The Murder of Kelsey Smith
Kelsey Ann Smith was an 18-year-old American woman. Kelsey was last seen on 2nd June 2007 at 7.07 pm in a Target parking lot. CCTV showed her buying a present for her boyfriend and phone records confirmed she had called her mother from her mobile phone while in the store. Approximately four hours later Kelsey's car was found abandoned outside a Macy's across the street, her purchased items, wallet and handbag were found in the car. Kelsey's body was found four days later near a lake in Missouri. Video evidence filmed inside Target showed Kelsey entering the store and thirty seconds later, a white male entering after her. The man seemed to be in every aisle Kelsey went into but at a discreet distance. It seemed that the man was watching Kelsey frequently but did not approach her or speak to her. As Kelsey paid at the checkout the man appeared to leave the store and go into the parking lot. The parking lot surveillance showed someone forcing Kelsey into her car. Unidentified prints were found on the seatbelt of Kelsey's car. The footage was released to the public. After seeing the footage, a woman recognised her neighbour, 26-year-old Edwin Roy 'Jack' Hall. She reported this to the police. Hall admitted being at Target but claimed he had not seen Kelsey. It was found that Hall has seen Kelsey entering Target and followed her to check she was alone. When he saw Kelsey about to leave he got his gun and forced her into her car before taking her 20 miles away to a wooded area in Missouri. Hall then sexually assaulted Kelsey before strangling and killing her. Hall was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the kidnap, rape and murder of Kelsey Smith.
