In February 2013, 21-year-old Kelsie Schelling had just learned she was eight weeks pregnant. Hours after her first prenatal appointment, she drove from Denver to Pueblo – and was never seen again.
Kelsie’s body has never been found. But years later, someone was convicted of her murder. How do investigators build a case without a body? And after more than a decade, is there still a chance of finding Kelsie?
Kelsie is featured as the 10 of Spades in the Colorado Bureau of Investigation cold case deck . Source: Colorado Bureau of Investigation. *This asset includes an incorrect age. At the time of her disappearance, Kelsie was 21 years old; her 22nd birthday was just two weeks away. Photo has also been enhanced by AI for clarity.
Episode Info
If you have any information, contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation cold case line at 303-239-4244 or Pueblo Crime Stoppers at 719-542-7867.
A photo of Kelsie Schelling. Courtesy: Kelsie’s mother, Laura Saxton.
Kelsie, framed by flowers in her favorite color: purple. Courtesy: Laura Saxton.
Kelsie when she was a high school student in Haxtun, CO. Courtesy: Laura Saxton.
Donthe Lucas, Kelsie’s on-and-off boyfriend, played basketball in high school and college. The two met while attending Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado. Source: Getty Images
Kelsie’s ultrasound scan from Feb 4th, 2013 - the day she learned she was almost eight weeks pregnant. Courtesy: Laura Saxton via ABC7.
On the last night she was seen alive, Kelsie drove from Denver to Pueblo - the town where her boyfriend, Donthe Lucas, lived. Photos taken by Audiochuck staff.
On the last night she was seen alive, Kelsie drove from Denver to Pueblo - the town where her boyfriend, Donthe Lucas, lived. Photos taken by Audiochuck staff.
The Pueblo Walmart where Kelsie was supposed to meet Donthe on Feb 4th, 2013. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff.
Walmart security footage would later become key evidence in the case. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff.
Ten days after Kelsie disappeared, her car was found parked near St. Mary-Corwin Hospital in Pueblo. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff.
The Dennis Maes Judicial Building in Pueblo, where Kelsie’s murder case ended in a conviction. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff.
Episode Source Material
- Original reporting by Cornelia Rowe.
- Incident/Investigation Report: Kelsie Jean Schelling. OCA No. 13-002755. Pueblo Police Department, Colorado. February 11, 2013. Obtained from Pueblo Police Department.
- People of the State of Colorado v. Donthe Isiah Richard Lucas. Register of Actions. Case No. 17CR2491. Pueblo County District Court, Colorado. Obtained from Pueblo County Combined Courts.
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Federal Bureau of Investigation, Violent Criminal Apprehension Program: ViCAP Alert: Missing Person – Kelsie Jean Schelling. U.S. Department of Justice, July 14, 2017.
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The Pueblo Chieftain (Pueblo, CO): “Family seeks answers for missing woman,” by Nick Bonham. Published March 16, 2013. Accessed June 1, 2026 via newspapers.com.
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CBS News: “Family Pleads for Help in Missing Pregnant Woman Case,” by CBS Colorado staff. Published April 29, 2013. Accessed June 1, 2026 via website.
- NBC News: “Missing In America: Kelsie Schelling,” by Mason Scherer and Toni DeAztlan. Published Feb 3, 2014. Accessed June 1, 2026 via website.
- The Pueblo Chieftain (Pueblo, CO): “CBI to help with Schelling case,” by Ryan Severance. Published June 1, 2016. Accessed June 1, 2026 via newspapers.com
- ABC News: “Mom fights to bring pregnant daughter’s killer to justice 8 years after she disappeared,” by Joseph Rhee, Gerry Wagschal, Emily Wynn and Allie Yang. Published March 26, 2021. Accessed June 1, 2026 via website.
- The Denver Post (Denver, CO): “Pueblo man arrested in cold-case homicide of his ex-girlfriend, Kelsie Schelling,” by Kieran Nicholson. Published on December 1, 2017. Accessed June 1, 2026 via website.
- The Pueblo Chieftain (Pueblo, CO): “Colorado agent details texts between Kelsie Schelling and Donthe Lucas,” by Zach Hillstrom. Published February 8, 2021. Accessed June 1, 2026 via website.
- The Pueblo Chieftain (Pueblo, CO): “Donthe Lucas interviews with Pueblo Police presented during trial for Kelsie Schelling’s murder,” by Heather Willard. Published February 25, 2021. Accessed June 1, 2026 via website.
- KOAA News5 (Colorado Springs and Pueblo, CO): “Experts testify Tuesday on various evidence found in Schelling’s car.” Published on March 2, 2021. Accessed June 1, 2026 via website.
- The Akron News Reporter (Akron, CO): “Lucas found guilty in the murder of Kelsie Schelling,” by Alicia Barry. Published March 10, 2021. Accessed June 1, 2026 via website.