20/20 True Crime Vault: "Finding Kelsie"

Podcast: 20/20 (ABC News)
Episode Date: December 2, 2025
Episode Length: ~84 minutes

Main Theme / Purpose

The episode delivers an in-depth, emotional investigation into the disappearance and presumed murder of 21-year-old Kelsey Schelling, who went missing from Pueblo, Colorado in 2013 while eight weeks pregnant. Through first-hand interviews, extensive reporting, and a detailed look at law enforcement’s investigation and subsequent trial, the episode explores how Kelsey’s family—especially her mother, Laura Saxton—pushed for justice over nearly a decade. The search for truth is complicated by false leads, internet scams, and the absence of Kelsey's body, culminating in the trial and conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Dante Lucas.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Kelsey Schelling’s Background and Early Life

• Kelsey grew up in Holyoke, Colorado – a small, safe, agricultural community.
• She was described as feisty, persistent, and loved sports, particularly basketball.
• "She taught me perseverance." (Friend, 07:19)
• Family was shaken when her parents divorced, leading Kelsey to struggle emotionally and become withdrawn. She survived a suicide attempt in her teens, but eventually rebuilt her life to become prom queen and pursued a psychology degree with hopes of working with children. (04:33–07:29)

2. Her Relationship with Dante Lucas

• Kelsey met Dante at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado. Dante was a star athlete, quiet but popular in Pueblo.
• Their relationship was tumultuous: Dante was often uninterested and would use Kelsey’s resources (car, money, apartment).
• "She kind of always took attraction to people that needed help..." (Narrator, 12:11)
• Despite the rocky relationship and warnings from friends and family, Kelsey continued to hope Dante would change, especially upon learning she was pregnant.
• "He was not committed to her by any means." (Roommate, 12:01)

3. Disappearance Timeline and Investigation

• February 2013: Kelsey, eight weeks pregnant, drives from Denver to Pueblo to see Dante after he alludes to a "surprise". She texts her arrival at 10:20pm and waits hours. The last confirmed text from Kelsey is at 11:18pm ("where are you? I've been here for over an hour, just waiting." - 20:06).
• The next day, Kelsey’s friends and family receive short, uncharacteristic texts supposedly from her, raising concerns. By Saturday, the family contacts Denver police.
• "Friends and family would get text replies back, but they said that it came in a voice that just didn't quite sound like Kelsey." (21:23)
• Police interrogation of Dante reveals numerous inconsistencies: he denied having a romantic relationship, claimed Kelsey had spent the night in her car, took her to a hospital (which has no record of her), and was caught on video driving and using Kelsey’s bank card after her disappearance. (25:36–32:44)

4. The Search for Kelsey and the Family’s Frustration

• The police initially treated it as a missing person's case, not a criminal one, due to lack of a body and limited evidence, frustrating the family.
• "We just want an effective investigation done into Kelsey's disappearance." (36:21)
• Laura Saxton spearheaded massive search efforts and community events, maintained a high-profile "Help Find Kelsey" Facebook page, and offered a $50,000 reward.
• Despite hundreds of leads and searches, Kelsey’s body was never found.
• "It's becoming harder to come back. I dread the trips, but I know I have to do it. She comes home empty handed. The one thing that she doesn't have is Kelsey." (38:06)

5. Internet Scams and False Hope

• Two years after the disappearance, Laura received an anonymous message claiming Kelsey was alive and sold into sex trafficking. A scammer demanded $50,000 to "rescue her", orchestrated through a McDonald's in Vancouver, WA with a courier in a red hat ("Marcus").
• ABC News and 20/20 set up a sting operation revealing the scam’s ties to a Russian IP address; the supposed ‘Marcus’ was just an unwitting intermediary.
• "Definitely a big scam. I want to know who's behind it." (50:43)

6. Community Undercover Operations and Breakthroughs

• Lauren Shore, a Pueblo local, befriended Dante on Facebook, met him in person, and entered a romantic relationship to gain insights. Dante eventually admitted to her that he was the man in the Walmart surveillance video seen moving Kelsey's car.
• This confession became a crucial piece of evidence when the investigation ramped up in 2016, after Colorado Bureau of Investigation joined and reclassified the case as a homicide.
• "She confirmed for us Dante admitted it was him in the Walmart surveillance video." (57:05)

7. The Arrest, Prosecution, and Trial of Dante Lucas

• Lucas was finally arrested in late 2017 (initially on other charges, as he attempted to flee the state).
• His confession to police and Lauren’s corroborating testimony tied him to moving Kelsey’s car after her disappearance.

Trial Highlights

• Circumstantial Evidence: Heavily reliant on text messages, surveillance, Dante’s lies/inconsistencies, phone pings, and critical witness testimony, as no body or murder weapon was found.
• "This is not a missing person's case, this is a homicide case." (Prosecution Opening, 61:20)
• Defense: Argued it was still a missing person case, emphasized lack of direct evidence.
• Witnesses: Included Kelsey’s family and friends (highlighting her desire to be a mom and relationship abuse), a jailhouse informant ("they're never going to find Kelsey Schelling's body." – 64:09), and Dante’s own mother.
• Tragedy struck when another key witness, Roxanne Martinez, was shot and killed before she could testify—though police ultimately found no connection to the trial. (68:21–70:10)

Jury Deliberation & Verdict

• After just three hours, the jury returned a rapid verdict of guilty on first-degree murder. Lucas was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
• The Schelling family experienced some relief at justice, but sorrow at not recovering Kelsey’s remains.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Kelsey’s Disappearance:
  • "I knew once her car was found that something horrible had happened because there's just no way that she would have gone somewhere and left her car." (Narrator, 30:02)
• On Community Support and the Family’s Perseverance:
  • "We appreciate you all so much. Your support keeps us going to put pressure on our system to do something here. We're gonna keep going." (41:51)
• On Investigative Frustration:
  • "The investigation really isn't being handled properly. Laura Saxton always been a fierce advocate for her daughter, and I don't think she'll rest until Kelsey is found." (37:19)
• On the Internet Scam:
  • "The emailer says he needs money to help Kelsey escape. $50,000 in cash...I just thought, what if she's been out there and I could have found her and we haven't?" (45:09)
• On Dante’s Arrest and Confession:
  • "Dante finally breaks down and comes clean, confirming Lauren Shore's account that he was the one seen in that Walmart video." (58:49)
• On Trial & Verdict:
  • "The words came out way too slow. Like, I feel like the judge was talking in slow mo, even though he wasn't...And then he finally got to, you know, guilty of first degree. And I think that was the first breath like, I had taken in a long time." (75:47)
• On Aftermath and Lingering Loss:
  • "But in the end, I didn't get Kelsey back, and that's what I wanted more than anything. So I feel like I didn't do some. I didn't push hard enough..." (79:36)
  • "Without getting her back and so I still have nowhere to go to take her flowers, to go sit and talk with her, take her balloons on her birthday, you know, go to see her on the holiday." (82:37)
• Remembering Kelsey:
  • "A little girl with a really big heart, a really big smile, a really big laugh, beautiful eyes. Silly. She was so silly. I miss being silly with her." (83:04)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Kelsey’s Early Life and Character: 03:27–07:29
• Meeting Dante Lucas and Relationship Troubles: 08:09–15:35
• Timeline and Oddities Around Disappearance: 16:41–22:30
• Police Interrogation of Dante and Investigation: 25:36–34:23
• Family-Led Search, Frustration with Police Response: 36:21–41:30
• Online Scam/Sting Operation: 44:09–51:06
• Undercover Undercover Girlfriend (Lauren Shore): 52:24–55:45
• Break in Case, Reclassification as Homicide: 56:07–58:41
• Arrest and Critical Confession by Dante: 58:49–59:45
• Trial (Testimony, Evidence, Key Witness Death): 60:02–70:33
• Jury Verdict, Emotional Aftermath: 74:13–80:02
• Speculation on Remains and Final Reflections: 81:19–83:55

Tone and Atmosphere

The episode maintains a respectful, empathetic, and often deeply emotional tone. The voices of family, friends, and reporters convey mourning, frustration, determination, and occasional hope. The reporting blends meticulous investigative detail with the raw humanity of loss, advocating for both justice and healing.

Summary

"Finding Kelsie" chronicles the eight-year fight for answers undertaken by a bereaved mother, an entire community, and dedicated investigators. Kelsey Schelling’s disappearance is reconstructed moment by moment, with the podcast unraveling relationship dynamics, investigative pitfalls, false hopes, and incremental breakthroughs. Ultimately, despite no physical remains being found, relentless pressure and key evidence led to a conviction. Yet, the episode closes with a poignant reminder: for families like the Schellings, true closure remains elusive as long as their loved one's final resting place is unknown.