Convicted murderer Kylr Yust was sentenced Monday to life in prison plus 15 years by Judge William Collins.
Yust was convicted in March by a jury from St. Charles County for the 2016 murder of Jessica Runions in 2016 and for voluntary manslaughter in the death of Kara Kopetsky in 2007.
Yust, 33, Belton, had dated both of the victims prior to their disappearances.
Both bodies were missing until April 2017 when they were discovered by a mushroom hunter in the area of 233 Street
and Y Highway in Cass County.
Yust was arrested for the murder of both women in October of that year.
The jury had recommended the maximum sentences for both counts and Collins chose to accept the recommendation and determined the sentences should be served consecutively (back-to-back) instead of concurrently.
During the sentencing hearing, Yust verbally sparred with Collins saying he would reserve any comments for his postconviction counsel and accused Collins of trying to “foil” his appeal process.
Prosecutor Julie Tolle said Yust deserved the sentences to run consecutively and stated he has shown a lack of remorse and a failure to ever accept any responsibility for anything.
Prior to the sentencing, the defense team had filed a 60-page appeal noting what it called errors in the proceedings. Collins denied the appeal Monday. Defense attorney Sharon Turlington said they would file motions with the court of appeals.
She said, “I’m not going to argue the facts of the case any further.”
In Missouri, a life sentence is capped at thirty years. Parole is possible after 85 percent of the sentence has been served.