Who killed Kelsie Schelling and where are they now? Details explored ahead of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered on Oxygen

Oxygen’s Dateline: Secrets Uncovered is known for showcasing true crime stories that leave the audience perplexed. The show's upcoming episode is no different and delves into the 2013 disappearance of Kelsie Schelling.

Titled The Night Kelsie Disappeared, the episode is scheduled to air on Oxygen on January 22, 2025. It revolves around the case of Kelsie, a 21-year-old pregnant woman who went missing in 2013, and whose body has not been found ever since.

Kelsie’s boyfriend, Donthe Lucas, was eventually found guilty of her murder. He was convicted in 2021 and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Donthe continues to be in prison as of now.

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Dateline: Secrets Uncovered: Who Killed Kelsie Schelling?

Dateline: Secrets Uncovered season 8, episode 14 explores the disappearance and murder of Kelsie Schelling. She was a 21-year-old woman who went missing on February 4, 2013. On the fateful evening, Kelsie drove to Pueblo to meet her boyfriend, Donthe Lucas.

Text messages found by the investigators show that Donthe asked her to meet for a surprise; however, she was never seen again. Days later, her car was found abandoned at a hospital in Pueblo. Surveillance videos showed Donthe using her car and withdrawing $400 from her bank account.

He also sent fake text messages to Kelsie's family, pretending to be her, and tried to mislead them. Though the authorities investigated the matter, Donthe was not charged until 2017. After several delays, the case finally went to trial in 2021.

Prosecutors presented evidence in the court like footage of Donthe’s suspicious behavior, and his use of Kelsie’s car and bank card. On the other hand, his defense argued there was no direct evidence, like DNA or a body, that could tie him to the crime.

They claimed the case was based on assumptions. However, the jury disagreed and found Donthe guilty of first-degree murder after only a few hours of deliberation. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Authorities believe Donthe killed Kelsie shortly after she arrived in Pueblo. During the trial, prosecutors argued that he strangled her, however, it could not be confirmed as Kelsie’s corpse still has not been tracked.

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Dateline: Secrets Uncovered: Where is Donthe Lucas now?

Dateline: Secrets Uncovered would also showcase how Donthe appealed his conviction in 2021. He argued the trial court allowed unfair evidence, like text messages he sent to other women, to convict him.

The appeals court reviewed the case and decided Lucas had a fair trial. Although some evidence was considered only a little relevant, the court ruled that none of it had unfairly affected the jury’s decision.

Donthe is currently serving his life sentence at the Limon Correctional Facility in Colorado. He has no possibility of parole, which means he will spend the rest of his life in prison. Meanwhile, Kelsie’s disappearance had a heartbreaking impact on her family.

Her mother, Laura Saxton, fought tirelessly for justice for years. She pushed for the police to investigate the matter properly and also raised awareness about the case among the public. Although Donthe was convicted, Laura has said she would not be at peace until her daughter’s body is found.

The family continues to offer a $100,000 reward for information that could lead to the recovery of Kelsie’s remains. In 2021, a park bench and tree in Pueblo were dedicated to Kelsie and her unborn baby, Kadrie. While the murderer remains in prison, the family still awaits the opportunity to have the funeral of their daughter.

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Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode The Night Kelsie Disappeared will air on Oxygen on January 22, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET.