The search for Kelsie Schelling has been a long, agonizing road for her family. Honestly, it’s one of those cases that sticks with you because of how senseless it feels. A young woman, just 21 years old, drives two hours to share life-changing news, and then—nothing. She vanishes.
If you’re searching for news about the kelsie schelling body found, you might be looking for a sense of closure that has been frustratingly elusive. There is a lot of noise out there, but let’s get the facts straight. As of 2026, Kelsie Schelling’s body has never been recovered. Despite a high-profile trial and a first-degree murder conviction, her physical remains are still missing.
Why People Think Kelsie Schelling’s Body Was Found
It’s easy to see why the internet gets confused. In early 2021, the headlines were everywhere: "Guilty," "Sentenced," "Justice." When people see a murder conviction, they naturally assume a body was part of the evidence. But Colorado is one of those states where prosecutors have successfully proven "no-body" homicides.
The confusion often stems from a few specific events during the investigation:
- The 2017 Excavations: Police spent days digging up a backyard on Manor Ridge Drive in Pueblo. This was a home where Donthe Lucas, Kelsie's boyfriend, used to live. They moved a lot of dirt. They even brought in heavy equipment to a nearby field. While they found "items of evidentiary value," they didn't find Kelsie.
- The Suitcase Discovery: Around the same time as the trial, there was a gruesome discovery in Denver involving remains found in suitcases. Because it happened in the same region, rumors flew. However, that was a completely unrelated case involving a different victim and suspect.
- The Trial Evidence: During the trial of Donthe Lucas, prosecutors talked about soil samples. Experts testified about dirt found in Kelsie’s car that didn't match the Walmart parking lot. This led many to believe they had pinpointed a burial site. They hadn't; they only proved the car had been driven somewhere off-road.
The Night Everything Went Wrong in Pueblo
To understand why the search is so difficult, you have to look at the timeline. Kelsie lived in Denver. On February 4, 2013, she went to a doctor and confirmed she was eight weeks pregnant. She sent an ultrasound photo to Donthe Lucas.
He told her to come to Pueblo.
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She arrived late that night and waited at a Walmart. Text messages show she was getting frustrated. "I'm tired of waiting," she wrote. Eventually, she moved to a spot near his grandmother’s house. That was the last time her phone was used by her.
The next morning, surveillance footage showed Donthe Lucas using her ATM card. He was driving her car. Later, an "unidentified male"—who prosecutors argued was Lucas—was seen dropping her car off at a hospital parking lot. He walked away with a key fob.
Basically, the window for him to hide her remains was small but sufficient if he knew the backroads of Pueblo County.
The Trial Without a Body
The trial in 2021 was a massive deal for Colorado law. It's incredibly hard to convict someone of first-degree murder when you can't prove how the victim died.
The prosecution leaned heavily on the "digital footprint." They showed that Kelsie’s phone and Donthe’s phone were pinging the same towers in remote areas like Beulah. They showed his lies. He initially told police he hadn't seen her, then changed his story to say they met at an ATM and she just left.
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The jury didn't buy it. They found Donthe Lucas guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Where the Search Stands Now
Just because someone is behind bars doesn't mean the search is over. Laura Saxton, Kelsie’s mother, has been a force of nature. She has never stopped pushing for answers.
There have been intermittent searches over the years based on "tips" from prison or "new leads" from the community. In late 2021, a massive three-day search was conducted in southwestern Pueblo involving the FBI and NecroSearch, a group famous for finding clandestine graves. They used ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs.
They found nothing.
It’s heartbreaking. The family is still offering a $50,000 reward for the location of her remains. For them, the "guilty" verdict was only half the battle. They want to bring her home.
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Common Misconceptions About the Case
You’ll hear a lot of theories on true crime forums. Some say she’s in a landfill. Others think she’s in a well.
- The Landfill Theory: Early in the investigation, there was talk of searching a landfill. But by the time investigators realized the gravity of the case, too much trash had been layered over. It was deemed a "needle in a haystack" situation.
- The "Witness" Rumor: There was a woman who claimed to know where the body was, but she was tragically killed in an unrelated shooting before the trial. This added a layer of dark mystery to the case, but it never led to a recovery.
- DNA Evidence: People often ask, "Was there blood in the car?" There wasn't a significant amount of DNA evidence found. This is why the defense argued that Kelsie might still be alive—a claim the jury eventually rejected based on the overwhelming circumstantial evidence of her disappearance.
What You Can Do
If you are a hiker, hunter, or just someone who spends time in the rural areas around Pueblo, Beulah, or the Wet Mountains, stay aware of your surroundings. Cases like this are often solved years later by someone just walking their dog or stumbling upon something unusual.
If you have information that could help, don't post it on a forum. Go to the source.
- Pueblo Crime Stoppers: Call 719-542-7867.
- The "Help Find Kelsie" Page: This is run by the family and is the best place for verified updates.
The search for Kelsie Schelling isn't a "cold case" in the minds of the people of Colorado. It’s an open wound. While the legal system has given its answer, the earth has yet to give up its secret. Until then, the phrase "Kelsie Schelling body found" remains a hope rather than a headline.
Next Steps for Information Seekers:
- Check Local Records: If you are researching this for a project, look into the 2015 lawsuit filed by Kelsie’s parents against the Pueblo Police Department. It details many of the early investigative failures.
- Monitor Official Feeds: Follow the Pueblo Police Department’s official social media for any verified "Breaking News" regarding searches.
- Support the Family: Shared posts and kept awareness are what keep these searches funded and active.