While this text was being sent, Torres said Schellings phone was pinging off of a cell tower within the area of Canon National Bank, where Donthe Lucas was seen on camera withdrawing $400 from Schellings bank account while driving her 2011 Chevy Cruze. Schelling, and Hegel. Late in the afternoon on March 8, a Pueblo County jury issued a guilty verdict in the trial of Donthe Lucas, who'd been charged with killing his pregnant girlfriend, Denver's Kelsie . The defense also had Walker confirm that she could not tell the jury whether the trends she discussed were present in Lucas and Schellings relationship and could not say if any specific acts of domestic violence took place between them. In the texts, Lucas implies Schelling had asked him to come to her OBGYN appointment the following day the day of her disappearance saying he wanted to go with her and noting it seemed like Schelling wanted him to go. Her boss called her not that long ago and offered her her job back.. Though Schellings family got the verdict they wanted, they were still unable to bring her home for a proper burial. In August of 1995, a local film crew in Arlington, Texas was doing a documentary on single mothers in welfare trying to get jobs. Love you Donthe.. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Pueblo landfill said there was evidence of a car at the dump and Lucas' cell phone data suggest he could have been there the night of Feb. 4, 2013. It's a sad situation that didn't have to end up like this if he had just let her come home.. At 11:14 p.m., he changes plans and tells Schelling to meet him, where you usually do, seemingly referring to an intersection near his grandmothers home where Schelling had picked him up on previous occasions. Her. Stop acting like you cant do it. Schelling replied that she did want Lucas to accompany her to the doctor until I realized thats the last place you wanted to be.. She said she told her she loved her. Lucas said that he would help support the baby, according to Saxton. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Schelling's Late Philosophy in Confrontation with Hegel Peter Dews (Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy . Saxton never met with Marcus at the McDonalds after Vancouver Police backed out of their involvement, believing it to be a scam. There's no body, no murder weapon, no crime scene. Chieftain reporter Zach Hillstrom can be reached at zhillstrom@chieftain.com or on Twitter @ZachHillstrom, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I know that my testimony could potentially help take him down, and that was realistically why I wanted to testify, she said. I know that that is a long shot than anybody [sic] would even try to help us with that., Saxton said the thought of her daughters body being left there is just the worst possibility to me, because he discarded her like garbage. Last month, a woman considered as the star witness to be called by the defense was murdered in Denver. However, Kadie, Megan Lancasters sister-in-law, did make her meeting. Though they have strong suspicions thats where Kelsie Schelling is, authorities say it would be next to impossible to conduct a systematic search of the landfill for her remains. Sinnema said Lucas told him that Schelling returned later that morning, again to discuss their relationship. During the holiday season in 2012, Schelling surprised her family with news that she was pregnant. Schelling tells Lucas, Im not going to come get you so we can fight all day., He responds: I dont want to fight at all I want to give you this.. Sara Lucas says she only met her son's girlfriend. Roxann Martinez was shot and killed at the intersection of E. Kenyon Dr. and S. Wabash St. at 11 p.m. on Feb 25. I just thought, What if shes been out there and I couldve found her and we havent?. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - Donthe Lucas was found guilty of murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend Kelsie Schelling in 2013. Kelsie Schelling went missing in Pueblo, Colorado back in February 2013 after she went to tell her boyfriend Donthe Lucas that she was pregnant Schelling's body has never been found but she. Eight years after his girlfriend went missing, a Colorado man has been convicted of first-degree murder in her death. She definitely had that phone with her, Lucas said. There's no single person other than the defendant in 2017, who's saying that [Schelling] was into drugs and that she was a party girl, McCarthy said. Schelling's family has set up a website called HelpFindKelsie.com and are reportedly offering a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest. Dateline's new documentary series "The Last Day" premiered this week with an episode about the killing of 20-year-old Iowan Mollie Tibbetts. Lucas had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges. 17 Jan 2023 Amber: The Girl Behind the Alert (2023 film) . Are you still coming (down to Pueblo) after work? She said the plan, orchestrated by one of her close friends, was to get close to Lucas. Follow below: 4 p.m.: In a bombshell revelation, prosecutors called a former Pueblo County Jail inmate who claims that Donthe Lucas said investigators would never find Kelsie Schelling's body. In the following days, her parents and friends said Schellings texts continued to contain uncharacteristic punctuation and curt responses. At the end of the day, I said, I think we have enough here to go forward. 1 In February 2013, Kelsie Schelling was very happy to find out she was eight weeks pregnant, according to ABC News. But I guess the relief I had knowing that it was a quick verdict, was that even if it didn't come out in our favor, this question has been decided for the community. She said she doesn't have her phone, and she said she'll be getting ahold of you.. 13M subscribers Kelsie Schelling goes to see boyfriend, never seen again: Part 3 Schelling left work and headed to Pueblo, Colorado, where her boyfriend Donthe Lucas asked her to meet. A recording of their conversation was introduced as evidence. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website. Yet, in November 2017, he confessed to being the one who had abandoned her vehicle at the St. Mary-Corwin hospital, where it was eventually found. Megan Lancaster, then 25, had disappeared just months after Schelling. Documentary films The Invention of Marxism: How an Idea Changed Everything Christina Morina (Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Bielefeld University) . She did say that he called once from jail, but they ultimately never spoke again. Months turned to years without answers. Wish you would have told me you knew it was very likely to happen so I could be prepared. Laura Saxton Her last confirmed text message was sent to Lucas at 11:18 p.m. The white stain in #Schelling's car was negative for saliva. The burden of proof is on the government, former Pueblo public defender Lisa Wayne told 20/20. So it's simply messaging in a very strong way to the jury, They haven't done it. Donthe was found at DIA. NR | 03.26.21 | 01:20:44 | CC more episodes 42:55 Weeks passed until police learned they needed to move quickly to catch Lucas. . Hear from those closest to the victims, including family, friends, local journalists and law enforcement. Geo resource failed to load. It was the most emotional moment in the courtroom today by far, watching a mother look at these remnants of her daughter. An officer stated that they believed Donthe strangled Kelsie. Walker was called as a blind expert, meaning she was not familiar with the details of the Lucas case but spoke to general trends in domestic violence cases. Donthe Lucas was charged with killing his 21-year-old girlfriend, Kelsie Schelling, who was pregnant at the time. As a mom, I couldnt even begin to fathom knowing that your childs out there or not out there, Suhr told 20/20 in an exclusive interview. Four days passed after Schelling drove to Pueblo on the night of Feb. 4. Im very grateful that our paths crossed and God took us to this moment.. A little bit later, he got back with me. He said, I heard from Kelsie. He has this way about him that makes you feel so sorry for him. Pueblo Police Capt. PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV . Schelling's body hasn't been found. Goodnight., Torres said Lucas replied, Oh I know all of that … thanks for stating it for me.. On February 4, 2013, Schelling went to a local Walmart in the town of Pueblo, Colorado, where she planned to meet up with Lucas and tell him about her new pregnancy but according to interview footage taken in 2017, Lucas told investigators that the night had taken a different turn (via Fox 21 News). Saxton still doesn't have all the answers she's searched tirelessly for. : The UN in Libya; 3. It was just so emotional for everybody, for both sides, Saxton said. After years of waiting for him to go on trial for her disappearance, the disturbing details about Schelling's relationship with Lucas were finally revealed more than eight years later during a Colorado court trial in 2021, with Lucas charged with her murder. Law enforcement finally turned Schellings missing persons case into a criminal case. But more importantly, I wanted the jury to hear the defendant, in his own words, say, I lied.. Suhr testified that Lucas had admitted to her that he was the mysterious figure seen picking up Schellings car after it sat overnight in a Walmart parking lot and that he had also dropped the car off at the hospital. You dont have an obligation to me. The Denver Police Department has said that they don't believe her death was connected to the trial. Regardez le Salaire Mensuel de Michael Jackson Bad 25 Documentary en temps rel. Romantic interest of Lucas' retakes stand: Lauren Suhr, who now lives in Washington but lived in Colorado Springs in April 2016, took the stand virtually again Wednesday morning. She said she received text messages, but they were curt and short, which was unlike Kelsie. It was discovered during the trial Wednesday morning that an upcoming witness in the trial was found shot to death last week in Denver. [He said] that [she] was his best friend and he had nothing to do with it, and then he would just shut down and start crying hysterically and get upset, Suhr said. He was the first person who listened to me like I wasnt a crazy person, said Laura Saxton, Kelsies mother, He gave me hope when I didnt have any.. Binet asked Lucas if he had any idea where Schelling might be, to which Lucas replied: Honestly, Im not too sure. Lucas, according to Torres, directs her to go to Walmart. Ive never had that phone.. He was sentenced immediately after the verdict by the judge to life in prison without parole. The prosecution argued that Lucas didnt want his pregnant girlfriend to have their unborn baby, so he plotted and killed her before it could happen. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Saxton said she remembered asking investigators if these items were in the vehicle when it was recovered and she was told they were not. I knew once her car was found that something horrible had happened, because there's just no way that she would've gone somewhere and left her car, Saxton said. It was now up to the jury to make a decision. According to Lucas' account,the couple drank alcohol together and used marijuana and cocaine that night, the latter of which Lucas alleged was a surprise gift to Schelling. Johnston also uses iek's combination of . Thus, today, at the age of 28, Donthe Isiah Lucas, or inmate 190792, is incarcerated in the Centennial Correctional Facility in Canon City. The lawsuit was dismissed, and shortly after, Torres took the reins of the case, meeting Saxton in September 2016. On Feb. 5, Lucas said the two of them were together, but video from the Walmart cameras show only one person, who police believe was Lucas, getting out of the car. I have to go to the doctor. No one.. They asked the family to deliver $50,000 in cash to the same McDonalds in Vancouver, where a man named Marcus wearing a red hat would be waiting. Kelsie Schelling Self - Goes missing (archive footage) All cast & crew Production, box office & more at IMDbPro Storyline Edit A courageous mother, whose daughter mysteriously went missing, finds justice with the help of another mom she never met; Plot summary Add synopsis Genres Documentary Crime News Certificate Unrated Parents guide Suhr messaged Lucas on Facebook saying she was new to the Pueblo area and that she was looking to meet new people. Terms of Use | There was no deals like that.. The Economic Update with Tatiana Bailey Ph. In closing arguments, lead prosecutor Michelle Chostner ensured the jury had a clear understanding of the time Kelsies killer had to get rid of evidence or to clean things up. Plus, a baggage claim sticker leads to an arrest after human remains were found in two suitcases on the side of a Denver road in December (30:07). Saxton still doesnt have all the answers shes searched tirelessly for. Emmanuel Chandler was arrested for Martinez's death. Saxton said the car was given to Schelling when she moved back from California and that there were certain belongings that were kept in the vehicle. I never was.. She also said Schellings medical paperwork indicated that she self-reported discontinuing her birth control in October 2012. After all, this way, there would be no physical evidence left behind. It said, "Where are you? I have no idea about no Megan or no kidnapping or anything like that, the man told 20/20. I had no clue anybody was supposed to be exchanging nothing for a human being If I did know, I would not have been involved in this situation.. A man in Pueblo reported that Lucas and his family members had attacked him in front of the Lucas family home and stolen $1,000 from him. Kelsie Schelling with her mom Laura Saxton. Per Fox 21 News,Lucas purportedly had a strong reaction when he saw Schelling's neighbors hanging up missing flyers, and according to testimony at his trial, went as far as to harass the family of a middle-schooler who had helped aid in distributing them. S43 E19 Finding Kelsie A young woman goes missing. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. At 1:34 p.m., Lucas sends another text saying, sorry again about the loss, telling Schelling he will soon be going up to Denver to drop off her car. In partnership with New5's Colette Bordelon reports that the District Attorney has confirmed that Martinez was going to testify for the prosecution this week that Lucas confessed to her that he killed Schelling. Donthe Isiah Lucas pleaded not guilty to the charge against him in 2018. Eric Bravo took over the case with the help of Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) agent Kevin Torres. As difficult as it was, its not impossible. The homicide trial of Donthe Lucas, accused of first-degree murder in the 2013 disappearance of his pregnant girlfriend, Kelsie Schelling, resumed Monday with the testimony of Colorado Bureau. Schelling tells him she has responsibilities and cant just skip work. The texts exchanged indicate Lucas and Schelling were constantly arguing throughout the night of Feb. 3, both in text and in short phone conversations in which Schelling seemed to continually hang up on Lucas. Tate said Schellings medical records did not indicate she was at any risk of a miscarriage. For Lauras part, the case doesnt end with the verdict. It reaches the surface, he said. In a motion filed by Lucas, he claims the victim's father had a history of violence toward Kelsie and killed . Donthe took that away from me.. When the time came, Saxton even took the stand against her daughters killer. He said theyd spoken early that morning when Schelling arrived in Pueblo and their interactions continued through the following morning. Though Lucas denied his involvement in anything to do with Schelling in what eventually became a criminal case, things took a turn in 2017 after local authorities brought him in for questioning, per The Pueblo Chieftain. Saxton said the messenger told her Lucas had sold her daughter into sex trafficking. [That was] where he seemingly intended to board a flight to Tucson, and the concern was once he got to Arizona that he may take other efforts to meet friends in Mexico.. @KOAA, Kelsie Schelling's mother is called to the stand again. Using cell phone data from Lucas and Schellings phones, the prosecution believes both phones were in the same location as the texts were being exchanged. Youre good. Kelsie Schelling disappeared after driving down from Denver to Pueblo on February 4th, 2013. Its been over eight years since Laura Saxtons 21-year-old pregnant daughter Kelsie Schelling vanished. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. Some of her friends testified to the physical abuse, and cell phone data showed Kelsies phone was in the same area as her killers in the days after authorities believed she had been killed. March 3 Fugitive Finder: Pueblos most wanted, Increase in Shigella cases, drug-resistant infections, Remembrance ceremony for Divide woman missing since, Disneyland fan sets record for most consecutive, Biden had cancerous lesion removed, no further treatment, Brothers convicted of killing groom hours after wedding, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Michelle Chostner prosecuted the case alongside senior prosecutor Kyle McCarthy, and Alex Baker, an Assistant Attorney General in the Colorado Attorney Generals Office. I just get mad and I dont want to fight with you. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Prosecutors told jurors that Lucas was trying to get Schelling to Pueblo and sent her a text message saying he had a surprise for her. Just had to make sure I was right. Criminal defense attorney Danielle Iredale joins host Ana Garcia. I dont want to fight at all, I want to give you this, he wrote. By May 2018, a judge said prosecutors had proved probable cause. We're working on getting clarification on that issue. Our Colette Bordelon will be there every day and will have coverage both online and over the air. On February 4, 2013, 21-year-old Kelsie Schelling . Silly, she was so silly., I miss being silly with her, Saxton added. KOAA News5 on your time, streaming on your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and AndroidTV. / CBS Colorado. In cross examination, Tameler asked Binet if, in his time with the missing and exploited persons unit, hed encountered people who intentionally disappeared to get away from their lives, and if such people tend to make sure they dont leave indicators to where they might be going. It was tense because the time was ticking away, and the tires were turning on the road, Chostner said. She used to work out there and she lived there for a while. At this point, News5's Colette Bordelon said the prosecution admitted a picture taken of the dash of the car through Saxton. The car was moved from that location the following morning, then showed up at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center Feb. 9. We did not have a body that would've told us location No modus operandi of how she died. "We're very thankful for this outcome, but in the end I didn't get Kelsey back, and that's what I wanted more than anything," said Schelling's mother, Laura Saxton shortly after the verdict was read. In the recording, Lucas tells Binet the last time he heard from Schelling was the previous day, Feb. 9. Now that she is gone, Ive had to turn into a fighter, Saxton told 20/20.. Severe Weather Her last confirmed text message was sent to Lucas at 11:18 p.m. Torres, continuing his testimony from Friday, began the fourth day of the trial by detailing alleged text exchanges between Lucas and Schelling on the night of Feb. 3 and the day of her disappearance Feb. 4, breaking them down minute-by-minute and hour-by-hour as the conversation unfolded. From the moment she realized Schelling was missing, Saxton led the fight to find her daughter. And even if it's not the answer I wanted, the community heard it and they know what happened., The jury reached a unanimous decision on their first vote, a juror later revealed to 20/20.. Introduction: Managing the World; 1. She received a Facebook message from a person who claimed to be a woman but wanted to remain anonymous, and claimed to have information about Schellings disappearance. The jury convicted Lucas after approximately four hours of deliberation. Prosecutors also argued Lucas constantly used Schelling for money, her apartment in Denver and her car, claims the defense didnt deny. She gave an emotional and powerful testimony emphasizing to the jury her daughter Kelsie really wanted to have her child. She confirmed for us Donthe admitt[ed] it was him in the Walmart surveillance video that [he] had dropped Kelsie's car off and then returned the next day and picked it up, Torres said. She regularly made the 220-mile drive from her home in rural Yuma, Colorado, to Pueblo. Her body has never been found. I mean, who wants that for their child to be the final resting place? Dont text me. I didn't want to get in any deeper than I had already gotten into.. Lucas insisted to the man, who later testified about the incident in court, that he wouldn't be convicted of that crime but in the end, it seemed to seal his fate. Donthe Lucas, 28, was found guilty on Monday in the killing of his missing girlfriend, Kelsie Schelling, according to the Denver Post. Lauren Suhr, a young single mother who didnt know Kelsie Schelling or her family, was so moved by Schellings story that she decided she would try to get information on Schelling, on her own initiative, from Donthe Lucas. Chostner says there was more evidence to work with in 2017 versus 2013, and enough that gave him the confidence to press charges. Su gemela permanece en grave estado, Ahora puedes vivir en un crucero por US$ 30.000 por ao. You dont have to have a happy little family with me. Lucas said Schelling told him before she came to Pueblo that she was pregnant and had gone to a doctor for an ultrasound. Now, follow one mother's crusade for justice in this true crime investigation. Schelling tells Lucas at 11:21 a.m. that shes finished her appointment. Binet asked Lucas if there was any chance Schelling might have left her phone with him. Binet testified Monday he contacted Donthe Lucas on Feb. 10th. In a separate incident reported in 2017, a man claimed that Lucas, aided by family members, attacked him over $1000 he claimed Lucas' family stole, perABC News. PUEBLO The Pueblo murder trial of Donthe Lucas, who is accused of murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend 21-year-old Kelsie Schelling in 2013, continued Wednesday following testimony from. She said based on her evaluation, Schelling was, in fact, pregnant at the time of her disappearance. In December 2017, almost four years after Schelling's disappearance, Lucas was charged with her murder. You couldn't see what kind of vehicle, you couldn't tell who was in the car, Pueblo police Capt. He also told Suhr that a man he did not know picked Schelling up the last time he saw her. I felt like I got to see a side of him that maybe most people didnt, she said. Torres said texts showed Schelling eventually agreed to come to Pueblo.