Remains Found in Missouri ID'd as Missing 21-Year-Old

Police are trying to identify 2nd skull found at scene
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 7, 2017 4:44 AM CDT
Skull Found in Missouri Is That of Missing 21-Year-Old
This undated photo provided by the Kansas City Police Department shows Kylr Yust.   (Kansas City, Mo. Police Department via AP)

Police in Missouri have had to give the parents of Jessica Runions the news they dreaded: One of two skulls found outside Kansas City this week is that of their 21-year-old daughter, who disappeared in September. Police say the case is now a homicide investigation, People reports. Authorities say that identifying the other human remains could take weeks or months. The area in rural Cass County is still being searched for additional remains. The family of Kara Kopetsky, a 17-year-old who disappeared in 2007, was notified when the remains were found. Both Runions and Kopetsky were linked to the same man, 28-year-old Kylr Yust, who was charged with "knowingly burning" Runions' car after she vanished.

It's not clear whether Yust will face additional charges now that Runions' remains have been found. "Kylr has not been charged with anything, with anything outside of knowingly burning a car, again ... and that we intend to fight," his attorney told ABC News before the remains were identified. Runions was last seen leaving a party with Yust, who was a friend of her boyfriend. Yust was also a suspect after Kopetsky, his ex-girlfriend, disappeared. In 2011, he pleaded guilty to domestic violence after choking another girlfriend. She told police he threatened to kill her, telling her he had "killed people before, even ex-girlfriends, out of sheer jealousy." (More missing woman stories.)

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