her house keys — again. She didn't want her stepdad to hear her talking with friends on her cell phone late at night. One month she talked so much and sent so many text messages that her cell phone bill was 40 pages long. Behind that door is everything Rhonda Beckford has left of her 17-year-old daughter, Kara Kopetsky. Everything and nothing. On the first Friday of May, a sunny spring day that tempted grown-ups to leave work early and kids to skip school, Kara didn't come home from classes at Belton High School. She hasn't been seen or heard from since. No one knows what happened to her. Not her parents, not the police, not friends who have posted messages on Kara's MySpace page: Hey Hunny! I freakin miss u! The family is doin everything imaginable to bring u home safe. They are goin crazy for u girl. It's been more than two months now since Kara went missing. Rhonda, 41, wears the stress on her face, where shadows sit under dark, glassy eyes. Kara's father, Mike Kopetsky, remarried and living in Blue Springs, sometimes forgets to eat. He has lost 20 pounds and has thrown himself into his job remanufacturing transmissions. "To keep my mind from wandering and my eyes from watering," he says. Kara's grandmother has started smoking again. Thomas asks for hugs from strangers. When he hears his mom say she doesn't like to go past the door into Kara's bedroom anymore, Thomas pipes up. He'd like to go in there, he says. "Really?" says Jim Beckford, Thomas' dad and Kara's stepfather. "You never told us you wanted to." ••• When Kara didn't come home on May 4, Rhonda and Thomas taped a note on the wall just inside her bedroom door. I know how hard it has been for you. Mom and Thomas. Jim says this isn't exactly a "Leave It to Beaver" home. It sounds like an apology. He met Rhonda at UPS, where they work. At the time, Rhonda was a divorced single mom raising Kara; they were just two girls living alone. When Kara was 9, Jim and Rhonda got married. When Kara's dad, Mike, found out she was missing, he first thought Kara was out having fun on a prom weekend. "I kinda thought, 'OK, she's out being a rebel, partying, playing,' " says Kopetsky, 38. Friends described Kara as a "firecracker," but she hadn't always avoided the straight and narrow. She wasn't always the girl who cut classes, smoked cigarettes and frowned in photos. Pinned to her cluttered bulletin board are ribbons she won for track back when she still liked school, back when she played the flute. "By the time she got into ninth grade," Rhonda says, "she was done with band." A family photo shows Kara and Thomas sitting on a tractor, both grinning like Cheshire cats. Kara smiled like that before she became self-conscious about her looks and her full, Angelina Jolie lips. In adolescence, she became something of a boy magnet, and her parents warned her about the company she kept. In a house too small for secrets, Thomas heard the drama. In Kara's bedroom he picks up a trinket from her vanity table. "She got that from her other boyfriend, remember?" he tells his mom. "The one that was good?" ••• Officially, Kara is a "missing person endangered." "It means that there's some concern about her being missing, that we're concerned about her well-being," says Capt. Don Spears of the Belton Police Department. "Specifically, because we've not heard from her, nor have any of her friends or family heard from her." The concern grew from what police saw in Kara's room, things a runaway might have taken with her. Makeup. Clothes. A carton of Marlboro Lights full except for one pack. She left behind the iPod she got for Christmas and the hair straightener she used every morning. She planned to interview at QuikTrip the day after she disappeared and had made plans with friends for the next two weekends. Money in her bank account is untouched. She left her debit card in her school locker. But Kara's cell phone, a Motorola Razr she got for her birthday, is missing. It hasn't been used since the morning of May 4. "With a kid that age," Spears said, "that's a concern that the phone's not been on." Kara disappeared the same day a tornado destroyed the town of Greensburg, Kan. Family members said when they contacted local media they were told reporters were busy in Greensburg. Some media were reluctant to publicize a possible runaway. But then, on June 2, Kelsey Smith was kidnapped in Overland Park, and Kara suddenly became the other teenage brunette missing in Kansas City. Before law-enforcement officials determined the cases were unrelated, the national media came calling. Jim and Rhonda gave interviews to Geraldo Rivera, Nancy Grace and Greta Van Susteren. They keep their names and numbers in a little notebook in the kitchen. People have reported seeing Kara from California to Florida. Someone thought they saw her on a plane. Someone else thought they saw her on a tram at Disney World. Another person thought they saw Kara with a young man at a gas station in Louisburg, Kan. Outside Chicago, the FBI searched a house and found nothing. A psychic envisioned Kara in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Leads like these come in daily. Her family doesn't know what to believe, afraid to ignore the one tip that might lead to Kara. "The family has gotten to where we don't take a lot of hope," says Mike Kopetsky. "There in the beginning we'd get a lot of false hope, and it'd end up being heart-crushing when they were false leads." One day before the end of the school year, a rumor swept through town that a body had been found under a bridge in Louisburg. Even the kids at Thomas' school heard it. They found your sister's body, kids told Thomas. Your sister's dead. ••• Though people second-guess them — you should have done this, you should have tried that — Jim and Rhonda feel they've done everything they can. After calling the police, they organized an army of Kara's cousins, aunts, uncles and friends of the family to knock on doors around Belton, make fliers and T-shirts and call her friends. One of those friends, Kylr Yust, 18, was Kara's on-again-off-again boyfriend for much of the school year. Anyone who's read Kara's MySpace page knows about the tempestuous Kara-Kylr hookup. Police say that a few days before she disappeared, Kylr and Kara had a dustup that resulted in an order of protection requiring Kylr to stay away from her. On April 24, Kara wrote: "So life hasn't been the greatest for me lately, over the last 9 months of my life iv dedicated my life to kylr … I made no other time for any of my friends nor my family. over those 9 months i forgot the person that I was. im trying to find that person again." Kylr said Kara was a "flying by the seat of your pants" girl. "She just wanted to have fun and do everything and experience everything in life," he said. "She didn't think too forward. She was always in the moment. She didn't think about 'what am I gong to do when I grow up.'" He keeps pictures of her on his cell phone. He said she talked of running away to Mexico the next time she was punished at home. "Lately I've been kind of depressed about the whole thing," he says. "I have no idea where she is." ••• Friends doubt that Kara ran away, but police have not ruled out the possibility. Spears says there are no suspects in Kara's disappearance; there's no evidence a crime has been committed. Because she's 17, legal age in Missouri, the police couldn't make her come home even if they found her, Spears says. If Kara wanted to vanish without a trace, he says, she could have found a Web site to tell her how. She could have bought a pay-as-you-go cell phone that can't be tracked. She could have left behind her clothes and that fresh carton of cigarettes on purpose. "It complicates the matter and adds to the frustration," Spears says. "Hopefully we can keep her face out in front of the public." And yet, her dad worries about the attention. "You kind of go back and forth," Mike Kopetsky says. "If she is trying to come back home, are we putting so much attention on this that she's scared to? All these different possibilities go through your head, and you don't know the right answer. We're all just frustrated … that nobody has said anything yet. Somebody at some point has to say something. What could she be so angry about in her life to where she would have no contact with any family or friends?" After touring Kara's bedroom, Thomas sits on the sofa in the living room and remembers his big sister. When he would beat Kara at racing games on the Xbox. When she would make him do her chores. When she would walk him home from school and call him "butthead." "I remember that time when she got a water bottle and just splashed it on my shirt. And then I put ice on her," Thomas says. "I don't have anyone to put water on." If you would like to send a message to the family, send it to: mekopetsky@yahoo.com 11th Grade Picture 2006 |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| Ell | May 4 2008, 08:07 AM Post #24 |
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Heart of Gold
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Digg it del.icio.us AIM Family and friends of missing teen share an unwanted bond By KEVIN HOFFMANN The Kansas City Star Kara Kopetsky’s mother, Rhonda Beckford, and her stepfather, Jim Beckford, hope and work for the return of the teenager, whose bedroom still contains her belongings. Rhonda Beckford still pays the bill for her daughter’s cell phone, but Kara Kopetsky has not answered that phone for a year now. Undeterred, Beckford puts the $49.57 on her debit card each month. She even dialed the number about a month ago. Just in case. As with countless other calls over the past year, it rolled into Kara’s voice mail. In that sense, nothing has changed since Kara vanished that Friday — May 4, 2007. Security cameras captured her in Belton High School, heading for an exit. That was the last she was seen, as far as anybody knows. Police have no better idea of her whereabouts today than the day they got the call. Tips and sightings come in and are investigated, they say, but don’t lead anywhere. In that sense, too, nothing has changed. But in many other ways, things have changed in the past year for Kara’s family and friends. “Just watching the news is different … you empathize more,” Beckford said. “Before, you would see something and change the channel because it doesn’t affect you.” Indeed, Beckford now finds herself connected to strangers in the news, whether it’s a relative of a missing person or anybody who has suffered the loss of a loved one. In the past 12 months, Beckford and her husband — Kara’s stepfather, Jim Beckford — met relatives of more than a half-dozen other well-known missing people or crime victims such as Shawn Hornbeck, Kelsey Smith, Summer Shipp, Sam and Lindsey Porter and others. “It helps to talk to people who understand how you feel,” Rhonda Beckford said. At first, she didn’t realize that. In the weeks after Kara disappeared, Rhonda Beckford received a call from Pam Akers, the mother of Hornbeck, a St. Louis area teenager. He was missing for more than four years until found alive in 2007. “She wanted to know if there was anything the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation could do for us,” Beckford said. “At that time, I had a lot of people calling asking if they could help. All I could say is, ‘Tell me where Kara is.’ I didn’t know what else to say.” As the months passed, Beckford learned to accept support from Akers, such as learning new ways to keep Kara’s face in front of the public. Recently, the Beckfords traveled across the state to meet with Akers after learning that Kara’s photo would grace the hood of a race car motoring around dirt tracks of Missouri. “People in these situations need to pull together and rely on each other,” said Jim Beckford. While the Beckfords now find themselves part of a community that shares an unwanted bond, they also find themselves the objects of interest for strangers. “We go anywhere at all, and you can tell people recognize us,” Rhonda Beckford said. Some people approach, offering sympathy and prayers. Some, perhaps in an awkward attempt to provide hope, speculate that Kara simply ran away. Rhonda Beckford usually smiles and says, “Thanks.” Instead, she would like to tell those strangers that her daughter didn’t run away. The Beckfords have grown accustomed to such moments, even at United Parcel Service in Lenexa, where they have worked a combined 32 years. “A lot of people at work say, ‘We don’t know how to talk to you; we don’t know what to say,’ ” Jim Beckford said. “I tell them, ‘Talk to us like you always do. It’s OK to talk about it.’ ” Some interactions, though, are more poignant. Like the time Kara’s brother, Thomas, 9, noticed his mom crying as she sat at the computer. She was reading messages on Kara’s page on the social network Web site MySpace.com. “He came over and said, ‘That’s enough, Mom,’ ” Rhonda Beckford recalled. “He’s been exposed to all of this. He knows we are hurting, and we know he’s hurting.” A boy who enjoyed playing Xbox video games with his sister as much as fussing with her was forced to stand tall for Mom and Dad. Some changes have been welcome: “My faith has grown in leaps and bounds,” Rhonda Beckford said. Some have not: Last year, the family skipped their annual summer canoe trip, and trips to the lake these days are rare. “It’s just a matter of your priorities changing,” Rhonda Beckford said. Priorities. Before Kara disappeared, Crystal Evans’ biggest priority when logging on to MySpace each day was to catch up on the latest gossip. Evans — who met Kara in eighth-grade band class and became her best friend before moving to Nebraska — eagerly anticipated messages from back in Belton. They swapped tales of schools, parents, jobs and boyfriends. When Kara disappeared, Evans continued to log on to MySpace every day, but with a greater sense of purpose. She started a separate page on the site to get the word out about Kara, hoping someone online would provide a clue. “It used to be I’d get on there every single night, and there would be a ton of messages,” she said. “I don’t get on there as much now.” Evans, 18, finds her emotions tugged between fear that Kara was abducted and murdered, and confusion over the possibility that she ran away but chose not to contact her family or friends. Evans has not come up with anything that makes sense. Belton police Sgt. Brad Swanson, too, has seen nothing to suggest that Kara ran away. “She didn’t take any extra clothes, didn’t take cigarettes, didn’t get money out of her bank account,” Swanson said. “She didn’t do the things runaways do.” He said he has heard of cases in which someone deliberately vanishes without a trace. “But they are typically older,” he said. “Not a girl that’s barely 17 with no car, no money, no way to do the things that she needs to do to live.” Nothing, though, points to Kara as the victim of a crime, he said. Nobody reported seeing her forced into a car. None of her belongings was found strewn along the sidestreets that run the half-mile between Belton High School and her home. Police continue to get leads in the case, Swanson said, including one in the past few weeks. In the past year, detectives have received reports of sightings from Idaho to Pleasant Hill. Officers immediately tried to verify the sightings, using the help of officers in other jurisdictions or the FBI. The most police were able to accomplish was track the sightings to females who resembled Kara. For now, police are stuck waiting for that tip that would break the case open — just as they were in the first days after Kara disappeared. For them, too, nothing has changed. This afternoon, at a walk to mark the anniversary of Kara’s disappearance, Rhonda Beckford will talk about her daughter. She will accept hugs from total strangers. Then she will return home and wait for the day a call comes from Kara’s cell phone. Walk set today Family and supporters of Kara Kopetsky today will participate in a walk to mark the one-year anniversary of her disappearance. The group will meet at 2:30 p.m. at the Cedar Tree Square shopping center on Missouri 58 and walk to the intersection with Y Highway and back. Anyone with information on Kara’s whereabouts is asked to call the Belton Police Department at 816-331-1500 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477). A $25,000 reward is available. To reach Kevin Hoffmann, call 816-234-7801 or send e-mail to khoffmann@kcstar.com. |
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Ell Only after the last tree has been cut down; Only after the last fish has been caught; Only after the last river has been poisoned; Only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten. | |
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| monkalup | May 4 2008, 11:06 PM Post #25 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://z13.invisionfree.com/PorchlightUSA/...ic=13796&st=20& |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | May 4 2008, 11:06 PM Post #26 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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Stock Car Racers In Montgomery County Help In The Search For Missing Kids Last Edited: Saturday, 05 Apr 2008, 9:58 PM CDT Created: Saturday, 05 Apr 2008, 8:58 PM CDT (KTVI - myFOXstl.com) -- It's not unusual to see stock cars covered with advertisements and sponsor's logos. In Warrenton they unveiled some cars with special signs. They are adorned with the pictures of missing children. It's all part of Shawn Hornbeck Foundation and Team Hornbeck Racing. 17 year old Kara Kopetsky disappeared last May. Her mother is glad the teenage girl's photo is on a stock car. The mother, Rhonda Beckford told Fox 2, "The public forgets so fast you have to do things to make sure it stays out there because if people don't look she'll never be found." Craig Akers the C.E.O. for the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation said, "The ultimate goal would have this lead to the recovery of one of the children featured on the cars." They are using age progression photos in the cases of kids who have been gone for a long time. Becky Klino's son Branson Perry disappeared 7 years ago, she said, "Does it get easier to live with? No. There's still that emptiness still that heartache." The stock car drivers are happy to be part of a winning cause. Lane Ehlert is a driver, he said, "I really hope we can find them just keep awareness up saying we're still looking for them." Organizers say the program also promotes child safety. Source: http://www.myfoxstl.com/myfox/pages/News/D...mp;pageId=3.2.1 |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | May 4 2008, 11:07 PM Post #27 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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Wednesday, Apr. 30, 2008 Kopetsky searchers plan walk Allen Edmonds This Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the day Belton teenager Kara Kopetsky left Belton High School during the school day and hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Supporters of the now 18-year-old girl and her family are planning a series of events for the May 4 anniversary to continue to raise awareness of the need for information regarding her disappearance. Beginning at noon, members of the Find Kara Committee will gather at Casey’s General Store on 163rd Street near Route Y to pass out fliers, bracelets and magnets. At 2:30 p.m., the public is invited to join supporters in the parking lot of the Cedar Tree Shopping Center to walk Route 58 from U.S. 71 to Route Y and back. There is a $25,000 reward for information that assists in finding Kopetsky. Call the Belton Police Department with any tips or information at 331-1500, or the TIPS hotline at 474-TIPS. The committee asks for continued donations to the Find Kara Kopetsky Fund at the Bank of Belton, 204 Main St. For more information about scheduled events, go to www.SearchingForKara.com. Source: http://pubsys.thestar-herald.com/100/story/738.html |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | May 4 2008, 11:08 PM Post #28 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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Kopetsky Family Talks About Teen's Disappearance Last Edited: Sunday, 04 May 2008, 5:48 PM CDT Created: Sunday, 04 May 2008, 5:48 PM CDT It's been exactly a year since Kara Kopetsky went to school one day and never came home. On Sunday afternoon, her family and friends came together to remember her and raise awareness of her disappearance. Kara's family spoke with FOX 4's Bob Stepanich about how they're coping. Video at the website: http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/De...mp;pageId=3.1.1 |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | May 7 2008, 08:57 AM Post #29 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/604165.html Posted on Sat, May. 03, 2008 10:15 PMreprint or license print email Digg it del.icio.us AIM Family and friends of missing teen share an unwanted bond By KEVIN HOFFMANN The Kansas City Star Kara Kopetsky’s mother, Rhonda Beckford, and her stepfather, Jim Beckford, hope and work for the return of the teenager, whose bedroom still contains her belongings. Rhonda Beckford still pays the bill for her daughter’s cell phone, but Kara Kopetsky has not answered that phone for a year now. Undeterred, Beckford puts the $49.57 on her debit card each month. She even dialed the number about a month ago. Just in case. As with countless other calls over the past year, it rolled into Kara’s voice mail. In that sense, nothing has changed since Kara vanished that Friday — May 4, 2007. Security cameras captured her in Belton High School, heading for an exit. That was the last she was seen, as far as anybody knows. Police have no better idea of her whereabouts today than the day they got the call. Tips and sightings come in and are investigated, they say, but don’t lead anywhere. In that sense, too, nothing has changed. But in many other ways, things have changed in the past year for Kara’s family and friends. “Just watching the news is different … you empathize more,” Beckford said. “Before, you would see something and change the channel because it doesn’t affect you.” Indeed, Beckford now finds herself connected to strangers in the news, whether it’s a relative of a missing person or anybody who has suffered the loss of a loved one. In the past 12 months, Beckford and her husband — Kara’s stepfather, Jim Beckford — met relatives of more than a half-dozen other well-known missing people or crime victims such as Shawn Hornbeck, Kelsey Smith, Summer Shipp, Sam and Lindsey Porter and others. “It helps to talk to people who understand how you feel,” Rhonda Beckford said. At first, she didn’t realize that. In the weeks after Kara disappeared, Rhonda Beckford received a call from Pam Akers, the mother of Hornbeck, a St. Louis area teenager. He was missing for more than four years until found alive in 2007. “She wanted to know if there was anything the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation could do for us,” Beckford said. “At that time, I had a lot of people calling asking if they could help. All I could say is, ‘Tell me where Kara is.’ I didn’t know what else to say.” As the months passed, Beckford learned to accept support from Akers, such as learning new ways to keep Kara’s face in front of the public. Recently, the Beckfords traveled across the state to meet with Akers after learning that Kara’s photo would grace the hood of a race car motoring around dirt tracks of Missouri. “People in these situations need to pull together and rely on each other,” said Jim Beckford. While the Beckfords now find themselves part of a community that shares an unwanted bond, they also find themselves the objects of interest for strangers. “We go anywhere at all, and you can tell people recognize us,” Rhonda Beckford said. Some people approach, offering sympathy and prayers. Some, perhaps in an awkward attempt to provide hope, speculate that Kara simply ran away. Rhonda Beckford usually smiles and says, “Thanks.” Instead, she would like to tell those strangers that her daughter didn’t run away. The Beckfords have grown accustomed to such moments, even at United Parcel Service in Lenexa, where they have worked a combined 32 years. “A lot of people at work say, ‘We don’t know how to talk to you; we don’t know what to say,’ ” Jim Beckford said. “I tell them, ‘Talk to us like you always do. It’s OK to talk about it.’ ” Some interactions, though, are more poignant. Like the time Kara’s brother, Thomas, 9, noticed his mom crying as she sat at the computer. She was reading messages on Kara’s page on the social network Web site MySpace.com. “He came over and said, ‘That’s enough, Mom,’ ” Rhonda Beckford recalled. “He’s been exposed to all of this. He knows we are hurting, and we know he’s hurting.” A boy who enjoyed playing Xbox video games with his sister as much as fussing with her was forced to stand tall for Mom and Dad. Some changes have been welcome: “My faith has grown in leaps and bounds,” Rhonda Beckford said. Some have not: Last year, the family skipped their annual summer canoe trip, and trips to the lake these days are rare. “It’s just a matter of your priorities changing,” Rhonda Beckford said. Priorities. Before Kara disappeared, Crystal Evans’ biggest priority when logging on to MySpace each day was to catch up on the latest gossip. Evans — who met Kara in eighth-grade band class and became her best friend before moving to Nebraska — eagerly anticipated messages from back in Belton. They swapped tales of schools, parents, jobs and boyfriends. When Kara disappeared, Evans continued to log on to MySpace every day, but with a greater sense of purpose. She started a separate page on the site to get the word out about Kara, hoping someone online would provide a clue. “It used to be I’d get on there every single night, and there would be a ton of messages,” she said. “I don’t get on there as much now.” Evans, 18, finds her emotions tugged between fear that Kara was abducted and murdered, and confusion over the possibility that she ran away but chose not to contact her family or friends. Evans has not come up with anything that makes sense. Belton police Sgt. Brad Swanson, too, has seen nothing to suggest that Kara ran away. “She didn’t take any extra clothes, didn’t take cigarettes, didn’t get money out of her bank account,” Swanson said. “She didn’t do the things runaways do.” He said he has heard of cases in which someone deliberately vanishes without a trace. “But they are typically older,” he said. “Not a girl that’s barely 17 with no car, no money, no way to do the things that she needs to do to live.” Nothing, though, points to Kara as the victim of a crime, he said. Nobody reported seeing her forced into a car. None of her belongings was found strewn along the sidestreets that run the half-mile between Belton High School and her home. Police continue to get leads in the case, Swanson said, including one in the past few weeks. In the past year, detectives have received reports of sightings from Idaho to Pleasant Hill. Officers immediately tried to verify the sightings, using the help of officers in other jurisdictions or the FBI. The most police were able to accomplish was track the sightings to females who resembled Kara. For now, police are stuck waiting for that tip that would break the case open — just as they were in the first days after Kara disappeared. For them, too, nothing has changed. This afternoon, at a walk to mark the anniversary of Kara’s disappearance, Rhonda Beckford will talk about her daughter. She will accept hugs from total strangers. Then she will return home and wait for the day a call comes from Kara’s cell phone. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walk set today Family and supporters of Kara Kopetsky today will participate in a walk to mark the one-year anniversary of her disappearance. The group will meet at 2:30 p.m. at the Cedar Tree Square shopping center on Missouri 58 and walk to the intersection with Y Highway and back. Anyone with information on Kara’s whereabouts is asked to call the Belton Police Department at 816-331-1500 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477). A $25,000 reward is available. To reach Kevin Hoffmann, call 816-234-7801 or send e-mail to khoffmann@kcstar.com. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | May 7 2008, 09:02 AM Post #30 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/De...TY&pageId=3.1.1 Family Decorates Christmas Tree For Missing Belton Teen Last Edited: Tuesday, 04 Dec 2007, 9:29 PM CST Created: Tuesday, 04 Dec 2007, 9:16 PM CST Kara Kopetsky's Christmas tree Kansas City News It's now been seven months since a Belton teenager vanished without a trace. Kara Kopetsky disappeared May 4 and her family is now preparing to spend Christmas without her. A tree that Kopetsky's family decorated stands outside of her parents church. It stands in her honor, as a light of hope that she will come home safe. Surrounded by family, Rhonda and Jim Beckford decorated the tree outside their church in purple, Kopetsky's favorite color, but one decoration is the most important. "My mom said we have to have a dove on the tree, a dove signifies peace and love and hope and even after seven months we have hope we will find out what happened we will bring Kara home," Rhonda Beckford said. Kopetsky, 17, was last seen leaving Belton High School on May 4. Her family said she took no money, no clothes and they've never believed she ran away. "We've experienced the seasons together, spring, summer, fall and now winter and it's a cold lonely time," Jim Beckford said. Rhonda and Jim said it just doesn't feel like Christmas this year. "Christmas is a time when families are supposed to be together and our family isn't complete because someone is missing: Kara," Rhonda said. A loss each and every family member feels deeply, especially Kopetsky's eight-year-old brother Thomas. "Every single Christmas I look forward to having fun with her and this Christmas I can't look forward to that," Thomas said. Russell Gardens donated the tree, but they're not calling it a memorial tree. They said some day soon when Kopetsky is home, it will just be another tree |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | May 7 2008, 09:04 AM Post #31 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/De...TY&pageId=3.1.1 Kara Kopetsky Petition Pushes For New Investigation Last Edited: Wednesday, 20 Jun 2007, 10:06 PM CDT Created: Wednesday, 20 Jun 2007, 9:21 PM CDT Kara Kopetsky Kansas City News BELTON, MO -- It's been almost seven weeks since a Belton teenager vanished without a trace. Police are still following leads in Kara Kopetsky's disappearance, but there's a growing frustration surrounding the case. A pretty strongly worded petition asks the state to take over the investigation into Kopetsky's disappearance and investigate whether Belton police mishandled the case. As of Wednesday evening, there were already almost 700 signatures on the petition. A New Jersey man is helping create a missing persons video for Kara's family said he wrote the petition as a way to call attention to how police handled Kara's case. "The ultimate goal is to go beyond Belton and go to the state house and say look public officials this was badly mismanaged there's a family in pain a girl who could be in trouble, do something," Gene King said. When Kara disappeared May 4, she left all her clothes and her new iPod behind and she hasn't used her cell phone or bank account since. King said those facts do not suggest Kara was a runaway, yet that's how the case was treated. "It's time to ask hard questions," King said. "Why were things done the way they were done in the beginning?" Kara's family said it's been frustrating, but they can't change the past. The signatures remind them Kara's not forgotten. "There's a lot of people who care about Kara and they don't want something like this to happen in the future to another child," Rhonda Beckford, Kara's mom, said. They said Belton police keep them updated on leads. The last couple of days, investigators were searching Longview Lake looking for evidence in the Kelsey Smith murder case, but they're also keeping an eye out for possible clues in Kara's case. "These things just take time," Beckford said. "You get one lead and hope it leads to another lead and hope it leads to Kara, bringing Kara home." The petition organizer said he knows some people said this petition won't make a difference, but he said it's a success if it gets people talking about the case. Tess Koppelman, FOX 4 News |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | May 7 2008, 09:09 AM Post #32 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/De...TY&pageId=3.1.1 Missouri Governor Asks AG to Help Find Kara Kopetsky Kopetsky has been missing from Belton, Mo. since May 4. Last Edited: Monday, 25 Jun 2007, 6:18 PM CDT Created: Monday, 25 Jun 2007, 1:31 PM CDT Kara Kopetsky Kansas City's Top News BELTON, MO. -- Gov. Matt Blunt is asking Attorney General Jay Nixon to join the efforts to help find Kara Kopetsky, a teenager from Belton, who went missing on May 4. Missourians have contacted the governor's office requesting that the Attorney General's office get involved in the case. "I have been contacted by many Missourians who are as concerned as I am about the disappearance of Kara Kopetsky," Blunt wrote in a letter to Nixon. "The Missourians who have contacted me are concerned that your office has not been engaged in this case and believe that you should immediately assist with an investigation into Kara's disappearance." Blunt pointed out that the Missouri State Highway Patrol has already offered their assistance to help bring Kara home safely. "I strongly support the efforts of the Missouri State Highway Patrol which has already been in contact with the Belton Police Department to offer their assistance in the case," Blunt wrote Nixon. "I request that you take the appropriate action in response to their concerns and join the law enforcement agencies such as the Missouri State Highway Patrol that are working to help bring Kara home safely." Kara Kopetsky, age 17, disappeared from Belton, Missouri on May 4, 2007. She was last seen leaving Belton High School where she recently completed her junior year. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Sep 21 2008, 08:04 PM Post #33 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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Kara's family still searching 1 year later Reported by: Marissa Cleaver Email: cleaver@nbcactionnews.com Last Update: 5/04 6:14 pm BELTON, Mo. – May 4 marks an anniversary Jim and Rhonda Beckford never wanted to reach. One year ago, Rhonda Beckford's daughter, 18-year-old Kara Kopetsky disappeared from Belton High School. “It's been a lot of stress, a lot of high emotions. A lot of highs and lows," Rhonda Beckford said. "It's probably the longest year I've had my whole life.” Jim Beckford, Kara's step-father, said the past year changed their entire family, “We don't take the little things for granted anymore.” The family weathered many difficult days. None stand out more than when police found a woman's body not far from their home last October. “That was a really hard day, the hardest two days of my life,” Rhonda Beckford said. The family knows in their hearts Kopetsky didn't run away. She left behind her iPod, cell phone charger and money in the bank. Never giving up hope she'll come home, Jim and Rhonda Beckford left her room exactly the same. “You still keep up the hope that she will be home one day,” Rhonda Beckford said. Belton Police say they don't have any leads in the case. The reward for information into Kara's disappearance is $25,000. 3 photo slideshow: http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/st...f0-8eb9a575ffab |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Sep 21 2008, 08:06 PM Post #34 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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Rally today for Kara Kopetsky BELTON | Rally today for Kara Kopetsky Supporters of the family of missing Belton teen Kara Kopetsky will hold a rally today. The event will begin at 11 a.m. near the Price Chopper at 1833 E. North Ave. in Belton, just off U.S. 71. A balloon release will take place, and organizers will have information about the case. They are hoping for new tips. Kara was last seen May 4, 2007, leaving Belton High School. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477). Source: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/673333.html |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Sep 21 2008, 08:08 PM Post #35 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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Another tragedy in the Kopetsky family. Kara's brother recently passed away..... Saturday, Jun. 14, 2008 Bradley Harrison Barker Brad Barker, 19, of Blue Springs, Mo., passed away on June 4, 2008. Graveside services took place on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at Lobb Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Higher Impact, P.O. Box 117118 Kansas City, MO 64138. Brad was born on March 22, 1989 in Blue Springs. He was a 2007 graduate of Valley View High School and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Indian Tribe. Brad enjoyed playing basketball, riding his bike and listening to music, but most of all, he loved to help his neighbors. You would usually find him doing handiwork around one of his, or his grandmother’s neighbor’s houses. Brad had such a big heart and would always put everyone else’s needs first. He will be truly missed. Brad leaves behind his parents Mike and Melinda Kopetsky of Blue Springs; sister, Courtney Barker of Blue Springs; brother, Spc. Tyler Barker, U.S. Army, Iraq; sister, Kara Kopetsky, missing from Belton, Mo., since May 2007; maternal grandparents, Eddie and Juanita Barker of Eufaula, Okla.; aunt Cassie Miller of Kearney, Mo.; uncle Eddy Barker of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; cousin, Jeremy Barker of Independence, Mo.; paternal great-grandmother, Hazel Jeter of Raymore, Mo.; paternal grandparents, Jim and Eleanor Kopetsky of Raymore, Mo.; father, Blaine Asby of Pleasant Hope, Mo.; sister Miranda Vanic of Kansas City, Mo.; sister, Nicole Asby of Pleasant Hope, Mo.; and many other aunts, uncles, and cousins. Online condolences may be made at www.meyersfuneralchapel.com. (Arrangements: Meyers Funeral Chapel, 1600 W Main St., Blue Springs, MO 64015, 816-229-3276) Source: http://www.bluespringsjournal.com/obituaries/story/2922.html |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Sep 21 2008, 08:11 PM Post #36 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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Family Says Search for Kara is Not Over Reported by: Sloane Heller Last Update: 6:05 pm BELTON, Mo. - They took their message to the streets and the sky. The search for Kara Kopetsky is not over. The Belton teen has been missing since May 4, 2007. And then there are dozens of signs that now line the streets of Belton. The city has agreed to keep them up for several weeks and bend the 30 day rule. The Kopetsky awareness campaign continues to get financial support from the community. The local teamsters have donated more than $1,000 dollars. Saturday, the family announced they are raising the reward from $25,000 to $30,000 dollars. Kara was last seen leaving Belton High School. A surveillance camera captured her in the hallway. Her parents believe someone knows something. "Kara needs to be found. I'm not giving up. If the people responsible think I'm giving up, they're wrong,” Kara's mom Rhonda Beckford said. "We've been running our campaign for Kara for a year and we're going to win," Kara’s stepdad Jim Beckford said. Kara's younger brother and his fellow Young Marines have raised hundreds of dollars. If you have any information regarding Kara's disappearance, you are urged to call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS or the Belton Police Department at (816) 331-1500. Source: http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/st...32-3eb5d32ff47c |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Sep 21 2008, 08:13 PM Post #37 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/20...-is-kara-k.html Where is Kara Kopetsky? June 23, 2008 Missed from the weekend, but there was a rally to remind the public about Kara Kopetsky, a Belton teenager who disappeared over a year ago. The reward in her case now stands at $30,000 Kopetsky's mother said the donation sends a message to those involved in her disappearance. "If they think I'm gonna give up and go away, they're wrong. Because I ain't doing it," Rhonda Beckford, Kopetsky's mother, said. The Beckfords said it's unlike Kopetsky to disappear, and they believe foul play is involved. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Sep 21 2008, 08:14 PM Post #38 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/InsideF...mp;pageId=5.7.1 Kara Kopetsky Fundraisers Scheduled for August Aug 06, 2008 The Find Kara Committee announced a number of fundraising events to take place in August. On Wednesday, August 6, the House of Heavilin Beauty Colleges will host the first of three dates at their three locations starting with their Blue Springs location. Wednesday, August 13th will be held at the Grandview location and Wednesday, August 20th will be held at the Kansas City location. All stores will have extended business hours the day of their event running from 10am to 7pm. Hair cuts will cost $5.00 and proceeds will be directed to Kara and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Visit the House of Heavilin website at www.KC-Hair.com On Saturday, August 9th, Maurices Dress Shop of Belton will host a fashion show fundraiser for Kara at the Life Quest Event Center at 1400 North Scott in Belton, Missouri. This event will have a $2.00 cover charge and be held from 6-8pm with refreshments available for your donation from Applebee's of Belton. This event is cosponsored by .925 Sterling Jewelry, Absolute Music and Life Quest. All proceeds will be directed to the Find Kara Fund at the Bank of Belton. There is a $30,000 Reward for information on finding our missing Kara, if you have the answer, call the Belton Police Dept. at 816-331-1500 or TIPS at 816-474-TIPS. Please continue to direct donations to the Find Kara Kopetsky Fund at the Bank of Belton, 204 Main Street, Belton, MO 64012 at 816/331-4888. The Find Kara Committee continues efforts to bring awareness to our missing Belton teenager and assist the family in coordinating these events. More information on scheduled Kara Events can be found at www.SearchingForKara.com. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Sep 21 2008, 08:15 PM Post #39 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.kmbc.com/news/17249785/detail.html Fundraiser Held For Missing Belton Teen Kara Kopetsky Missing Since May 2007 POSTED: 10:23 pm CDT August 20, 2008 UPDATED: 10:34 pm CDT August 20, 2008 KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Parents of a missing Belton teenager haven't given up hope of finding their daughter alive. The family of Kara Kopetsky helped with a community fundraiser to support the ongoing search efforts. Volunteers collected donations as children were fingerprinted and photographed for ID kits. Kopetsky has been missing since May 2007. She was last seen at Belton High School "It's important to keep Kara's name and face in front of the public so they don't forget she's missing," mother Rhonda Beckford said. The reward for information in the case is $30,000. Anyone with information in the case can call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hot line at 816-474-TIPS. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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| monkalup | Sep 21 2008, 08:18 PM Post #40 |
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.kmbc.com/news/17347819/detail.html Rally Spotlights Local Missing People Tour Remembers Kara Kopetsky, Jesse Ross POSTED: 5:06 pm CDT August 30, 2008 UPDATED: 5:35 pm CDT August 30, 2008 BELTON, Mo. -- A national missing persons tour staged a rally in Belton to raise publicity for two local missing persons cases: Kara Kopetsky and Jesse Ross. Kopetsky was last seen on a surveillance video at Belton High School in May, 2007. Ross, a UMKC student, disappeared during a trip to Chicago in 2006. Friends and family members attending the On The Road To Remember tour event released balloons and again asked the public for help finding their loved ones. “Call an investigator and get through to somebody and let them know what you know,” said Monica Caison of the CUE Center For Missing Persons. The group is visiting 17 states in 12 days, holding rallies to highlight 110 unsolved case of missing people. |
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Lauran "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. | |
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