True Crime Vault: Finding Kelsie

Hello everybody, Deborah Roberts here to. tell you what our 2020 True Crime Plus. [music] subscribers are listening to. this week. All six episodes of The. Scream Murder, a new [music] podcast. from 2020, they're available to. subscribers now adree. And as always, subscribers get access to hundreds of. our 2020 episodes going back years. If. that sounds like something that you are. interested in, well, subscribe [music]. to 2020 True Crime Plus on Apple.

Podcasts now. Step into the 2020 True Crime Vault. Listen to our most gripping stories. [music]. >> [music]. >> world. I want to leave you.

>> What could make me crumble? You know, she would be strong enough [music] to, you know, to stand up to. >> Kelsey Shelling's face is on billboards. in PBLO and volunteers have come through. the area she was last seen. And now. since she's gone, you know, I've had to turn into a. fighter. >> She's the strongest mom [music] I know. I mean, who fights for their kid like.

this? >> It was like, uh, maybe she'll call. Maybe she's out [music] there. You know, >> a pregnant woman who vanished. Kelsey. was 8 weeks pregnant. Last seen in. Pueblo visiting her boyfriend. Friends [music] and family would get. text replies back, but they said that it. just didn't [music] quite sound like. Kelsey. >> I did have a sinking feeling in my. stomach. >> This unknown man is seen walking to.

[music] Kelsey Shelling's car and is. seen driving away with the car. I mean, we're we're [music] trying everything. >> Breaks [music] my heart. Almost 2 years. after Kelsey's disappearance, a. mysterious message giving everyone hope. comes through that help find Kelsey. Facebook page. >> It was saying, "If I [music]. have information about Kelsey, can I. remain [music] anonymous?". >> When Laura responds, a man emails her.

saying, "Ma'am, please, your daughter is. not dead.". It was just the fear of what if she. [music] is still out there somewhere. >> What if? I mean, it was just what if? What if? Kelsey Shelling grew up in the tiny farm. town of Holio, Colorado. >> Holio is around 2 and 1 half to 3 hours.

away from Denver. It's quiet. Just kind. of [music] have your own way. >> Perfect place to raise a family. >> Yeah. Real good place. Yeah. Safe. You're hoping anyway. You know, >> Holy Oak is definitely agricultural. There's only one stoplight. And if you. want to go to a Walmart, you've got to. head uh west to Sterling. That's 50 m. [music] away. >> In the early '9s, Kelsey's parents, Doug. and Laura, owned the local grocery store.

in Holio. Kelsey and her brother Colby seem to be. living out the American dream. >> I first met Laura Saxton back in 2016. when 2020 was first looking into. Kelsey's story. >> You know, she she's just always been a. little firecracker. [laughter]. >> Hi, Cal. Hi, Cocoa Bean. >> Kelsey. Cal.

She wasn't a kid that wanted to stay up. till midnight, you know, where you. usually have to fight [music] your kids. to go to bed like at 8:30. That's when. she wanted to go to bed. She'd go into. her room and pull back her covers and. each animal had to be in a certain place. and everything had to be just perfect. >> When she got to be 2, 3, 4 years old, uh, she was feisty. You try to [music]. give her a kiss and she'd slap me pretty. good. So, kind of learned my lesson, you. know.

My first um impression of Kelsey, she. was just an active outdoors, fun-loving. girl. Liked to do a lot of sports. When. my daughter and um Kelsey first met up, their true love was um playing. basketball together. >> I was her I was their coach. Yeah. Here. she is right here. >> Wow. Is she the point guard? >> Mhm. >> There's the ball. When we were still in. elementary school, her dad took us out. and let us drive on the dirt roads,

which is pretty common around here. Kelsey could just laugh about things. like that. And her laugh made us laugh. She'd start to giggle, [music] then you. would start to giggle. And so that's. that's what made being around Kelsey so. special. [music] Kelsey was a tiny. little thing. Um, you know, shorter than. me. >> The Kelsey that I knew didn't take a lot. of crap off her classmates. you know, she was uh wasn't afraid to stand her. ground. >> But as Kelsey enters her teens, the. Shelling family is rocked when Doug and.

Lara decide to divorce. >> Going through a divorce is really hard. um as a kid. >> Yeah. The split of our parents certainly. had an impact on both of us. >> Colby. >> Colby lived with me and Kelsey lived. with her mom. It was a real dark time. for the whole family. >> It was a rough age. you know, after her dad and I got. divorced. It was just she and I [music]. together alone for a lot of years.

>> She was in a bad emotional place. And. [music] I I don't think that was was due. to her character and nature. I think. that was circumstantial. When Laura and. I was going through a divorce, she was. on [music] anti-depressant pills and she. ended up taking like three [music] of. them or something. >> She ended up in the hospital for several. days and it [music] was pretty scary. I. mean, I thought we were going to lose. her at that point. >> She was in a coma. >> She was.

I felt like it was a turning point. I. mean, when any young school age kid has. parents who are splitting [music] up, that's a lot to take on. She actually. stopped doing all of the sports and. activities. Seemed like she was um more. removed. I think Kelsey was just. looking, she was looking for a change. She [music] wanted to figure out what, you know, what was her niche. >> Kelsey was always, I think, working. through how do I be better? How do I.

grow? Um, how do I move past this? >> Our senior year, she was uh she was the. prom queen. You don't get that [music] without. showing people kindness and respect and. truly being embraced by by your [music]. peers. You know, >> Kelsey taught me um. she taught me perseverance. >> Eventually she moves on. She goes to.

Northeastern Junior College. What did. [music] she want to do with her life? >> She wanted to um get a degree in. psychology. I think [music] in her heart. she wanted to work with children. We. officially became roommates January. 2011. If we all of us were bored at 3:00. in the morning, she'd be the one to say, "Let's go cause problems, I guess." Not. bad problems. She was just, you know, out for a good time. She'd love to have. fun. That was her thing to do. And for a. while, Carefree Kelsey is back. And then.

she meets Dante [music] Lucas. He's. about to change her life forever. [music]. >> It was a big deal that she was dating. Dante. He was part of the basketball. team. [music]. They were kind of the popular kids and. everything. >> By the time Kelsey got to know him, [music] she felt proud that she knew who. he was because he was somebody to know. He had dreams of making it big [music]. in the NBA.

>> Kelsey thought she met the man of her. dreams. [cheering]. [applause]. >> Marker. Please say your full name and. give us your title. >> Lisa Wayne, attorney at law. >> Well, I had the privilege of being down. in PBLO in the 80s and I was a public. defender. [music]. PBLO is a small town in southern. Colorado. Used to be a steel mill town.

The steel mill um shut down in the 80s. >> Buffalo was founded and built by people. that came from all over the world. We're the home of the PBLO Chile. Everyone [music] that lives there is so. proud of this town. Kelsey's love interest, Dante Lucas, lives in Pueblo. Sarah Lucas, Dante's. mother, is raising all four kids on her. own in this Colorado [music] town, set.

on what's called the Front Range of the. Rocky Mountains. In the town of PBLO, a 6'7 star athlete. stands out. I coached Dante Lucas in youth football. He was a coach's dream. He's a real. [music] polite kid. Wanted to learn the. game of football and and just really. quiet. Dante Lucas was super close with his. mother Sarah uh on the football field. She was one of the most supportive.

parents. For Dante, football wasn't his. sport. I'd say he's a better basketball. player, which happened later in his. career through high school here in. Publo. >> Dante Lucas was a very well-known. basketball player. He was going to be. the one who made it out of Publo. >> He had dreams of making it big in the. NBA. >> It was obvious that he wanted to pursue.

it, but the family spoke more about it. than he did. >> [music]. >> We were told by Dante's mom, Sarah, that. he was getting contacted from North. Carolina and Kentucky. Their dream was that he was going to. make the NBA and make a good life for. himself. >> When I first met Dante, he was a. freshman here at Central High School. He. was 6'7. If you have that kind of size, you know, you can make a lot of things. happen. [music]. >> It just amazed me as a guy in class that. was so quiet, was just as as popular as. he was.

>> He was a really good role model for the. young kids [music] in the neighborhood. His attitude was always good. He was. good with his teammates. Uh he just. matured [music] into a very good. basketball player. >> His overall drive as a student, uh. [snorts] from day one, it wasn't up to. us enough. As a teacher, I tried to get. him involved with the rest of the class. I talked to him about that [music]. several times. >> Whether it was his grades or his skill, Dante didn't get into an NCAA school, but he wanted to continue to play. basketball.

Dante gets recruited to Northeastern. Junior College in Sterling, Colorado. He's playing basketball when he meets. Kelsey Shelling, and they begin dating. [laughter]. >> Kelsey and another one of our roommates. actually went to a basketball game and. were scouting out the cute boys on the. team, [music] saw Dante, and decided to. go up and talk. And that's how she and. Dante met. By the time [music] Kelsey. got to know him and really got kind of. involved, she felt proud that she knew. who he was because [music] he was. somebody to know. They spend a lot of. their extra free time together. >> When did you first meet him?

>> Um, I never met him. [music] I saw him. play basketball a couple times. >> Kelsey never really said anything about. bringing him home to meet the parents. >> He was not committed to her by any. means. >> Kelsey could have had anybody, but she. kind of always took attraction to people. that needed help that she thought she. could turn around. >> [music]. >> I believe that if Dante was, you know, failing or had bad grades that his. basketball career at [music] the school. would be definitely on pause. I don't.

honestly think that Dante really cared. to learn. [music] Elsie would try to. help him. He would just seem very. disinterested and not really care. >> I think she [music] just hoped if she. was good enough to him that, you know, he would realize that, you know, she's. the one. I think Kelsey stayed with Dante because. she found someone that gave her. attention even if it wasn't the right. kind of attention. And I think Dante was. with Kelsey because he got money from. Kelsey, borrowed Kelsey's car, [music]. basically lived a life that everyone. works for, but didn't have to do.

anything for it. Just had to be there. There were good days in the relationship. with Dante. And then it just went south. He would play with her heart. I could. definitely see some [music]. bubbliness. fading out as he broke her spirit. >> Kelsey texts Dante, "I'm really hurt. The way you talk about me to other. people is your true feelings. [music] I. guess I'm just a fool. I'm so. heartbroken." Days later, Dante would. respond, "My phone's been dead the past.

few days.". >> And then afterwards, she'd be like, "Oh, you know, like he's he's better. He's. going to be better." Um, and then she'd. be happy. >> Dante left Northeastern Junior College. because he was kind of [music] done with. his studies. >> After Kelsey leaves Northeastern Junior. College, she lands in California, but. she doesn't stay there long. Why did she. decide to leave? >> Mostly it was financial reasons. >> Where did she go from there? >> That's when she moved back to Colorado.

was living in Denver in her dad's. [music] apartment and she had started. working at Floor and Decor. >> When did she start going out with Dante. again? >> Over the holiday time frame, November, December, he would [music] stay with. her, but then he'd go back to PBLO. sometime. >> Were you worried that he would come back. and what that would do to her? >> Absolutely. I saw what it was like. before and I didn't want that to happen. to her again. She didn't want that to. happen to her again cuz she knew the.

kind of person that she became when she. was with him. And. >> how in the world did they get back. together? >> I don't know. Yeah, >> she missed him. I guess Kelsey has a. surprise for her family. She's pregnant. [music]. She called me when she found out she was. pregnant and she was stressed, you know, very stressed. I could tell she was. scared to tell me. just told her, "I. will support you. It's going to [music].

be okay." She was happy. >> Did she tell you anything about Dante's. reaction? >> She said he was mad. She and Dante would. be texting and he would stop responding. either during arguments that they were. having. She would then get upset. Wait. to hear back from [music] Dante and left. in limbo and it was very aggravating for. her. >> Kelsey text Dante, "You were my best. friend, the only thing I lived for day. after day. What happened to us? It. wasn't supposed to be like this. >> One time I talked to her and she'd say,

you know, he's kind of coming around and. Dante will never abandon the baby. >> But a child with Kelsey was not in. Dante's plans. >> Kelsey gets a text from Dante and he. says that he has [music] something for. her. He alludes to a surprise and he. wants her to come to PBLO.

>> [music]. >> Kelsey had come home. When she was here, she slept a lot. [music] I knew it was hard on her. working full-time in Denver. Now with a. new pregnancy, she was really tired. [music] I said, "I will support you. Whether Dante is in the picture or not. in the picture, it's going to be [music]. okay." She was happy. She wanted that.

baby. She wanted to be a mom. >> She was in a good [music] place. >> Yes. So, I'm thankful for those couple. of days that we got. before she went missing. >> My name is Zach Hilstrom. I am a. reporter at the PBLO Chieftain. I think. that people have been trying to fill in. the blanks about what happened to Kelsey. from the time that it happened and not. just when the mystery seemed like it. might be a permanent one. On February 3rd of 2013, Dante Lucas,

her boyfriend, was trying to convince. Kelsey [music] Shelling to come visit. him in PBLO that day. She responded with. a firm no. It seems like [music] they. fought a lot that night. Just before. 3:00 a.m., Kelsey texted Dante, [music]. "You don't have to be in a relationship. with me. You don't have to marry me. You. don't have to have a happy little family. with me. You don't have an obligation to. me. You're good. Don't worry. Good. night. Lucas's response to that was, "Oh, I know all of that. Thanks for. stating that for me.".

So, it was February 4th and Kelsey. [music] had taken three home pregnancy. tests. So, she went into the doctor and. had the doctor confirm to her that she. was actually pregnant. She got the. sonogram done. And she even had the. photo in hand of her sonogram. She was. able to share that with her mom. [music]. >> What did you think when you saw the. baby? >> I was happy. I knew that she was happy.

[music] She showed up to work probably. 10 minutes late. She just had her. ultrasound. She's really excited. She. was in a great mood that day. That morning, Kelsey told Dante that she. had finished her appointment and that. her [music] due date was September 13th. Lucas's response to that was, "Cool." He. asked her to skip work and come to PBLO. She texted him, "I'm not going to come. get you so we can fight all day." He. [music] texted back, "I don't want to. fight at all. I want to give you this.". She writes back, "Give me what?" [music].

He says, "Just wait and see for. yourself. You probably wouldn't believe. me if I told you anyway, so you can see. for yourself.". Kelsey decides to go down to PBLO after. work. >> She clocked out of work at a little bit. after 8:40 p.m. and hit the road to. Sudante and PBLO. >> So, Denver to PBLO drive right down I25. It's about 2 hours long.

It's just one [music] straight path. Not a lot of people are out on the. roads. It is a lonely, quiet drive. While she's driving down to Pueblo, Dante sends her a text [music] saying, "Let's meet at the Southside Walmart.". And she parks her car there. >> She texted him at 10:20 saying she'd. arrived [music] and he replied that he'd.

be there shortly. >> She's waiting. She's waiting and she's. getting impatient like any girlfriend. [music] would. >> At 11:10 p.m. he still hadn't shown up. to the Walmart. >> That's when Dante says, "Let's meet at. our spot, which is [snorts] in the. neighborhood of his [music]. grandmother's home, and that's where. Dante was staying at the time." She. moved her car there from the southside. Walmart. She was just parked on the side. of the road in this residential.

neighborhood. So then she's left waiting there again. and she's still impatiently texting him. >> The last confirmed message from Kelsey. was sent at 11:18 p.m. She was asking. Dante, "Where are you? I've been here. for over an hour just waiting.". The following day, the 5th, she didn't. show up for work. So I tried calling. her, couldn't get a response. So then I. shot her a text message asking her where.

she was, why she wasn't at work. Got a. text message back right away saying that. she was in the hospital having some. tests done and she said that she was not. having a baby anymore. It was growing in. the wrong place. >> I tried calling her on Wednesday. She. didn't answer her phone, which is kind. of pretty rare. And then I text her. I. said, "Hey, give me a call." I got a. text message back [music] said, "I'm not. feeling good. I'm on the couch. I'll. call you tomorrow.". I kept trying to call and she wouldn't. answer.

Toward the end of the week, it was going. directly to voicemail. So then the back. of my [music] mind, I'm starting to get. concerned. After Kelsey had driven to PBLO, there. was never a phone call that was answered. from her phone. [music]. >> Kelsey is not the type of person who. would like not talk to her friends. She. was glued to her phone. friends and. family would get text replies back, but. they said that it came in a voice that.

just didn't [music] quite sound like. Kelsey. It was just short, quick. responses. >> Generally, any text message I had from. Kelsey, words were spelled and there was. punctuation and they didn't have that. >> I got to looking at the text message. [music] and it's like, man, I don't. think that was her. >> Why didn't you think that was her? >> Just the verbiage in it and stuff. I. mean, it just didn't seem like, you. know, her texting me. >> Then on that Saturday morning,

it's like the whole world just. unraveled. All of her friends [music]. like started contacting us saying, you. know, we've been trying to reach Kelsey. and we can't reach her. I called Doug, her dad, and said, you [music] know, something is wrong. And so then we all drove up to Denver. that day. Went into the apartment. There was no. sign of her in the apartment. And [music] that's when we called the.

Denver police. >> Family members were visibly upset. They. were frantic actually almost feverishly. asking for any help they could get in. trying to locate her. >> Did you reach out to Dante? And I did. contact him to ask him, you know, if he. knew where she was. >> What did he sound like on the phone? Because the call that you're making to. him is Kelsey, the woman that you are. with, the mother of your child is. missing. We are desperate to find her.

>> Nothing. No. Not worked up, not, you. know, just. >> He's not scared. What can I do? How can. I help? >> No. He just says, "If I hear from her, I. I'll let you know." And then a little. bit later, he got back with me. He said, "I heard from Kelsey. She called from a. private number. She said she doesn't. have her phone." And she said, "She'll. be getting a hold of you.". >> Intimating that she's alive. She's out. there. >> And I said, "Well, can you track that. number?" And he's like, "Yeah, I'll try.

and figure out what the number was." And. then, of course, he never did. >> When this case first came in, I called. Dante. He was telling me that he had. seen her and had talked with her and. spent time with her more recently than. any of her family [music] members, any. of her friends. After I got off the. phone, I did have a sinking feeling in. my stomach. The following Friday, February 15th, that morning is when we drove down to. PBLO to turn the investigation over to. the PBLO Police Department.

right there, brother. We in the. beginning were trying not to call him a. suspect just to try to build a rapport. with him and try to sit down and get him. to open up. >> Can you kind of tell me just briefly. what what happened? >> Um, well, Tuesday morning, early Tuesday. morning, she had came down to Pablo. >> during the course of the interrogation. with Dante Lucas. He reveals some pretty. shocking things about Kelsey and about. the baby.

Now [music] to the mysterious. disappearance of a Denver woman. >> Pregnant woman who vanished. Kelsey. [music] was eight weeks pregnant. Last. seen in Pueblo visiting her boyfriend. Dante Lucas. >> So when do you start talking to Dante. Lucas? >> We start talking [music] to him fairly. quickly as far as what is going on? >> Have a chair right there. [music] Police. bring Dante in for questioning and. immediately he denies a romantic. relationship with Kelsey.

>> now. Is she your girlfriend or. >> No, we never were actually in a. relationship. >> Can you kind of tell me just briefly. what what happened? >> She came down to PBLO and we're talking. or whatever. You know, we ended up she. ended up, you know, didn't matter or. whatever. >> Dante tells officer Robinson that Kelsey. slept in her car in PBLO. He said that they met up again the. following morning and that he brought. Kelsey Shelling to Parkview Medical. Center where she went inside. >> So went to Park View.

>> and she went in say for about almost 2. hours 45 time too. >> We have no record of Kelsey Schilling. ever being here at Parkview Medical. Center. >> Now what do you check to find out if she. was here or not? >> We have a medical record system that. keeps track of every patient that's ever. walked through our doors. >> So for you, there was no way she's ever. here. >> That's correct. He alluded to the fact. that she may have had a miscarriage. >> She came home and she told me that she. wasn't pregnant. >> Just the day before in Denver, Kelsey's.

doctor told her that the baby was. healthy. >> So then after we left Park, >> Dante claimed that he and Kelsey then. went to the Southside Walmart. [music]. Kelsey was going to grab some snacks. before she made the drive back to. Denver. >> She went to go get uh some snacks, like. something to eat cuz we were hungry. and. then came back out. We end up talking. and she ended up telling me like you. have your car at Walmart and she didn't. want to take me home. So I just left. from Walmart, started walking home and. then my mom came and got me. >> But surveillance video from Walmart.

reveals a different version of events. >> He contends that the two [music] of them. are together and clearly based on the. surveillance, it's one person. It's him. getting out of the car and no [music]. one else exits. When the car was parked at Walmart on. February 5th, police believe [music]. that it was Dante Lucas parking that. car, getting out and walking away. They. have pretty good surveillance video. [music] showing it. >> The car sat there overnight.

The morning of February 6th, this. unknown man is seen walking to Kelsey. Shelling's car parked at the Southside. Walmart and is seen driving away with. the car. We have no idea who that person. was [music] in that video. >> It's a car that that person is familiar. with and we know earlier that Dante had. the key. >> Who do you think that someone was that. came back and drove that car away? You. know, there's similarities to Dante, but.

it's nothing that we can want to say. that as the person who drove it away. >> When Dante Lucas talked with police, he. didn't paint the best picture of Kelsey. He painted a picture of, you know, just. that she was kind of troubled. >> She had like bad [music] anxiety. She. has anxiety attack. So, she had pills. for that. >> Okay. Tell me about that. >> She's [music] told me before that like. she's ended up in like the hospital a. few times for like overdosing. >> [music]. >> Dante cast her to police as someone who.

had troubles with drugs. >> No. >> No, >> I don't believe [music] that. No. >> Um, she just one time she told me about. the suicide, but she told me she ended. up in the hospital like multiple times. >> When she was 15 years old, she did. So, yes, she has had that in her past. But. if she committed suicide, [music] you. would find her body. I mean, she was. happy. She wanted that baby. She wanted. to be a mom.

>> So, at this point, [music] Kelsey has. been missing for more than a week. But. on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2013, her car is discovered. >> The car of a missing Denver woman has. been found [music] in PBlo. >> Detectives will be examining Kelsey's. car. It was big news when Kelsey's car. was found at St. Mary Corwin Medical. Center. How did it get [music] there? What happened to Kelsey? I knew once her car was found that. something horrible had happened because. there's just no way that she would have.

gone somewhere [music] and left her car. >> We find the car and no Kelsey. >> And no Kelsey. [music] We did not have. any good security footage that could. tell us who dropped off the car, how the. car got there. Normally, if someone was. going to go away for a few days, they. take their car with them. So, [music] we. are now leaning towards foul play. So, we accelerate the case. >> Police start working backwards. They. start going through [music] surveillance. video and what they find is pretty. surprising. Less than 12 hours [music].

after she would have arrived in PBLO, surveillance video shows Dante in her. car [music] at an ATM in PBLO, he's. driving and he takes $400 out of. Kelsey's bank account. But. >> is it suspicious for you that he uses. that card after the date where you. pinpoint Kelsey was missing? >> It is part of the suspicious activity. Yes. Because Dante withdraws money from. Kelsey's account without her in the car. [music] Dante is brought in for a second. time by Pueblo police. >> Cuz this is the second time I talked to. you from.

>> these detectives had a wealth of. information to go at him. >> Where'd you get the money? [music]. >> The money? >> Mhm. Know what money? >> 11:39 at the bank. [music]. You're on video, dude. In her car with. her credit card. You're on tape. Oh, the 400 that you're. talking about. >> This is for my phone bill. >> Why didn't she go with you to the AT? It's not in the car. It's on the video. >> Um,

[music]. it may have been while she was over the. hospital. Honestly, I'm not sure about. the like I said, like my time frame has. been messed up. >> The detective moves on to another topic, [music] talking about why there's no. record of Kelsey ever showing up at the. hospital. >> There's no record of her ever being at. Park. That's. so that's like all I have to say. >> Now, here's the thing. Instead of. pressing Dante on these contradictions, [music]. they move on to an unrelated topic. >> When you dropped her off when she.

dropped you off at Walmart, where were. you parked at? >> I mean, like, apparently you guys know, so like I don't understand why you like. I told him one time. Like I don't that's. all I can say about it. >> She dropped off. When was that again? >> Can I speak to a lawyer, please? So she. does keep asking the same question over. and over and like. speak to a lawyer. >> Once he requests a lawyer, all questions. come to a halt. >> Unfortunately, this is a very poorly.

executed interview. I think it's a. tremendous missed opportunity. >> Once he shut down, our avenues of trying. to talk to him end. >> How did you read that? as the. possibility that he knows something. [music]. >> Dante Lucas was arrested on February. 15th. They don't arrest him on murder. charges. [music] He was arrested on. felony identity theft charges for using. Kelsey's debit card at the bank that. day. But those charges were later. dropped when investigators found out.

that Kelsey did on occasion [music]. give him permission to use her bank. card. How do you prove she did not or. did give him permission at that time? And since you had permission to do it. before, it makes it a very difficult. case to [music] prosecute. >> He's released. He's, you know, living. his life. >> Do we suspect [music] foul play? Yes. Have we come up with a body? No. Dante. is a person of interest in the fact that. she's missing. >> Hoping to get Dante to talk, police.

bring in the person who knows him better. than anyone. Mysterious. [music] disappearance in the. disappearance of Kelsey Shell. Missing. pregnant woman and her unborn [music]. baby. >> World. >> As journalists, these are the stories. that keep us up at night. This was a. story that I spent four years [music]. working on and reporting on.

no answers. >> I wanted so badly for there to [music]. be justice in this case. >> Even though Kelsey's car was found in. PBLO, Kelsey hadn't been found, police, you know, maintained at that. time that it was a missing person's. case. >> When the charges of identity theft are. dropped in March [music] of 2013, police. can't get Dante to talk again. You have.

a chair right there. I'll grab you one. and we'll be back in a second. >> So, they take a different tact. They. decide to speak to his mother, Sarah. Lucas. >> I would love to clear Dante and move on. If Dante would come in, do a polygraph. We ask him like five questions. If he. passes out, we can move on and look. other directions. >> I will relay that to his lawyer. And I. know my son wants nothing more than to. find out what happened to her.

Detectives ask her about February 5th. [music] That's the day that Dante was. seen on surveillance camera parking. Kelsey's car at Walmart. >> Did you in fact pick Dante up? >> I did pick my son up. >> At that time, did you see Kelsey? Was. she with him or. >> No. Um, she wasn't with him there. >> Do you know where she was? can't ask. >> Sarah gives Dante an alibi for his. whereabouts on February 6th when that. unknown man is seen moving Kelsey's car. from the Walmart.

>> On the 6th, Dante or somebody that looked remarkably. similar to Dante. I'm not going to say. 100% it was him, but went back and. picked it up. >> There's no way that was him. There was no way he was at home. I know. my son. and he's not capable of hurting anybody. >> But it's been 3 years since this case. happened. No one's been charged.

>> That's right. You have inconsistencies, lies, but [music] without a body or any. direct evidence that tells us something. happened to her [music] to a homicide. You know, it may happen one day, but. [music] right now it's, you know, we. haven't had any evidence to reclassify. it. You look at the PBLO Police [music]. Department, they probably didn't have as. many resources and her family quickly. became frustrated with how [music] this.

investigation was progressing or kind of. the lack thereof of any progress. Kelsey's still not a victim [music]. according to them. There's not been a. criminal act committed. According to. them, we just [music] want an effective. investigation done into Kelsey's. disappearance. >> Her family is pleading for your help. >> We are doing everything in our power to. find our missing loved one. >> We tried to push PBLO police for. answers. [music] We were there for every. press conference, every event. We just.

weren't getting any new information from. them at all. And to me, that was so. frustrating. >> The investigation really isn't being. handled properly. Laura Saxton always been a fierce. advocate [music] for her daughter and I. don't think she'll rest until Kelsey is. found. >> Many in PBLO are not giving up on. finding clues that could help find. Kelsey Shelling. >> Why do you think people feel so strongly. about Kelsey's case? >> You know, they can't believe it. You.

know, they try and imagine what if it. was their child. >> [music]. >> We're going to break up again over here. >> In May of that year when she went. missing, [music] they started doing. their own searches. They didn't think. police were looking hard enough. >> The whole community was rallying. [music]. There were so many searches for her body. all over the city of PBLO. >> And this is probably one of the largest. groups we've had in a while [music]. um after 3 years. That's um that means a.

lot. So, thank you. Come on, kid. >> People were scattering just looking. [music] for any shred of evidence. >> It's becoming harder to come to come. back. Um I I dread [music] 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. And they never found anything on. those searches. [music].

Then those searches turned into. anniversaries. >> Kelsey Shelling disappeared [music] four. years ago this month. >> Kelsey's mother believes police are now. closer than ever to finding her. >> That turned into justice walks. >> What do we want? >> Justice. >> around the PBLO Police Department and. the District Attorney's Office. >> We appreciate you all so much. Your. support keeps us going. >> to put pressure on our [music] system to. do something here. >> We're going to keep going. We're going. to keep coming up with ideas. I mean, we're we're trying everything.

>> Kelsey's family offers a $50,000 reward. for information. >> So, you feel like you're doing. everything you can even to this day to. find out what happened [music] with. Kelsey? >> Yes. There is no lead. We don't follow. up. We We followed up leaves leads from. psychics that call [music] in. Well, they've had a vision on where Kelsey is. and we followed up those leads. In an effort [music] to get some more. information, hopefully some tips and. leads in the case, Kelsey's family also. set up [music] a Facebook page, helped. find Kelsey. It was one source or one.

place where people could come together. to generate information, [music]. maybe from even people that didn't want. to call police. >> You get a Facebook message. It was from. a woman saying, "If I have information. about Kelsey, [music] can I remain. anonymous?". It's so awful. He sold her into sex. [music] trafficking. I almost feel like. I went insane. What if? What if? What if.

she is still out there somewhere? >> We were on the ground to investigate and. I couldn't believe what happened. >> Right when they're at the trunk. Get. ready. It's Ryan Smith, ABC News. I want to leave you better. I want. [music] my life to matter. I am afraid I.

have no purpose. here. >> They were meeting in a parking lot. Dante [music] sends her a text saying, "Let's meet at the Southside Walmart.". And she parks her car there. >> The car sat there overnight. >> This unknown man is seen walking to. Kelsey Shelling's [music] car and is. seen driving away with the car. >> And Kelsey's just gone. >> Kelsey had taken three home pregnancy.

tests. >> Now, is she your girlfriend or No, we. never were actually in a relationship. The lead suspect stops talking. >> Can I speak to a lawyer, please? >> It's a dead end. >> These are the stories that [music] keep. us up at night. >> But an undercover volunteer befriends. him. >> I had to play the role that I didn't. know what was happening. So, I was like, "Oh my gosh, what's going on? Like, what. is [music] happening?". >> Okay, they're both rolling now. >> There's a sting operation. >> Right when they're at the trunk. Get. ready. We're about 10 seconds away.

[music]. >> Marcus Ryan Smith, ABC News. How you. doing? I know that my testimony could. potentially help [music] take him down. >> The anxiety level was high. The tension. was high. >> The witness in the Dante [music] Lucas. trial. >> was found shot to death. Another moment. where your jaw hit the floor. >> When [music] they came and told us the. verdict was in, we all were just like, "Oh my god, >> her mother simply won't give up on. finding Kelsey.

>> [music]. >> Yeah. [music]. [music]. For nearly 2 years, Laura Saxton had. been on a desperate search for answers. about her daughter, Kelsey, who suddenly. disappeared in February of 2013. There. will be a renewed search for clues in. the case of Kelsey Shelling.

>> Just through seeing Laura Saxton, the. the tears, the sadness, the frustration, it all came, you know, rolling out. >> Many in PBLO are not giving up on. finding clues that could help find. [music] Kelsey Shelling. >> The relentlessness of this mother's. search really struck a chord with so. many people in PBLO. Scores of locals. turned out to help Laura search all. around the PBLO area for any trace of. Kelsey. over here on this other hike in. two more groups. >> The ride home is always really tough.

Going home empty-handed emotionally and. physically. >> Is it hard to keep hope. >> as far as the hope of actually finding. her? That dwindles, you know, every day. >> But then in October of 2015, nearly. [music] 2 years after Kelsey's. disappearance, there's a shocking. development. A mysterious message giving. Lara hope comes through the help find. Kelsey Facebook page. That's the page. that Lara had set up to gather tips and. leads on the case. >> It was saying if I [music] have.

information. about Kelsey, can I remain anonymous? >> When Laura responds, a man emails her. saying, "Ma'am, please. Your daughter is. not dead. She will be back home alive.". The man offers a harrowing account of. what really [music] happened to Kelsey. He claims that Dante hired a friend to. kill her and says Dante has [music] no. idea she is alive. He thinks she is. dead. >> And that the [music] friend did not kill.

her. He sold her into sex trafficking. It made me sick. I mean, I I could. barely function. What if [music] she is still out there. somewhere? The emailer says he needs. money to help Kelsey escape. $50,000 in. cash. So, the plan is this. The money is to be. brought to Vancouver, Washington, specifically to a local McDonald's. restaurant. Then, it's to be handd. delivered to a guy named Marcus who.

would be wearing a red hat. Once [music]. the money was exchanged, then this. courier person would go and get Kelsey. [music] and bring her back to the. McDonald's. I'll have to sell some. stocks, which will take about a week, but I can push to expedite that process. I just thought, what if she's [music]. been out there. and and I could have found her and and. we haven't. I mean, it was just what if?

>> [music]. >> What if? >> Lara sets up the meeting at the. McDonald's in Vancouver to deliver the. cash. But even though she's desperate. for [music] answers, she's worried that. something criminal is going on. So, she. reaches out to the Vancouver police and. asks them to go undercover to meet this. [music] courier. >> It felt like law enforcement from. Vancouver should have been involved in. the situation. But just before the. appointed time, the Vancouver police. back out, [music] believing it to be an. internet scam and not an actual human.

trafficking plot. But 2020 had the. McDonald's under surveillance to see if. anyone would show up. Our cameras are. rolling as a man with a red hat comes. in. >> That's him. >> He sits quietly, but after no one shows up, he takes off. >> Okay, move. Cut the engine. [music]. >> Weird. eerie to see that they actually. were, you know, going through with this. >> He's gone. [music]. >> It was just all a matter of trying to. get down to the truth of this.

>> As I was investigating this mysterious. email, a contact of mine told me about. another missing woman's case that proved. to be the key to unraveling this. mystery. In Portsmouth, Ohio, 1,200 miles away. from Colorado, Megan Lancaster, [music]. 25 years old, has also suddenly. disappeared. >> Katie Lancaster is on a mission to help. find her sister-in-law. I mean, she's gone without a trace. We. have her car and her wallet.

>> An eerie feeling like there's something. like we're going to find something. >> Months go by with no developments. Megan's family organizes searches and. sets up a Facebook page to publicize the. case. And then out of nowhere, he pops up. >> A startling [music] message comes. through the family's Facebook page about. Megan. >> He says, "I know where Megan is, [music]. and I can get her back.". >> Just like with Kelsey's family, the. emailer says he can help Megan escape,

but he needs money, $50,000. He directs them to bring 25,000 in cash. upfront to Vancouver, Washington, specifically to that same McDonald's, and deliver it to a man named Marcus. wearing, no surprise, a red [music] hat. >> What if he really does have her and I. can bring her home? >> You should stick with the crew. behind. the camera with the crew. >> to unravel just what's going on with. this mystery. Katie agreed to work with.

2020 to set up a sting operation. >> Katie and I are going to be in one. vehicle. >> Just like Laura did two weeks earlier. She arranges a meeting to drop off the. money in Vancouver at that McDonald's. >> There are booths over here. >> Katie, you said this morning that they. sent you a text message. >> They will be sending Marcus. [music]. >> Okay, they're both rolling now. I would. be going to this rendevous with Katie, but wearing a hidden camera. [music]. As we walk into the McDonald's at the.

appointed me time, we quickly spot. Marcus, the man in the red hat, and walk. over to him. Katie was instructed not to. ask any questions. So, I told Marcus, "Hey, the money is in the trunk of a car. parked outside.". >> Right when they're at the trunk, get. ready. We're about 10 seconds away. Meanwhile, I was waiting outside with. our camera team and a security guard in. case this thing went sideways. Okay, let's get ready. >> As they head out to the parking lot. before the trunk is open, I walk over to. Marcus. I want [music] to get some. answers. Marcus Ryan Smith, ABC News.

How you doing? >> Pretty good. >> Good. Why'd you come here? To take. $25,000 from Katie? >> Uh, I don't know. >> You don't know why you're here to take. $25,000 from Katie? >> Nope. >> What are you here for? Oh, cuz to. collect some money. >> You see, Marcus claims he was suckered, too. Lured online into a supposed. jewelry venture. He says he was supposed. to pick up the money and then wire it to. someone he's never met. So, a random guy. tells you to go to a McDonald's twice in. less than two weeks to meet people to.

pick up money. And you don't think. anything of it? >> I didn't think none of it. >> We were told that you were going to. deliver Megan to Katie today. Is that. true? >> I have no idea about no Megan or no. kidnapping or anything like that. This. would be a scheme to extort money from. families who have family members that. are missing. >> I didn't know nothing of this. >> I had no clue anybody was supposed to be. exchanging nothing for a human being. If. I did know, I would not have been. involved in this situation. >> So, you've been here twice and coming to.

pick up money out of McDonald's. >> Your name is attached to this. I. >> just feel [music] shaky inside. >> I had no clue. It's important that you. be real honest with you. >> Yeah, I'm real honest. >> You have never heard of Kelsey Shelly. >> Never. >> Definitely [music] a big scam. >> I want to know who's behind it. >> But an FBI analysis of the emailer's. Facebook page [music] showed it used an. IP address traced all the way to Russia.

>> In most [music] scams, they're. compartmentalized. So, the person you. may send to pick up the cash at a. particular location may [music] know. nothing about what the scam is. then. that's just 100% [music] clarification. that, you know, this is just some dirt. bags out there, [music] you know, trying. to get money off of these poor families. [music]. >> But while the extortion plot that was. torturing Lara was laid to rest, the. roller coaster ride wasn't over. A.

sympathetic stranger who feels for Lara. comes up with a shocking plan to go. undercover on her own and befriend Dante. to try to find the truth about what. happened to Kelsey. >> I knew that I was potentially putting. myself into danger. >> Dante Lucas. >> And when we go to get some answers from. Dante, she was right there with him. >> What do you have to say to her family? >> [music]. >> Even though Laura Saxton lives hundreds. of miles away from Pueblo, Colorado, the. news about her yearslong crusade to find.

her missing daughter [music] continued. to resonate with folks living there. >> Our top story tonight, the search for. Kelsey Shelling. Today, law enforcement. following new leads in the case. >> We're going to keep coming up with. ideas. I mean, we're we're trying. everything. >> I felt really heartbroken for her. As a. mom, I couldn't even begin to fathom. [music] knowing that your child's out. there. >> It's spring of 2016 when Lauren Shore, a.

single mom living near PBLO, says Lara's. story inspired her to hatch an audacious. plan of her own. make Facebook friends. with Dante Lucas, gain his trust, and. meet up with him in real life, and just. maybe help solve the mystery of what. [music] happened to Kelsey. >> Definitely was nerve-wracking, but I. felt like I could do it. So, I messaged. him on Facebook and I told him that I. was looking to meet new friends. He.

responded fairly quickly within, I say, a couple of hours. Lauren was eventually able to get Dante. to meet her in person. When we shot this footage of Dante. playing basketball in 2016, Lauren was. there with him. She says it was only the. second time they'd ever met. >> We had went to a basketball court to. [music] just play around, shoot some. hoops, and that's when a man with a. camera came up to us.

>> Dante Lucas, I'm with ABC News 2020. The. family of Kelsey says you're responsible. for her disappearance. Is that true? >> Who is Kelsey? >> I freaked [music] out. I had to play the. role that I didn't know what was. happening. So, I was like, "Oh my gosh, what's going on? Like, what is. happening? What the is happening right. now?". >> And he kind of just shut down and was. like, "I'll tell you about it later on. Don't freak out. It's okay. None of this. is true.

As the weeks go by, Lauren says she's. able to develop a close relationship. with Dante. [music] We. >> just hang around the family, watch. movies, drink a little bit. He always. smelts of alcohol. He comes off as very. cocky. I feel like he feels like he's. just the man [music] and he's just he. can't do no wrong. Just as she'd. planned, Lauren says she got Dante to. open up, to trust her enough, the time.

finally seemed right to ask him about. Kelsey. >> There was only a certain [music] amount. of period of time that he would talk. about it. One minute he had no. involvement. He had nothing to do with. it and then he would just shut down and. [music] start crying hysterically and. get really upset. >> But Lauren says something very. unexpected happened with Dante. her. undercover relationship with him. blossomed into romance. [snorts]. >> I felt like he did genuinely develop.

feelings for me and did genuinely fall. in love with me. He has this way about. him that makes you just feel so sorry. for him. In the back of my mind, I. always kept that he is potentially a. murderer. Lawrence says her relationship with. Dante continued for about a year, but. then something happened. There was an. incident outside his house that made her. realize she [music] was in way over her. head. >> He's like, "I want you to marry me." And. he showed me the ring. I took the. [music] ring. At that point, I was kind.

of like done cuz I didn't want to get in. any deeper than I had already gotten. into. >> Despite all the efforts of this. clandestine girlfriend, [music]. her work doesn't seem to be paying off. And the clock just keeps ticking for. Laura Saxton. She's not any closer to. knowing the truth about what happened to. Kelsey. I wasn't happy at all with how. things were going. And I mean, that's. one big reason why I wanted to do the. first story with you guys was I was.

hoping that that would somehow bring. something out into the light. >> Tonight [music] on 2020, when do you stop looking for a pregnant. daughter who's vanished? In May of 2016, our first 2020 program on the Kelsey. Shelling case hits the [music] airwaves. The very day of our broadcast, there's a. big announcement regarding the. investigation into Kelsey's. disappearance. The Colorado Bureau of. Investigation was going to join the.

case. >> That was news to me. So, I was kind of. like, "Oh my god, this is awesome.". >> I think once that 2020 special aired, it. really turned up the heat on PBLO police. and on this case. >> [music]. >> Taking over the case, PBLO Police. Department Commander Eric Bravo and CBI. [music] agent Kevin Torres. Working. together, they move fast, turning it. from a missing person's case [music]. into a full-blown criminal. investigation. >> It was a homicide investigation in our. eyes. So, I immediately started working.

on setting a plan into motion how we. wanted to proceed. >> Police got a tip that led them to. believe Shelling's body might be in. Dante's backyard. It's not long before. police dig up the yard of the house. where Dante and his family have been. staying. >> So, we thought, man, you know, we really. have something. Uh, but it went from. elation to to satisfaction. You know, that day it just seemed like we were. there and and then it slipped away. >> During the investigation, agent Torres. finds out about Dante's relationship.

with Lawrence Shore. When he interviews. Shore, she reveals that Dante had made a. key admission to her about Kelsey's. disappearance. And it's about that. Walmart surveillance video of [music]. the mystery man walking over to her car. and then driving off with it. >> She confirmed for us Dante admitting it. was him in the Walmart surveillance. video. She also informed us that Dante. admitted to her dropping Kelsey's car. off at St. Mary Corman Hospital. The. piece of information that Lauren. provided to us was a pretty crucial.

piece at that point. Then in late 2017, there's a huge development that will. totally transform the case. A [music]. PBLO man tells police that Dante and. other family members had attacked him in. front of their home and stolen [music]. a,000 bucks from him. Now, that gives. police a reason to arrest Dante. >> I had information that Dante was leaving. PBLO and was heading to DIA where he. seemingly intended [music] to board a. flight to Tucson. And the concern was. that he may take other efforts to meet.

friends in Mexico. [music]. >> Boy, the anxiety level was high. The. tension was high. >> The time was ticking away and the tires. were turning on the road. And Dante was. within 20 minutes of getting on a plane. for Tucson, Arizona when he was. arrested. >> When he was arrested, there was hope. across the community that maybe [music]. investigators would finally get some. answers in this case. We decided that. the next day would be the day that we. would send a couple detectives [music]. back in to try and answer some of the.

questions that we didn't have answered. >> During his interrogation, Dante finally. breaks down and comes clean, confirming. Lauren Shore's account that he was the. one seen in that Walmart video. [music]. >> So, that information that he confirmed. that that was him was huge. You see, it was that admission combined. with the wealth of evidence from text. messages, cell phone [music] records, and surveillance video already gathered. All of that was enough for prosecutors. to move forward. >> At the end of the day, I said, I think. we have enough here to go forward. I. ethically believe that Dante Lucas.

killed Kelsey Schilling, and I think we. have the evidence to prove it. >> A major development. The ex-boyfriend of. a pregnant Denver woman who went missing. four years ago. He now faces charges of. firstdegree murder. How are you thinking. as his trial approached? [music] Are you. thinking justice will be done? >> I put a lot of things on hold because I. just was, you know, sure it was going to. happen and, you know, wanted to be ready. to go. >> So, after [music] 8 years, Dante Lucas.

is finally in court and the prosecution. has a surprise witness. >> That just took the whole room's breath. away. No one saw that coming. >> [music]. >> This story became such a big deal here. in PBLO because people want answers and. they haven't gotten any for 8 years. >> Dante Lucas, [music] the PBLO man. accused of murdering his pregnant. ex-girlfriend Kelsey Shelling nearly 8.

years ago is headed to trial tomorrow. >> Did I think it was going to be a tough. case? Absolutely. and we will may not. win it, but I owe it to the family. I. think I owe it to Kelsey to go forward. and try this case. [music]. >> Kio News Channel 13's Dan Bey has been. following this case and the trial for. more than 2 years. >> I was anticipating there to just [music]. be a mad rush of reporters who were. going to try to get into the courtroom. I was very worried that I might not even.

get a seat. You could feel the. anticipation. when I saw Laura Saxton walk into the. judicial building. You could tell this. was a day she's been waiting for for a. long time. >> Denver 7's Liz Gelardi in PBLO today for. opening statements. Liz, you have been. with this case every step of the way now. for all these years. >> The prosecution simply started out and. they said, "This is not a missing. person's case. This is a homicide case.

The case that the prosecution was making. right off the jump was one, they were. going to prove through text messages and. surveillance video that Dante Lucas has. to be the one responsible for Kelsey. Shelling's death. >> These were two people in a relationship. Kelsey Shelling became pregnant. Dante. Lucas didn't want to have a baby. and [music] he made sure that didn't. happen. I know that she had [music] mentioned.

Kelsey Shelling Chevy Cruz. >> The prosecution said this car tells a. story and they told the jurors that you. will see Dante Lucas moving this car. around Pueblo in the days after she went. missing. >> The idea that someone can essentially. disappear without a trace, I think is. kind of a counterintuitive thought for. people to have. Prosecutors think there's enough. evidence to convict Lucas even without a. body, but the defense disagrees.

In the opening statements, the defense. said, "This is a missing person's case.". This has always [music] been a missing. person's case. They said, "There's no. body. There's no evidence. Why should. you believe that Dante Lucas killed. her?". >> They do not have a crime scene. [music]. They do not have a murder weapon. Today, the jury got a detailed look at. some of the text messages exchanged. between them. >> For the prosecutors, their goal was to. show that those text messages showed.

intent, showed that Dante Lucas. consistently lied not only to. investigators, but to Laura Saxton. herself. >> What they refer to as his luring of of. Kelsey Shelling to Pueblo. >> The prosecution say that he lured her. there to end her life. We know that. that's his phone. He admitted [music] to. those text messages. We know that that's. his thoughts and feelings about it. That's direct evidence. >> And the movements of their phones as. well as they were pinging off cell phone.

towers in PBLO on the night of February. 4th and the early morning hours of. February 5th. I think that a lot of the. case really centered around those. movements. >> Two pivotal witnesses testified to the. high-profile PBLO murder case against. Dante [music] Lucas. >> First witness was Laura Saxton. And we. were not expecting Laura Saxon to be the. first one to take the stand. She didn't. break down, but you can tell she's. hurting. There's a lot of pain behind. her voice. >> I think that was really powerful uh for. the jury to see. Her mom spoke to the. fact that she absolutely wanted this.

baby. >> Prosecutors today painted Kelsey. Shelling as an excited mother to be. desperate to make it work with her. boyfriend. It didn't take long for the. prosecutors to swing for the fences, calling some pretty shocking witnesses. to the stand. >> Ryan Rivera is a former PBlo County. inmate. who considered himself to be a friend of. Dante Lewis. And when he took the stand, he said that Dante Lucas told him that.

they're never going to find Kelsey. Shelling's [music] body. That just took the whole room's breath. away. Ryan Rivera, he was the only person who. came forward over the duration of this. trial that really said Dante told me he. did this. >> I wasn't in the courtroom. But while. Jailhouse snitch on its [music] face is. just not credible. I mean, that's the. assumption that we believe jurors have. and it's the assumption we have as. defense lawyers. Why would this person.

do it? What's the benefit? What's the. motive? There was no deals made about. charges he would get to plead to, time. he would get to serve. There was no. deals like that. >> There were a lot of names on the. prosecutor's list that I was shocked by, but Sarah Lucas certainly topped that. list. >> When you saw that Sarah Lucas [music]. was on the prosecution side, everyone. wondered, what is she going to say? The. one important thing that I've kind of. mentioned, she confirmed that Dante was.

the last person left alone with Kelsey. >> The prosecution painted a picture of a. troubled relationship. >> Some of Kelsey's close friends. testified. They pointed toward [music]. elements of domestic abuse in Kelsey and. Dante's relationship. Something worth pointing out was the. prosecution and even the defense made it. clear that Dante was using Kelsey for a. number of things. For her money. Dante.

used Kelsey for her apartment in Denver. [music] And Dante used Kelsey for her. car. And his argument was, "She lets me. do it.". The defense pushed the narrative that. Kelsey Shelling popped pills, was an. addict, that Kelsey, when she left Dante. Lucas at the Southside Walmart here in. PBLO, that she was going to meet up with. a drug dealer. >> There's no single person other than the. defendant in 2017 who's saying that she.

was into drugs and that she was a party. girl. >> You didn't have the forensic evidence. It seemed like you were really relying. on circumstantial evidence and the. evidence of snitches and these other. witnesses. That's pretty. straightforward. Either you believe them. or you don't. The witness list yields more surprises. [music]. The ones who make it to court. >> I know that my testimony could. potentially [music] help take him down. >> and the ones who didn't.

>> Witness 31-year-old Roxanne [music]. Martinez was found shot to death. That. was a completely unforeseen development. in this case. >> Breaking on Denver 7, a key witness. [music] in the Kelsey Shelling murder. trial found dead. >> That witness, 31-year-old Roxanne. Martinez, was found shot to death in. Denver last week. >> These are still very [music] stunning. developments. >> Roxan Martinez, a witness for the.

prosecution. He [music] was set to. testify soon. That was just an. absolutely completely unforeseen uh. development in this case. People were. reeling when that news broke. >> Denver police officers were called to a. residential area in southeast Denver on. a report of an unresponsive female who. was lying in the roadway. We determined. that that individual had been shot one. time and died from that injury. Her dad. is in shock, her mom, her stepmom. It. it's just. >> tragic all the way around. I think when.

a witness in any major case turns up. dead directly before they're set to. testify, [music]. I think of course people are going to. think, was she killed because she was. going to testify? [music]. Denver police arrested a suspect in. Martinez's killing, 29year-old Emanuel. Chandler. Chandler has been charged with. first-degree murder, but he hasn't. entered a plea yet. >> We don't have any connection between Mr. Chandler and Mr. Lucas or anybody. associated with that trial. Our concern.

was to make sure that people understood. that while she was an endorsed witness, I I couldn't comment on her testimony. >> Nobody knows what Roxan Martinez was. going to say on the stand for sure, with. the exception of maybe the investigators. who talked to her. >> But while prosecutors say they can't. discuss what Roxan Martinez would have. said on the stand, 2020 has uncovered. some revealing details about her. You. see, back in March of 2016, a woman. named Roxanne had reached out to Laura.

Saxton through that Help Find Kelsey. Facebook page. [music]. Roxan messaged that she used to date the. guy Kelsey was pregnant with, [music]. and he told me what had happened and. started crying. >> I'm instantly like mixed emotions, like, okay, are you going [music] for the. reward or, you know, are are you for. real? When Laura [music] asked, "Do you. know where Kelsey is located?" Roxanne. replied, "He told me everything." "Yes, I do.". >> Basically, her information sounded.

[music]. very good and very promising, and so we. really wanted to meet with her. >> This mysterious woman agreed to meet. Laura and her husband at a Mexican. restaurant in Denver. >> We were actually [music] on our way. there, and I tried to reach her by phone. to let her know we were coming. >> [music]. >> She said that she was in the hospital. and couldn't meet us. That was kind of. [music] the extent of what I really. remember. And then, you know, past that, then, you know, that was all turned over.

to law enforcement to look [music] into. further. >> Authorities say that woman was the same. Roxan who was killed during the trial. >> I can [music] confirm that CBI followed. up and interviewed her, that we did have. her as an endorsed witness, that we. wanted to [music] testify during trial. The thing that I'm steering clear from. is I don't um I just don't want to talk. about evidence that wasn't actually. admitted during trial. >> Martinez's killing shakes up the trial. and threatens to overshadow the.

testimony of another prosecution witness. who had a remarkable story to [music]. tell. It's none other than Lauren Shore, that woman who befriended Dante as part. of a plan to try to find out what. happened to Kelsey. I know that my. testimony. could potentially help take him down, and that was realistically why I wanted. to testify. [snorts]. Shore testifies about Dante's critical. admission tour, [music] that he was the. mysterious figure seen picking up. Kelsey's car after it sat overnight in a.

Walmart parking lot. >> I said, "So that must have meant that. you had dropped the car off at the. hospital, correct?" And that's [music]. when he said yes. that he that was him. that dropped the car off. >> When the defense cross-examined Shaw, they attack her credibility and her. motives, at one point, characterizing. her as a sex informant because she had a. physical relationship with Dante. It's. fair game. And if you're going to put. yourself out there like she did and. sleep with someone, the jury ought to.

know about that. You're having intimate. conversations and that cast a lot of. suspicion on her as a witness. The sex. informant part really bothered me. because I wasn't having sex with Dante. to get answers out of him. I was playing. my part and role as girlfriend. So to me. to be called such was really. really degrading. [music]. >> On the very last day of its case, the. prosecution played an interrogation.

video of Dante confirming Shore's. account. The clip that I played at the. beginning of my closing was his phrase. to detectives. I lied from the jump. I. moved the car. [music]. I wanted the jury to hear the defendant. in his own words say, "I lied.". When it's the defense's turn to present. its case, they raise a lot of eyebrows. in court. >> The defense didn't call a single [music].

witness to the stand. The defense. immediately rested their case and it was. just another moment where your jaw hit. the floor. >> The burden of proof is on the. government. It's simply [music]. messaging in a very strong way to the. jury. They haven't done it. It's not. guilty. So, it's a strong message. >> There was just really not a lot of hard. forensic evidence to go off of. So, as. far as, you know, what evidence they. they put forth the court that was.

irrefutable that that Dante Lucas killed. Kelsey Shelling, I never saw that. >> After a shocking final day of the trial, the jury was going to deliberate and I. had no idea was going to happen [music]. at that point. >> I think everybody was just like. holding their breath. Prosecution and defense have given. closing arguments. The jury is now.

deliberating. >> Well, on that last day of the trial, no. one expected to get a verdict that day. >> So, now the waiting begins. >> Yes. And I was prepared to camp out at. the courthouse as long as I had to. I. really thought I would be there all. week. And we're really totally. unprepared for when they came and told. us the verdict was in. I think we were. we all were just like, "Oh my god.". >> I mean, it was shocking how quickly. [music] they arrived at their decision,

especially given just the amount of. information they had to look at. >> Uh, I can tell you because the decision. came back so early, all of our. experience as prosecutors, is that this. was probably an acquitt because juries. tend to come to decisions [music]. more quickly on acquittions. >> It was like standing on the precipice of. a cliff and looking down. It It was. scary. It was a very tense atmosphere in the. courthouse while everyone was waiting to. hear what the verdict was. >> Even I was nervous and I'm not.

affiliated with Kelsey Shelling's family. at all. >> People were wondering, does that mean. Dante Lucas is going to [music] walk? >> I think everybody was just like holding. their breath almost. >> And then when you hear the verdict, tell. me how you're feeling. Well, the words. came out way [music] too slow. Like, I. feel like the judge was talking in. slow-mo even though he wasn't. I mean, I. was just [music] like every word it's. like, "Okay, okay, spit it out, please.".

Um, and then he finally got to, [music]. you know, guilty of first degree. And. I think that was the first breath like I. had taken [music] in a long time. >> This is a guilty verdict, eight years in. the making. And even though Kelsey. Shelling's body has never been found, [music] the jury clearly felt there was. enough evidence to convict the man her. family has always suspected from the. very beginning. [music].

I want to live you better. I want my. life to matter. I am afraid. >> It took the jury less than 3 hours to. find Dante Lucas guilty of first-degree. murder. He was sentenced to life in. prison without parole. It it was just so emotional for for. everybody, for both sides. It's a sad. story. It's a sad situation. that didn't have to end up like this. If.

he had just let [music] her come home, >> you mentioned it was a lot of emotions. for both sides. Did you find yourself. looking over at their side? >> Dante was sitting right in front of me. I looked at the back of his head through. the whole trial. [music]. Um, but you know, the mother of his child. was there and. she broke [music] down and honestly my. my heart hurt for her, hurt for their. child.

because it [music] it didn't have to it. didn't have to end up this way. >> Ryan Rivera's testimony was the biggest. like bombshell for our our trial. It had. moved us all. I could hear the gasps. even in the masks [music] of of fellow. jurors. When it came out that he was convicted, I think there was a [music] great. feeling of of satisfaction and relief uh. not elation. You know, you have to look.

at it from this side too. Mr. Lucas is a. young man and he was convicted of a. criminal crime that shapes his life for. however long he lives. I think it's [music] every parent's. worst nightmare that a child goes before. you and you can never fully heal that. wound. I can tell you uh I almost lost a. child in the early 80s and so I had a. lot of sympathy with Laura and her. family because I came that close to that.

tragedy and that child was the lead. prosecutor on this case. So, the elected DA is my dad. and Kyle McCarthy, who was obviously. [music] on the case with me, is my. husband. And we, I don't think had a. night in the last 4 years that we. haven't gone home and talked about. Kelsey Shelling. [music]. Um, sometimes it's the first thing we. talk about when we wake up. Sometimes. it's the last thing we talk about before. we go to sleep. >> On Saturdays when we're driving kids. around soccer, a lot of times we're.

being told to stop talking about it. because they can hear us in the front. seat talking about it. We both also had. and I mean an incredible [music]. emotional pull to the family that is a. very special relationship, one that I will value [music] for the. rest of my life. >> Well, I think I mean Michelle and Kyle. with their [music] their closing, they're they're just they're amazing. I. I don't even know what other words to. use. the first things that she told the. reporters outside of the courthouse.

after the guilty verdict. Yes, she was happy, but she was still devastated. >> So, we're [music] very very thankful for. for this outcome. Um, 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 something. I didn't push hard enough. on something or I didn't look enough on.

something to to bring her home. >> That devastation isn't going anywhere. Like she said, she has to live with that. forever. >> Her goal throughout all of this was to. bring Kelsey home, give her a proper. burial. So, I know in she had expressed. that in some ways she felt like she had. failed in her her main mission. I think. the investigative team [music] has some. ideas where she may rest. >> If if that's where she is, I that that's.

just like [music] the worst possibility. to me. [music]. >> That very first day that we met in. September [music] of 2016, I'll never. forget it like it was yesterday. And it. was just a special bond that we formed. >> Kelsey's mom just battled and battled. and battled. eight years. I was [music]. hoping that it would never take this. long. I grabbed my mother very tight. [music] and held her very close. Hold on.

to my dad's hands. [music]. Since the trial's over, it's because and. and Kelsey still hasn't been found. So, yeah, I've just felt very empty this. past week. >> Doesn't feel final because still don't. know where Kelsey is and we still don't. know exactly what happened. It turns out that prosecutors did. present troubling evidence from the. night Kelsey disappeared. That evidence. provided a possible explanation to where. her body could be.

We received information from the PBL. landfill that there was some video. evidence of a of a vehicle being there. [music] You couldn't see what kind of. vehicle. You couldn't tell who was in. the car. They're locked to the front um. gate into the dump had been tampered. with. Well, it caught my attention [music]. when I grabbed the lock on my hand and I. said, "Well, somebody tried to get in. here overnight. >> The cell phone records, the pings were.

all [music] out in that area." So, you. know, we suspected that's that's what. happened. >> If if you heard the testimony of the. landfill expert, [music] it would be. next to impossible to just find a body. just by conducting a search of the. landfill. >> [music]. >> Who wants that for their child to be the. final resting place? No one. >> We want to bring her justice and bring. her home with us. Um her and Cadri both.

Cadri, that was the name that she was. going to give the child. >> I'm never [music] going to recover. without [music] getting her back. And so. I still have. [snorts]. nowhere [music] to go to take her. flowers, to go sit and talk with her, take her balloons on her birthday, you. know, [music] go to see her on the. holidays. [music]. >> Find out.

>> How do you want her to [music] be. remembered? A little girl [laughter]. with a really big heart, [music] a. really big smile, a really big laugh, beautiful eyes, silly. She was so silly. I [music] miss being silly with her. I miss all the things that we didn't get. to do together.

We've been covering this story for more. than five years now. And as you can see, the heartbreak never really stops for. Kelsey's mom and the entire Shelling. family. >> And Dante Lucas's defense team declined. to comment for our program, but it is. likely they will file an [music] appeal. >> Thanks for listening to the 2020 True. Crime Vault. We hope you'll join us. Friday nights at 9 on ABC for all new.

broadcast episodes. [music]. See you then.