Family Posts Response to Denver Post Article
The family felt it was necessary to clarify a few points in the Denver Post article, including the content of text messages sent to Kelsie before she traveled to Pueblo on Feb. 4, 2013 and the identity of the persons who were actively involved in dropping off Kelsie's car. Please click here to below to read the full statement:
We would like to thank everyone who has read The Denver Post article concerning the disappearance of our daughter and sister, Kelsie Schelling, who has been missing since Feb. 4, 2013. Kirk Mitchell did a wonderful job of reporting and our family thanks him for his efforts in putting the activities and circumstances surrounding Kelsie’s case in perspective.
We are not experts in the field of crime. We are simply a family who needs their daughter and sister to be returned home to those who love her. Justice also has to be done and the person or persons who committed this crime must be actively sought.
We wanted to clarify that through reading text messages, Donthe Lucas threatened Kelsie when he was stating that he would take the child away from Kelsie. In our opinion, he knew this would terrorize Kelsie. He went from wanting no involvement with the baby to stating he would take the child away.
Donthe Lucas urged Kelsie to come to Pueblo, CO because he had something to give to her and that meeting had to take place in person. Kelsie was never seen or heard from again. She did not take many of her personal belongings that one would take if the person was going on an extended trip. Even though she knew she was pregnant, she had nothing with her for prenatal care.
Kelsie’s last phone conversation occurred on Feb. 4, 2013. Text messages were received on and sent from Kelsie’s phone for two days after she disappeared, but they were not sent by her. Her phone’s battery died shortly after and no more were sent. Someone, not Kelsie, was using her phone.
Kelsie did not access her bank account. Donthe Lucas did, alone.
After Feb. 4, 2013, Kelsie is not seen on surveillance. She was not the driver or a passenger in her Chevy Cruze. The only identified person using her car after that date is Donthe Lucas.
Donthe Lucas parked Kelsie's car at Walmart on Northern on Feb. 5, 2013 at 12:05 p.m. It was here that Donthe’s mother, Sara Lucas, picked Donthe up in the Walmart parking lot right after he deposited the car.
The person in the photo below is the person that picked Kelsie’s car up from Walmart on Feb. 6, 2013 at 7:20 a.m. The identity of this person has yet to be confirmed. The family asks that if you have any information on the identity of the individual below, that you call 1-855-4-KELSIE or submit a tip on HelpFindKelsie.com.
It is our opinion that Kelsie’s case should have been declared foul play within the first two weeks of her disappearance, after talking to those involved and after her car was found abandoned on Feb. 14, 2013.
Thank you so much for your support. We hope that Mr. Mitchell will do a follow up story detailing the investigative actions that have been taken. We also hope this will be helpful to other families of missing persons.
To read the Denver Post’s article, please click here: http://blogs.denverpost.com/coldcases/2014/05/30/denver-8/8543/
The Schelling/Saxton family is offering a reward of up to $50,000 to the person or persons who provide(s) information leading to Kelsie's direct return or to her location. Please call 1-855-4-KELSIE or visit HelpFindKelsie.com to submit a tip. Identities and contact information of submitting parties are always confidential.
