Kylr Yust, the man arrested in connection to the disappearance of Jessica Runions, was transferred to the Jackson County Jail from Benton County.
Kylr Yust now in custody of KCPD.
Headed back to KCMO.@41ActionNews pic.twitter.com/LOkle8XVgC
— Richard Sharp (@RichardKSHB) September 14, 2016
KSHB reporter Richard Sharp was able to question Yust as he was escorted out of the Benton County Jail but he declined to comment on Runion's disappearance.
Previous story: Kylr Yust, man questioned in Jessica Runions' disappearance, has violent past
Yust arrested in Benton County
Benton County Sheriff deputies arrested Yust Sunday morning in southeast Benton County. He was held on a $50,000 cash only bond.
According to police, Yust was taken into custody on an arrest warrant on charges for knowingly burning in relation to Jessica Runions's vehicle. Missouri Search and Rescue has searched two large areas twice with negative results.
Days before police arrested Yust, a Kansas City, Kansas tattoo parlor considered hiring him for a piercing apprenticeship. However, red flags caused some of the owners to rethink the decision.
“I didn’t resonate with this guy. I did not like his presence, I felt uncomfortable,” said Jeff Ollerich, a co-owner of Tried and True Tattoo.
Ollerich told 41 Action News he and other owners sat down and decided not to hire Yust. The next day, he was arrested in Benton County in connection to burning Runions’ car.
“I didn’t want to believe this was going on. I thought I was dreaming or something,” said Cordis Woods, another co-owner of Tried and True Tattoo.
Police search for missing Jessica Runions
Police are looking for 21-year-old Jessica Runions.
She is a white female and was last seen on September 8 at 9:30 p.m. driving a 2012 black Chevy Equinox with license plate number MN2-C8B.
Just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, Runions's vehicle was located in the area of 95th Street and Blue River Road.
Her vehicle was found unoccupied and burned. The vehicle was towed to a KCPD vehicle processing facility where it is being processed.
Her aunt Michele Runions is simply distraught.
"She's loving, caring, she helped raise her sisters. She's strong, independent," her aunt said.
Runions's family told 41 Action News that Jessica Runions went to a house party with her boyfriend Thursday night. This was the last time she spoke with her mother.
"She had constant contact it's not like her to not return phone calls maybe a long period of time but she would eventually get back with you," Michele Runions said.
She added at the party was also Jessica Runions's boyfriend's childhood buddy - Kylr Yust.
Yust is the same man who was the boyfriend of Kara Kopetsky. The young woman vanished in 2007; her case remains unsolved.
He's also the same man who was convicted of assaulting another woman, stealing from a tattoo shop and of animal cruelty for stomping a kitten and tossing it into a river.
Runions's aunt said Jessica's boyfriend left early, leaving Yust and the 21-year-old woman behind.
"We just know that they left the party together," Michele Runions said.
Runions’s mother called police Friday around 10:30 p.m.
Just before 2 a.m. police found Jessica’s car burned near an underpass.
"Just locating her vehicle in that condition that just that's just suspicious in nature and we're just concerned for her welfare," Captain Stacey Graves, a spokesperson with KCPD said.
So is her family.
"We just want her to come home safe," Michele Runions said.
Please call KCPD Missing Persons at 816-234-5136, TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477(TIPS) or 911 if you have any information.
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