KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Neighbors still are picking up the pieces after a deadly Fourth of July in their own backyard.
The Olathe Police Department is investigating an early morning robbery-turned-homicide that occurred Sunday in the 800 block of North Hamilton Street. Officers were called to an aggravated burglary in progress just before 3 a.m. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 42-year-old woman dead inside the residence.
Olathe police on Monday identified the victim as Jessica L. Smith, of Olathe. Police have not said how she died.
“Knowing that it’s directly across the street…. it’s pretty heartbreaking," Daniel Godt, who lives in the area, said.
Godt described the neighborhood as "active," but said nothing of this magnitude has happened in the five years he has lived nearby.
“I wish we had known that something like this was getting ready to happen," he said.
Neighbor Anthony Blurton said the victim lives next door to his nephew and he spoke with her in passing on occasion.
"I didn’t think nothing like that would happen in this neighborhood," he said.
The suspect, according to police, fled the scene before officers arrived.
“Obviously, when you’re in a celebratory mood and something like this happens, it’s obviously shocking," Olathe Deputy Chief Jack Fahrnow said. “I am confident at some point we will have an outcome that will bring this case to rest.”
Detectives are interviewing people of interest in the case. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call police.
