The Kelsey Smith Tragedy: Depravity Shown & Justice Hoped For

Police have announced that they found the body of Kelsey Smith, the 18 year-old Overland Park, Kansas girl who had been missing since last Saturday. She was last seen at a Target store on Quivera Avenue, where she was apparently followed into the store by a man who rushed her in the parking lot, forcing her into her own car. All of this was confirmed by surveillance video from the store and the parking lot. The personally weird part of this story for me is that on that same afternoon, I was in Overland Park, at a Target Store, sitting in the parking lot.

We had left our older kids in Pleasanton so Erin and I could get away to do some birthday shopping for the kids. We had gone to several stores, and our last stop was Target on Metcalf Avenue. I did what I frequently do when shopping….I begged my wife to let me stay in the van, while she ran inside to shop. She obliged, so Karissa and I parked the van on the far edge of the parking lot, where I backed in so I could see everything. I frequently do this so I can watch the front doors for Erin to come out, then I go and pick her up as close to the front door as I can. I usually listen to the radio and just watch people walk by. The interesting thing is that no one ever notices me. People will park right next to me and pick their nose or scratch themselves, completely unaware that there’s a person sitting in that van right next to them.

In Kelsey Smith’s case, I can’t help but ask…what if? What if she had gone shopping just one hour earlier?…and what if she had decided to go to the OTHER Target in Overland Park on Metcalf? Chances are I would have witnessed the whole ordeal. What if the lunatic had saw my wife alone in the store and decided to follow her instead. (Needless to say he would have found a very irate husband once he got to our van). What if there had been another “anti-shopping” husband like me at the other Target when Kelsey was abducted? It’s so hard to believe that this could happen at a busy store in broad daylight without anyone seeing it. Even if there was no one visibly around (and no doubt the bad guy checked), surely you would think someone would have been sitting in their car and seen this man rush up behind her. Of course you can beat yourself up with the “what ifs.” And no doubt Kelsey’s family and friends will be “what if-ing” this one for a long time. But in the end, there’s nothing to do but mourn the loss of a young and promising life, and pray that justice is served.

Sometimes things happen to remind us of the rampant depravity that exists in a sin-cursed world. This is simply the latest example, and it serves as a reminder to be on your guard. I told Erin that if anyone ever tries to force her into a car like that, she should call their bluff and just tell them to shoot her. It seems their plans are usually to kill anyway, after they rape or mutilate. Dare them to shoot you in broad daylight with potential witnesses around. Most would be too cowardly for that. Of course, Kelsey Smith was surprised from behind and forced into her car. It seems she never really had a fighting chance.

I’ve always said that these kind of stories bother me a lot more since I have daughters. Every violent crime committed against a female, makes me think of my girls. It sickens me to dwell on what could happen in this world today. And it makes me glad to live in a country where justice can still be served. Kelsey’s dad is a police officer who will no doubt struggle to hide his rage when the killer is found. If I were him, I would want to have just 5 minutes alone with the creep in a dark alley. Just him, me, and a crow bar. But ultimately, it’s not necessary, because justice will be served. At least we hope it is. I hope the responsible party is caught, tried, convicted, converted, and then promptly executed. I don’t wish eternal Hell on anyone, so I hope the man gets saved. But I also don’t believe in letting crime go unpunished, so I hope the man is put to death. It won’t replace Kelsey, but it may put the family a little more at ease. Additionally, it will let other psychos know that if you kill someone in Kansas, you’re going to pay the ultimate price. And as a father of daughters in Kansas, I desperately want perverted wackos to be afraid of attacking innocent females. But most of all, I want to see justice served, simply because it’s just. It’s right. And thankfully, right now, capital punishment is the law of the land.

We should keep the Smith family in our prayers. Their ordeal has just begun, and they’ll need much strength to get through it. My heart goes out to them, as I know they have to be in total shock right now. My prayer is that God will be their peace in the midst of this storm. Our world is a very messed up place, and this is just the latest example. May God comfort the family and friends of Kelsey Smith. And may God guide the process of justice being served.

Comments

[Debi]

The Smith family and now the Hall family are still in my prayers. It's times like these when again I say - Lord Jesus, come quickly. There was a story in the Star today and the man was talking about how his daughter is much more at risk than his sons (older ones) and how sad that is. Goes along with what you said about having daughters.
On a happier note, there was also an article in today's paper stating that USD 344 has allowed the FCA to have equal club status in our school - thank you Lord for using Kristie and for the favorable decision.