Prayer vigil held for slain Overland Park teen
10:07 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, 2007
It's not the way friends, family and volunteers wanted to end their search for 18-year-old Kelsey Smith. They're not celebrating her safe return home, instead they are here remembering her life. But nothing has changed. They still want answers and someone brought to justice.
Signs still hung in the windows of cars, as they filled the parking lot of Hillcrest Covenant Church. Friends were still wearing shirts with Kelsey's picture on them.
Kelsey's father, Greg Smith, gave a family statement before the prayer service, thanking the community and law enforcement in the search for his daughter.
"On behalf of our entire family, we want to take this opportunity to thank all of the many many people who have been so helpful and supportive in the search for our Kelsey," Smith said.
Friends filed into the church, no one quite ready to talk. They were just there to remember Kelsey.
"The out pouring of help and support was a testament to how deeply Kelsey was loved."
"She could walk into a room of strangers and walk out of a room full of friends."
Friends want Kelsey to be remembered as a young beautiful girl who was so full of life.
"I want to share these words with you because I think they describe my our great friend Kelsey."
Police still need your help find who killed Kelsey. They're asking you to look at the survelliance video. The man in the video is still a person of interest.
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