In June 2, 2007, Kelsey was abducted in broad daylight from a local department store. About 3 hours later her car was found in the mall parking lot. Surveillance video eventually revealed Kelsey purchasing a gift, walking out to her car and then her abduction. Family and friends began to search for her and to put flyers up. The effort to find Kelsey grew so large the volunteers became known as "Kelsey's Army". On June 6, 2007, Kelsey's body was found. Forensic evidence revealed that she was sexually assaulted and strangled to death. She had graduated from high school just 9 days before being murdered. The person accused was arrested the same day. On July 23, 2008, Kelsey's killer pled GUILTY to all four charges of kidnapping, rape, sodomy and capital murder. On September 16, 2008, he was sentenced to life in prison without any chance of parole. He is institutionalized with the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Beyond local Kansas City news coverage, Kelsey's disappearance and murder received prominent national media attention, due in large part to her parents, Greg and Missey Smith. Greg has 17 years of law enforcement experience and was a police officer at the time of her abduction. On July 7, 2007, they established the Kelsey Smith Foundation to honor their daughter by empowering families, friends, and communities to proactively protect one of its most precious resources, namely its youth and young adults. To honor and perpetuate the life of Kelsey Smith by empowering families, friends, and communities to proactively protect one of its most precious resources, namely its youth and young adults? Offers Safety Awareness Seminars with the latest information to keep youth and young adults safe. Works for the adoption nationwide of The Kelsey Smith Act, named in memory of Kelsey, was signed into law April 17, 2009 by then Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. The Act was proposed by Missey & Greg Smith, Kelsey's parents. Kansas State Representative Rob Olson (now a Kansas State Senator) sponsored the legislation and worked with Missey & Greg to get the bill passed. The Kelsey Smith Act provides law enforcement with a way to quickly ascertain the location of a wireless telecommunications device if a person has been determined, by law enforcement, to be at risk of death or serious physical harm due to being kidnapped and/or missing.