Family members of missing Raymore woman put up fliers, wait for answers

Family members of Jessica Runions, a missing Raymore woman, gathered Tuesday morning in the remote wooded area in south Kansas City where her burned vehicle was found days before.

Someone had reported finding a bag nearby that contained women’s belongings.

“If it doesn’t even amount to anything, it keeps us from sitting at home waiting for a phone call,” said Mike Runions, Jessica’s grandfather. “We can’t just sit.”

Kansas City police said they have twice searched the area, around 95th Street and Blue River Road, and were not there on Tuesday.

“Detectives are still actively investigating the disappearance of Jessica Runions,” said Capt. Stacey Graves. She said there was nothing new to report and did not address the call about the bag.

Runions was last seen Thursday night leaving a gathering of friends in south Kansas City with Kylr Yust, who has a long criminal history and who was questioned in the 2007 disappearance of his ex-girlfriend, Kara Kopetsky. Yust was arrested Sunday morning in Edwards, Mo., on charges of “knowingly burning” Runions’ vehicle.

Several of Runions’ relatives, in a half-dozen vehicles, parked for a time Tuesday morning at the 3&2 baseball complex on Blue River Road just south of Bannister Road before leaving to distribute fliers about her disappearance.

They planned to put the fliers around the area and as far away as Warsaw, Mo., where Yust, 27, is being held in the Benton County jail on a $50,000 cash bond.

“She probably needs her medication,” said a woman who identified herself as Jessica Runions’ aunt. “She just had an appendectomy.”

Mike Runions described his granddaughter as “a really, really nice girl — always has been.”

“Very helpful, very concerned, a very thoughtful person,” he said.

He said the family was grateful for the support from the community.

“All the stuff on Facebook and everywhere, they’re doing what they can do,” he said. “That’s all anybody can do.”

Runions’ paternal grandmother has turned to Facebook herself as she waits for answers.

“I want to take a minute to thank everyone who is spreading the search for her,” Linda Runions, Mike’s wife, wrote. “Family, friends and strangers are all doing what they can. Keep the word out there, someone knows something.”

This story was originally published September 13, 2016 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Family members of missing Raymore woman put up fliers, wait for answers."