I spent some time reviewing the case again to see if there had been any new developments since I last checked on the case.
AMW site has this:
" . . .For a few weeks the case was cold. But on May 17th, the investigation received a jumpstart when someone recognized Kara in Louisburg, Kansas. She was there in the afternoon and she wasn't alone.
Witnesses spotted her with a man. They'd eventually develop a composite sketch of the man. It is important to note that cops are not convinced that the girl spotted in Louisburg is actually Kara, but would like to know for sure. . ."
http://www.amw.com/missing_children/case.cfm?id=45643
So far as I know this sighting has never been ruled in or out as being kara.
At this point I am not expecting a body yet. She may well be alive somewhere.
Still running some websearches.
Hi guys this is Maureen wife of missing USMC (Ret.) MSGT Jon R. Van Dyke. I've been following Kara's story because I grew up in southern Johnson County, KS and Jon and I raised our children there too. I know the area and the kids well so I thought I'd weigh in.
I would not rule out that Louisburg, KS supposable sighting of Kara. The Belton, MO; Southern Leawood, KS, and southern Overland Park, KS (known as the Stanley area); and the Louisburg kids all ran around in the same areas. Also, Louisburg, southern Johnson County, KS and western Belton are highly Catholic areas so the kids all had a chance to get to know each other through youth groups, camps, retreats, etc. I don't know what Kara's religion is but my point is it's not out of the ordinary for teens in Belton to be in Louisburg. Louisburg also has another big draw .... Gravity Hill. There are only a few gravity hills in the world and Louisburg has one. Kids skip school to go out there, they go out there on dates, after football games, etc. My point is there are few teens in those areas that I've mentioned that haven't been to gravity hill and many numerous times. If Kara was sighted in Louisburg was she headed or lured out to Gravity Hill? It's a possibility.
Other things to think about. Between Louisburg and southern Johnson County to western Belton it is rural area but only a little farming mainly large country estates. Loch Lloyd Estates (where Tammy Faye Bakker was living before she died), horse ranches, etc., upscale rural is what it is till you hit Belton and then there is a dramatic change in demographics.....you cross the train tracks is the only way I can think to say it nicely.
But now that I've mentioned train tracks I also have to wonder could that have played a part in Kara's and the other missing from the area's disappearances? Back in, and I'm not sure of the year, but I think it was 2002 there was a murder at an upscale apartment complex just south of 135th Street (135th in State Line Rd) in Leawood, KS. I'm not sure it was ever solved but at that time I would have laid my money on that someone jumped off the train, killed this person, and then jumped back on the train....trains often sit still on those tracks, waiting for what I don't know but they do. This murder was not the young lifeguard that was murdered, that case was solved, but it was near to where that happened. This was a strange case of a man, kind of a drifter type guy who was starting to get back on his feet, being brought out to this complex from a bar in downtown KCMO, brutally murdered and found the next morning under some bushes at the complex. It was highly covered but then it just kind of fell out of the news so I don't know if it was ever solved. If there are many missing people in this area could those tracks have played a part in it all? Belton is disected by train tracks and highways.
Because of the rural, rolling hills, rivers, caves, train tracks, etc., it would take quite a search effort to discover a body out between Belton and southern Johnson County. We still have 3 Overland Park young women whose bodies have never been found (approximately 1989-1990 timeframe). A guy was charged and convicted of their murders and to my knowledge the bodies were never found and it's speculated they are somewhere out in that same area.
Hope some of this helps as the search goes on for Kara. I hope and pray that Kara is still alive.
Maureen
