The man linked to the disappearance of a metro woman made his first court appearance Thursday for burning her car.
Previous story: Kansas City police collect evidence at Kylr Yust's grandfather's house
Kylr Yust, 28, is charged with knowingly burning or exploding Jessica Runions car. The vehicle was found early Saturday morning on Blue River Road near Bannister Road.
Runions’ family were noticeably absent in court but Kara Kopetsky’s parents, Rhonda and Jim Beckford showed up an hour-and-a-half before the 1:30 p.m. hearing to make sure they were sitting in the front row. It’s something they’ve done every time Yust is in legal trouble to prove a point.
“Classic smug Kylr,” Rhonda Beckford, Kopetsky’s mother said. “[He] thinks he's untouchable."
The Beckfords got to know Yust well when he dated their daughter. The relationship had turned abusive when Kopetsky vanished in 2007.
Police questioned Yust but never found enough evidence to charge him.
“We're going on 10 years, but we haven't forgotten about Kara. We're not going to forget about Kara, we're not giving up, we're not going away, you [Kylr] haven't gotten away with this, you're not going to get away with this,” Beckford said
During the hearing Yust mostly kept his face down.
“It almost makes your blood run cold looking at him,” Beckford said after the two-minute hearing.
Jackson County Judge Charles H. McKenzie entered a not guilty plea on Yust’s behalf.
“I'm hoping for justice for both Jessica and Kara and he [Kylr] just needs to be put away he needs to be put away for the rest of his life so he can’t hurt anyone else,” Beckford said.
On Facebook, Runions’ mother, Jamie, thanked the public for their support including her daughter’s co-workers at the Foxwoods Springs Retirement home who made crosses for Runions’ relatives.
Yust’s bond remains at $50,000 cash only.
His next court date is set for Sept. 29 at 1:30 p.m.
McKenzie told Yust that he will be screened to see if he is eligible for a Public defender.
Previous coverage:
Kylr Yust transferred to Jackson County Jail from Benton County
Kylr Yust, man questioned in Jessica Runions' disappearance, has violent past
