Latest: Ex tried to avoid man arrested in missing woman case

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Latest on the disappearance of a Missouri woman whose burned car was found abandoned. (all times local):

10:20 a.m.

Court records show a Missouri man arrested in the destruction of a missing woman’s car was the subject of a 2007 restraining order to protect his ex-girlfriend who subsequently disappeared.

Twenty-seven-year-old Kylr Yust was arrested Sunday on charges that he burned Jessica Runions’ car, which was found abandoned in south Kansas City, Missouri. Runions was last seen leaving a party on Thursday night, and her mother reported her missing Friday evening.

Yust has not been charged in the 21-year-old woman’s disappearance, and it’s unclear if he has an attorney.

Court records show that after filing for a protection order against Yust in 2007, 17-year-old Kara Kopetsky disappeared and remains missing. Yust wasn’t charged in her case, and investigators didn’t return telephone messages Monday.

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6:30 a.m.

Authorities say a man is in custody accused of burning the vehicle of a suburban Kansas City woman who hasn’t been seen since last week.

Kansas City Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kari Thompson says 27-year-old Kylr Yust was taken into custody around 8:30 Sunday morning in Edwards, Missouri. Thompson says Yust was arrested on charges of “knowingly burning” Jessica Runions’ vehicle, which was found abandoned by a road in southern Kansas City Saturday.

Police say Runions’ disappearance is considered a suspicious missing persons case.

KSHB-TV reports Yust is being held on a $50,000 cash only bond. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

Runions was last seen leaving for a party Thursday night. Her mother reported her missing Friday evening.

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