The Murder of Kelsey Smith

Investigators began with the Target security footage, which provided a clear view of the abduction. The footage showed Kelsey arriving, entering the store, shopping while on her phone, purchasing her items, and walking back to her car. It also captured a man following her throughout, from the parking lot on arrival through the store and back out again. At her car, he forced her inside in 16 seconds. He was described as being in his early twenties, average height and build, wearing a white shirt, dark shorts, and black and white tennis shoes. He was driving a 1970s white Chevrolet pickup truck.

A review of Macy's parking lot footage confirmed Kelsey's vehicle was abandoned there at 9:17 p.m. Crime scene technicians processed the Buick Regal and recovered multiple sets of fingerprints. After eliminating prints belonging to family and friends, one unidentified set remained on the seatbelt clasp. A trace amount of unidentified DNA was also recovered from the steering wheel.

When investigators released portions of the Target footage to the public, tips flooded in. A woman reported a similar attack at a farmers market in Kansas City. Staff at On the Border restaurant in the Oak Park Mall complex reported the same man had been harassing waitstaff and left without paying earlier that same day. Two of the most significant tips came from a co-worker who recognized the truck in the footage as belonging to a colleague named Jack, and from a neighbor who identified the man and truck as belonging to Edwin "Jack" Hall of Olathe, Kansas.

Investigators intercepted Hall as he was loading his family into a vehicle outside his home. During questioning, Hall first denied recognizing Kelsey, then acknowledged noticing her. His thumbprint was matched to the unidentified print on the seatbelt clasp before he could leave the building. He was arrested the same afternoon Kelsey's body was found.