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Remains found in Cass County identified; no one charged in deaths

Posted at 5:51 PM, Aug 17, 2017
and last updated 2020-01-03 18:50:32-05

The remains of two missing metro women were found in rural Cass County back in April. The crime laboratory has identified the sets of remains as Jessica Runions and Kara Kopetsky.

No one has been charged in their deaths.

The Jackson County prosecutor charged Kylr Yust with burning Runions’s car. He has not been charged in her disappearance or death.

Alfred Yust is Kylr Yust's grandfather. He did not want to talk on camera but welcomed us into his home to talk about his grandson. He said he doesn't know if Kylr is connected to Runions’s or Kopetsky's deaths.

Kylr is Kopetsky’s ex-boyfriend.

Alfred said he talks to Kylr on the phone but has refused Kylr's request for him to visit the jail. He told 41 Action News he doesn't want to draw any attention to himself.

"What good would that do? What's that gonna prove? It will probably do more damage to me," said Alfred Yust.

Attorney Molly Hastings with the Hastings Law Firm is representing Kylr.

"I think back in April when the bodies were discovered there would have been quicker action taken, if they had legal avenues and proof," said Hastings.

Both the Jackson and Cass County prosecutor's offices have a stake in this case; neither is willing to talk about the investigation.

Kylr Yust's trial for allegedly burning Runions’s car is set for October 16.

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