Man linked to Jessica Runions, Kara Kopetsky goes to trial in October for car burning

The man linked to a woman and teen girl found dead last year in rural Cass County will go to trial Oct. 23 for allegedly burning the vehicle of the woman.

Kylr Yust, 29, is charged in Jackson County Circuit Court with burning a vehicle that belonged to Jessica Runions.

Runions, 21, of Raymore, was reported missing last year after she was seen leaving a party with Yust, according to court documents. Her abandoned vehicle was found abandoned and burned a few days later in south Kansas City.

Runions’ remains were found in April in rural Cass County. A second set of remains was also found in the same area, and authorities recently said they were the remains of Kara Kopetsky.

Kopetsky, 17, was last seen leaving Belton High School in 2007.

She had formerly dated Yust and had filed for a protection order against Yust 10 days before she disappeared.

Yust, who is in custody, did not appear at a pretrial hearing scheduled for Friday. It was continued until Oct. 13.

This story was originally published September 29, 2017 at 11:50 AM with the headline "Man linked to Jessica Runions, Kara Kopetsky goes to trial in October for car burning."