True Crime with Kendall Rae — Episode Summary

Episode Title: She Was Stalked & Then Abducted at Target… the Murder of Kelsey Smith

Podcast: True Crime with Kendall Rae
Date: November 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Kendall Rae delves deeply into the heartbreaking 2007 abduction and murder of 18-year-old Kelsey Smith from Overland Park, Kansas. Through empathetic storytelling and a focus on the incredible resilience of the Smith family, Kendall details not only the events of Kelsey’s last day, the subsequent investigation, and the pursuit of justice, but also the enduring legacy Kelsey’s family has built through their advocacy and the Kelsey Smith Foundation. The episode highlights the importance of community action, the impact of legislative change, and the enduring quest for safety and justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Kelsey's Life and Family

• Background:
  • Kelsey Smith was born on May 3, 1989, in Charleston, SC, the middle of five children, and moved with her family to Overland Park, KS at age nine.
  • Described as endlessly curious and joyful, Kelsey was nicknamed “No No” and “Blueberry.”
  • She excelled academically and socially, was heavily involved in marching band, choir, theater, and track at Shawnee Mission West, and was known for her big heart, humor, and positivity.

    “She was scrubbed in sunshine. That’s how happy of a person she was.” (Kendall Rae, 07:15)

Events Leading Up to the Disappearance

• Final Day (June 2, 2007):
  • Kelsey planned to celebrate her six-month anniversary with her boyfriend, John, after making a quick stop at Target to buy him a gift.
  • Left Target around 7:09pm; John and family became concerned when she didn’t return as scheduled.
  • Her abandoned car was later found at a Macy’s parking lot.

Immediate Search & Investigation

• Family & Community Response:
  • The Smiths rapidly mobilized a massive search effort called "Kelsey's Army," circulating flyers and conducting grid searches with hundreds of volunteers by Monday, June 4.

    “By Monday, there were over 400 volunteers searching for her.” (Kendall Rae, 22:40)

• Law Enforcement's Challenge:
  • Initial delays in accessing cell phone location data from Verizon, despite repeated pleas from both the family and police.

    “Missy says that trying to get them to release these records was one of the most maddening things… They didn’t seem to care.” (Kendall Rae, 17:10)

Security Footage Breakthrough

• Target Surveillance:
  • Footage revealed Kelsey being quietly stalked in Target by a man in a white shirt and dark shorts.
  • The man left before Kelsey, waited for her, then abducted her in the parking lot.

    “He was stalking her, making sure to stay close, but not close enough that she would notice him. And this footage… is just chilling.” (Kendall Rae, 25:30)

• Suspect Identification:
  • Surveillance from Macy’s showed the suspect abandoning Kelsey’s car, which helped investigators focus on a specific vehicle and suspect.
  • The suspect was identified by tips from the public as Edwin Hall (though Kendall avoids saying his name further, respecting the Smith family's wishes).

Apprehension and Interrogation of the Killer

• Suspect Denial and DNA Evidence:
  • The suspect denied involvement but consented to DNA and fingerprint samples.

    “He even tried to explain the cuts and scrapes on his hands as injuries that he got from yard work.” (Kendall Rae, 31:45)

  • His fingerprint matched evidence from Kelsey’s car, leading to his arrest four days after her disappearance.

Discovery of Kelsey and Aftermath

• Finding Kelsey’s Remains:
  • The FBI eventually retrieved location data from Verizon; this led police to Kelsey’s remains at Longview Lake, MO.

    “It only took 45 minutes of searching… for her remains to be found.” (Kendall Rae, 35:35)

  • Kelsey had been sexually assaulted and strangled, with evidence of a violent struggle and attempts to cover up the crime.
• Family’s Grief:
  • Kendall, echoing the Smiths, emphasizes the heartbreak and magnitude of loss for the family, their endurance, and the impossibility of closure.

Justice and the Legal Outcome

• Arrest and Confession:
  • The perpetrator confessed, pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty, and was sentenced to life without parole.
  • Multiple corroborating pieces of evidence, including DNA and surveillance, left no doubt.

Kelsey’s Legacy & The Kelsey Smith Foundation

• Foundation and Advocacy:
  • The Smith family quickly established the Kelsey Smith Foundation, focusing on safety, preparedness, scholarships, and legislative advocacy.
  • Their signature legislative achievement is the Kelsey Smith Act, which requires cell phone providers to supply location data to law enforcement in cases of immediate danger, now law in 31 states.

    “Kelsey’s law makes it so that cell phone providers shall provide a customer’s location to law enforcement without a warrant, when someone’s life is at risk…” (Kendall Rae, 41:45)

  • The Act has helped save lives in various situations, not only abductions.
  • Greg Smith has also served in state legislature to further these causes.
• Commemorating Kelsey:
  • The family and community honor Kelsey at annual events, educational seminars, and by sharing her story across the nation.

    “It’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” (Kelsey’s headstone; Kendall Rae, 38:40)

  • She was buried in her yellow prom dress, inspired by Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Her absence is still very much felt to this day. But I am grateful to be able to say, at the very least, that justice was swift in her case.”
  — Kendall Rae (36:30)
• “They called themselves Kelsey's army, and for good reason.”
  — Kendall Rae (23:00)
• “Greg even got elected into the Kansas House of Representatives in 2010… to help push for positive change.”
  — Kendall Rae (43:10)
• “Kelsey had already lived so much life and yet still had so much life left to live and was really just getting started.”
  — Kendall Rae (44:50)
• On the power of the Foundation:

  "They know for a fact that this law saves lives, and they wholeheartedly believe… that making this a federal law will only continue to save more."
  — Kendall Rae (42:25)

Important Timestamps

• 06:00–10:00 – Introduction to Kelsey’s personality, family background, ambitions, and relationships
• 12:50 – The day Kelsey disappeared and timeline of her trip to Target
• 17:40–22:00 – Family’s initial concern, search efforts, and discovery of her abandoned car
• 22:30–24:50 – Community mobilization and “Kelsey’s Army” grid searches
• 25:10–27:40 – Security footage analysis and identification of suspect
• 32:00–36:00 – Suspect’s arrest, confession, and details of the crime
• 36:30–41:00 – Legal outcome and the impact on Kelsey’s family
• 41:20–44:00 – The founding of the Kelsey Smith Foundation, legislative advocacy, and the Kelsey Smith Act
• 44:00–46:00 – Reflections on Kelsey’s legacy and the family’s ongoing work

Tone & Language

Kendall maintains a tone of empathy, respect, and advocacy throughout, focusing on victim-centered storytelling. She avoids sensationalizing details of the crime, honoring the Smith family’s wishes by refusing to name the perpetrator after initial identification, and instead highlighting the community’s response, the family’s resilience, and the meaningful change birthed from tragedy.

Summary for Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode intimately recounts the abduction and murder of Kelsey Smith, a beloved teenager with a promising future, whose life was stolen by a random predator outside of her local Target. The story underscores the importance of rapid law enforcement response, community solidarity, and the vital role of advocacy—made all the more powerful by the Smith family’s achievements in Kelsey’s memory. Through legislative change and support for other families, Kelsey’s legacy continues to shape a safer world.

For further support or to engage with the Smith family’s ongoing mission, listeners are encouraged to visit and interact with the Kelsey Smith Foundation’s social pages and participate in local events.