BELTON, Mo. – Escalating and troubling rumors about developments in the Kara Kopetsky investigation are unfounded according to Belton Police.
Kopetsky’s mom, Rhonda Beckford, said the rumors began sweeping through Belton last week.
“My family is just, they want the rumors to stop,” Beckford said, “They want to know where they're coming from. They want to know whether there is any truth to it. It's really tearing the family apart."
Kara Kopetsky has been missing since May, 2007. A surveillance camera at Belton High School recorded the last moments of her known whereabouts.
Police say the rash of rumors could've been sparked by actual follow-up investigations, but that the details into the missing teen’s disappearance that have hit the streets are unfounded.
“We are aware of several rumors in regards to the above investigation, to include that a body, clothing items, and other objects have been found,” said Capt. Don Spears with the Belton Police Dept. in a written statement. “None of these are true whatsoever.
Kopetsky’s mom said the gravity of what police supposedly found, according to the rumors, increased as the stories circulated through Belton.
“Somebody was digging and they found her cell phone. Then, the next thing we heard was they were digging and they found her clothes,” Beckford said. “After that we heard they actually found her body.”
In the living room the family keeps photos and mementos of Kara, many spread out on an open family bible.
“It's open like that every day with Kara's pictures on it, because I can't watch over Kara, but God can,” Beckford said. “God's with her every single day.”
The family has a
website dedicated to finding Kopetsky and has established a $30,000 reward for information that leads to finding the missing teen.
Police say they are actively investigating the case. They're asking anyone with information to call the tips hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
