Two months later, Kansas City police continue to investigate honor student’s death

More than two months after the body of an 18-year-old Southwest High School honor student was found in a south Kansas City motel, police continue to seek clues surrounding her death.

On March 21, Daizsa Laye Bausby was found dead in a room at the 4 Acre Motel at 8220 Hickman Mills Drive. Roughly 50 days later, authorities ruled her death a homicide. Police said Bausby was suffocated.

“We are just waiting for physical evidence to be processed,” Sgt. Barb Eckert said. “It’s a waiting game at this point.”

Police have released few details about how Bausby died. Because the investigation remains open, police have not said what led her to the motel. They also have not said who found Bausby or what was used to suffocate her.

Bausby’s mother filed a missing-person report on March 22, the day after her body was found. The family could not be reached for comment. Bausby’s mother, Laetta Bausby, has declined several times to talk with The Star.

“At this point it is still under investigation and there is nothing more that we could release,” Eckert said.

Bausby was an honor student who until this year was first in her class at Southwest. She competed in track, played basketball and was a member of Junior ROTC. Bausby would have graduated from high school with enough dual credit hours to earn an associate degree.

School leaders said she had been offered scholarships to more than a dozen colleges.

“This young lady placed an indelible mark on her family and friends during her short life,” said Sgt. Kari Thompson, a police spokeswoman. “To have her life cut short has devastated them. As with all acts of violence, we hope to bring justice and eventual closure for her grieving family and friends.”

During graduation on May 10, her classmates dedicated the ceremony to Bausby, who had been slated to be class salutatorian. They draped a chair she would have occupied with her honor cord, her academic hood and a photo.

With most homicides, multiple calls are made to the TIPS Hotline with information and clues for investigators. However, officials said they had received only one call with information about the Bausby homicide, said Kevin Boehm, Crime Stoppers coordinator.

“It’s really hard to gauge,” Boehm said. “It depends on the media coverage and on how the story plays with people. Some stories you don’t think are going to get any tips but end up getting dozens of tips, but other predominant cases we end up getting one or none.”

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 7:52 AM with the headline "Two months later, Kansas City police continue to investigate honor student’s death."