In August of 1995, a local film crew in Arlington, Texas was doing a documentary on single mothers in welfare trying to get jobs. Obviously it's an important piece of evidence that he moved the car because it shows he's covering up the crime. The Economic Update with Tatiana Bailey Ph. While this text was being sent, Torres said Schellings phone was pinging off of a cell tower within the area of Canon National Bank, where Donthe Lucas was seen on camera withdrawing $400 from Schellings bank account while driving her 2011 Chevy Cruze. PUEBLO, Colo. (KDVR) After numerous delays in the trial of the man accused of killing Kelsie Schelling in 2013, Donthe Lucas was found guilty by a jury in in a Pueblo courtroom. Schelling was eight weeks pregnant when her friends and family last heard from her on February 4, 2013, when she visited the likely father of her unborn child. I have found that if you do it the right way, justice finds its own way. Its getting harder to come back, I dread the trips but I know I have to do it, she said. Editor's note: A previous version of this story said Rivera testified that Lucas specifically admitted to killing Kelsie Schelling. He told her that he and Schelling would do drugs together, like cocaine. Police say that Lucas cell phone data shows he couldve been at the landfill that night. If Therefore, after many delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he stood trial for the same in early 2021. The texts exchanged indicate Lucas and Schelling were constantly arguing throughout the night of Feb. 3, both in text and in short phone conversations in which Schelling seemed to continually hang up on Lucas. When all this got combined with Donthes former home catching fire just weeks after officers searched it for evidence, he was charged and arrested for his former girlfriends mysterious murder. She reached out to a private investigator, but they were also stonewalled by PPD. She still wants to bring Kelsie home and give her the burial she feels her daughter deserves. Binet also said Lucas did not at any point tell him hed dropped Schellings vehicle off at St. Mary-Corwin, nor did he mention that he had used Schellings debit card to withdraw money from her account. Suhr said the plan was basically just to kind of befriend him, get to know him, try and meet him, see what his family was like, see if I could get him to talk about anything.. He said, I heard from Kelsie. She'd driven down from Denver to Pueblo to meet her boyfriend Donthe Lucas, who had. It's not guilty. So it's a strong message.. She said she told her she loved her. Schelling, 21, went missing in 2013 after driving from Denver to Pueblo to see Lucas. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Schelling, 21, was eight weeks pregnant at the time of her disappearance, according to news reports. Its going to be OK, Saxton said she told her daughter. I plan to make things work. She did say that he called once from jail, but they ultimately never spoke again. I'm really grateful to know that we know the answer, Saxton said. So, lets find out more about where he is today, shall we? That was dumb and I apologize. It was just so emotional for everybody, for both sides, Saxton said. The homicide trial of Donthe Lucas, accused of first-degree murder in the 2013 disappearance of his pregnant girlfriend, Kelsie Schelling, resumed Monday with the testimony of Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Kevin Torres. I ethically believe that Donthe Lucas killed Kelsie Schelling, and I think we have the evidence to prove it.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Schelling left work shortly after 8:40 p.m. and drove two hours to see Lucas in Pueblo. At 1:28 a.m., Schelling tells Lucas, I wont tell you anything about the baby. Her. It's still an open case. However, even when the two moved away to pursue their respective careers, they continued dating up until the moment Kelsie disappeared. 17 Jan 2023 Amber: The Girl Behind the Alert (2023 film) . . However McCarthy said, there was no deals made about charges he would get to plead to, time he would get to serve. Donthe took that away from me.. She wanted that baby. By May 2018, a judge said prosecutors had proved probable cause. The 21-year-old from Colorado had already announced to family and friends. Months turned to years without answers. Law enforcement finally turned Schellings missing persons case into a criminal case. Saxtons hope was for answers. They alleged that when she left Lucas at the Walmart, she was going to meet up with a drug dealer. She said Tuesday in 2016 she was trying to gather information from Lucas about Schelling. In the texts, Lucas implies Schelling had asked him to come to her OBGYN appointment the following day the day of her disappearance saying he wanted to go with her and noting it seemed like Schelling wanted him to go. Text messages show he first instructed her to go to a specific Walmart on the south side of town. We know that that's his phone. Our Colette Bordelon will be there every day and will have coverage both online and over the air. Lucas was sentenced to. Colette Bordelon reports that the District Attorney has confirmed to her that Martinez was going to testify for the prosecution this week that Lucas confessed to her that he killed Schelling. Over the course of the following weeks, she became close with Lucas and had the opportunity to speak with him about Schellings disappearance. Lucas and Schelling continue to exchange texts throughout the day of Feb. 4, beginning before her OBGYN appointment. Eric Bravo took over the case with the help of Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) agent Kevin Torres. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - Donthe Lucas was found guilty of murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend Kelsie Schelling in 2013. The clip that I played at the beginning of my closing was his phrase to detectives. When police questioned Lucas, he told them that the morning after they met, he took Schelling to the Parkview Medical Center and hinted she had a miscarriage there. I dont feel right. This verdict came after the prosecutors shined a light on Donthes relationship with Kelsie and argued that he lured her to Pueblo to kill her after learning about the pregnancy. Circumstantial and forensic evidence are prominen Investigators have said he took $400 out of her account on that day. The co-worker received a text message, supposedly from Schelling, saying she wasnt having the baby anymore because it was growing in the wrong place.. Donthe Lucas in court for Kelsie Schelling's murder. Emmanuel Chandler was arrested for Martinez's death. They planned to meet but at the last minute, Wilkins told Saxton she was in the hospital and could not come. Saxton testified that she wasn't happy with the Pueblo Police Department's investigation, saying they weren't willing to coordinate with her on searches to try and find Kelsie. A little bit later, he got back with me. The lawsuit was dismissed, and shortly after, Torres took the reins of the case, meeting Saxton in September 2016. Ive never had that phone.. He just says, If I hear from her, I'll let you know, Saxton said. Eric Bravo said. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? the Alert is a 2023 documentary on Peacock. I never want to give up on trying to bring her home. she said. She wanted to see what I was going to do if I was going to leave her, try to help her, a whole bunch of crazy stuff., He said Schelling visited him around 2 a.m.Feb. 5, after shed driven to Pueblo and met him near his grandmothers house. During the trial, investigators had revealed troubling information about Schellings possible whereabouts. Criminal defense attorney Danielle Iredale joins host Ana Garcia. We know that that's his thoughts and feelings about it. That man, Donthe Lucas, was convicted for her murder and sentenced to life in prison on Monday. Im very grateful that our paths crossed and God took us to this moment.. And I can get her back, Kadie Lancaster told 20/20. What if he really does have her and I can bring her home?. This article has been updated, and we apologize for the error. Please enter valid email address to continue. They quickly learned about Lucas relationship with Suhr, and a crucial bit of information that he had revealed to her. DENVER A woman found dead in Denver's Hampden South neighborhood on Feb. 25 was scheduled to testify in the murder trial of Kelsie Schelling, the Pueblo County District Attorney's Office . The first search warrant was executed at the suspects home on Feb. 14a period of 11 days, or 264 hours. Donthe Lucas (credit: Pueblo Police Dept. Saxton rallied the Pueblo community and led her own searches for her missing daughter around the city. In December 2017, investigators believed they finally had enough evidence to charge Lucas with the first-degree murder of Schelling, even though her remains have, as of this report, not been recovered. In most scams, they're compartmentalized, Garrett said. Shortly before noon, other texts are exchanged between Lucas and Schellings phones, which the prosecution alleges were not actually sent by Schelling. In December 2019, the judge postponed the trial until May 2020, as a new lawyer joined the defense team. Colorado Bureau of Investigation's Forensic Scientist Collin Knaub takes the stand next and has worked for CBI since 2010. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Apparently she had a miscarriage yesterday.. Torres said in the surveillance video showing the cash withdrawal, Schelling cannot be seen in the vehicle. His trial finally began in February 2021, and he was ultimately convicted of the crime, receiving a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. MORE: Lucas trial day 2: Friends of Kelsie Schelling speak to a toxic and abusive relationship. In a motion filed by Lucas, he claims the victim's father had a history of violence toward Kelsie and killed . She confirmed for us Donthe admitt[ed] it was him in the Walmart surveillance video that [he] had dropped Kelsie's car off and then returned the next day and picked it up, Torres said. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play. Those charges were later dropped when investigators found out that she would sometimes give him permission to use her bank card, and he was released. On Feb. 25, 2021, 31-year-old Roxann Martinez was preparing to testify for the prosecution when she was shot and killed. Kelsie Schelling was only 21 years old when she vanished. He believes her murder does have to do with the #DontheLucas trial, even though Denver police have said they believe there's no connection. He said that Schelling had called him early that morning from a private number and said he told Schelling she needed to get in touch with her family members because they were worried about her. Binet said, Not that I remember.. Plus, a baggage claim sticker leads to an arrest after human remains were found in two suitcases on the side of a Denver road in December (30:07). Though Schellings family got the verdict they wanted, they were still unable to bring her home for a proper burial. -- It's been over eight years since Laura Saxton's 21-year-old pregnant daughter Kelsie Schelling vanished. Binet said there were several red flags in Schellings case that led him to believe she was more than just missing. Once the money was exchanged, then this courier person would go and get Kelsie and bring her back to the McDonalds, Saxton said of the instructions she received. I felt like he did genuinely develop feelings for me and did genuinely fall in love with me. Kelsie Schelling Self - Goes missing (archive footage) All cast & crew Production, box office & more at IMDbPro Storyline Edit A courageous mother, whose daughter mysteriously went missing, finds justice with the help of another mom she never met; Plot summary Add synopsis Genres Documentary Crime News Certificate Unrated Parents guide She received a Facebook message from a person who claimed to be a woman but wanted to remain anonymous, and claimed to have information about Schellings disappearance. Schelling was eight weeks pregnant when her friends and family last heard from her on February 4, 2013, when [] PUEBLO, Colo. CBI Investigator Kevin Torres remembers it like yesterday. The defense argued it was a missing persons case. Kelsie's father Doug Schelling received a strange text from his daughter when he tried to check on her. I know that that is a long shot than anybody [sic] would even try to help us with that., Saxton said the thought of her daughters body being left there is just the worst possibility to me, because he discarded her like garbage. Roxann Martinez, 31, was found dead on Feb. 25 from a gunshot wound and her death has been classified a homicide. Family photo. Documentary films The Invention of Marxism: How an Idea Changed Everything Christina Morina (Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Bielefeld University) . 4:34. Lauren Suhr, a young single mother who didnt know Kelsie Schelling or her family, was so moved by Schellings story that she decided she would try to get information on Schelling, on her own initiative, from Donthe Lucas. Suhr also testified that Lucas would break down and cry whenever he talked about Schelling he had nothing to do with her disappearance. Binet testified Monday he contacted Donthe Lucas on Feb. 10th. Love you Donthe.. Saxton still doesnt have all the answers shes searched tirelessly for. Even thinking about it now that we have the guilty verdict, [there is] just so much still to do to find Kelsie and bring her back to the family.. Then you can take her back home., Sara Lucas allegedly responded: What happened? and, Are you OK? to which Lucas responded, Yeah. She called from a private number. Its really hard to find words to use for it, because its so awful. Doctor's records confirmed that she was eight weeks pregnant, with the presumed father being. 13M subscribers Kelsie Schelling goes to see boyfriend, never seen again: Part 3 Schelling left work and headed to Pueblo, Colorado, where her boyfriend Donthe Lucas asked her to meet. Sinnema said Lucas told him that he and Schelling went to Parkview Medical Center later that day and that Schelling emerged from the hospital a short time later saying she was no longer pregnant. It's a sad situation that didn't have to end up like this if he had just let her come home.. Fixed: Release in which this issue/RFE has been fixed.The release containing this fix may be available for download as an Early Access Release or a General Availability Release. She was reportedly on her way from Denver to Pueblo to discuss the pregnancy with Lucas. Kelsie Schelling disappearance: Second witness says she became intimate with Donthe Lucas They continued to press Lucas about the vehicle, and he several times denied moving it after parking it. More women ice fishing? He admitted to those text messages, Pueblo Assistant District Attorney Kyle McCarthy said. The Parkview Medical Center, however, did not have any record of Schellings supposed visit. Laura Saxton, Schelling's mom, took the stand again and testified that Schelling's car was never in California. Schelling, Tatesaid, checked the box indicating just one. Morning Forecast Some of Schellings close friends also testified that Lucas was abusive. Her boss called her not that long ago and offered her her job back.. On Monday, he was sentenced to life in prison. Then in October 2015, Saxton had a new possible lead. As difficult as it was, its not impossible. You probably wouldnt believe me if I told you anyway so you can see for yourself.. He reportedly asks what the doctors told her and she replies that everything looked good and that her due date was Sept. 13. Chieftain reporter Zach Hillstrom can be reached at zhillstrom@chieftain.com or on Twitter @ZachHillstrom, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Lucas said Schelling told him before she came to Pueblo that she was pregnant and had gone to a doctor for an ultrasound. Per Fox 21 News,Lucas purportedly had a strong reaction when he saw Schelling's neighbors hanging up missing flyers, and according to testimony at his trial, went as far as to harass the family of a middle-schooler who had helped aid in distributing them. 10:50 a.m.: Opening statements wrapped up from prosecutors and Donthe Lucas' defense. Donthe Lucas was found guilty of murdering his then-pregnant girlfriend, Kelsie Schelling, in 2013. If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. She wanted to be a mom.. But Tate said they would never perform a biopsy on a pregnant woman and said even if Schelling did have HPV, its a common diagnosis about 15 percent of women have HPV at any given time. Lucas, according to Torres, directs her to go to Walmart. Romantic interest of Lucas' retakes stand: Lauren Suhr, who now lives in Washington but lived in Colorado Springs in April 2016, took the stand virtually again Wednesday morning. Either make things work with me or walk away.. Tatesaid her evaluation of Schelling showed no indication of prior pregnancies, miscarriages of abortions. I felt like I was [in] pretty deep. In 2011, when Kelsie Schelling enrolled in Northeastern Junior College, she met and began dating Donthe Isiah Lucas. But Lucas claimed when they spoke later, Schelling ended up telling me shes not pregnant. Suspecting foul play, police accelerated the investigation. I've been here over an hour just waiting." Schelling didn't show up to work on Feb. 5, and a worried co-worker tried calling her. Their argument continued through texts beyond 4 a.m. MORE:Lucas trial day 1: Former inmate testifies Lucas admitted guilt to the murder, Later that morning, Torres read texts from Schelling to Lucas that said, Im sorry for hanging up on you over and over. The prosecution asked Binet if Lucas had told Sinnema in their Feb. 9 conversation about Schelling calling him from the private number that same day. That Saturday morning, Saxton said her whole world just unraveled., All of her friends started contacting us saying, We've been trying to reach Kelsie and we can't reach her, Saxton said. Saxton got choked up when identifying her daughter's birth certificate, passport, and an expired passport from when #Schelling was "just a little girl." However, in January of 2019, both the prosecution and defense said they would not be ready to go to trial by early April 2019, because of an additional 125 witnesses who could possibly be called to testify. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Kelsie Schelling's childhood rocked with emotional fallout from family split: Part 1Schelling's parents got divorced and she lived with her mother, Laura Sax. Tate said Schellings medical records did not indicate she was at any risk of a miscarriage. I still have nowhere to go to take her flowers, to go sit and talk with her, take her balloons on her birthday, go to her on the holidays. Donthe Isiah Lucas pleaded not guilty to the charge against him in 2018. I didn't want to get in any deeper than I had already gotten into.. Using cell phone data from Lucas and Schellings phones, the prosecution believes both phones were in the same location as the texts were being exchanged.