'They basically did nothing' Topeka mom reflects on 25-year-old cold case

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Topeka native Jennifer Lancaster was last seen by her mother more than 25 years ago.

Jennifer left her and her mother's apartment at 8 p.m. on May 12, 2000 with both her daughters, one-year-old Sidney Smith and five-week-old Monique Smith, to use a local laundromat, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). Their apartment had a washer and dryer, but Jennifer's mother, Vicki Lancaster, didn't think much of it at the time.

Jennifer’s 1994 Jeep Cherokee was found abandoned with all her belongings removed from the vehicle, including the two infants' car seats, according to the KBI. Weeks later, mail addressed to Jennifer arrived at the apartment from a Steak n Shake in St. Louis, Missouri thanking her for her comment on the food and service she experienced inside the restaurant. This was the last physical link Vicki Lancaster ever had with her daughter. 

For more than 25 years this missing persons case has captivated the minds of true-crime fans across the country, but investigators believed there was no foul play involved. Nonetheless, the Topeka Police Department and the KBI have spent the last two-and-a-half decades waiting for activity on Jennifer, Sidney or Monique’s social security numbers, potential sightings, or any information regarding their whereabouts. There had been no news on this case for 25 years, until recently.

A woman claiming to be Monique Smith appeared on TikTok from Ontario, Canada on June 1. The woman claims the family she’s known her entire life are not her real family. She claims in a TikTok video that her “dad” abducted her, and that she has been exploited by her supposed family since she was a child. 

Recently, Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat of the Crime Junkie Podcast released an episode about the case. They were recently in contact with the woman claiming to be Monique, as well as the Lancaster family, and helped both parties to set up a DNA test with the TPD/KBI to figure out whether or not these claims are true. These samples were sent in June, and according to Vicki Lancaster, they have yet to do anything with them.

Nonetheless, the Crime Junkie Podcast had it's own DNA test done, without TPD/KBI involvement. Recently these tests came back negative. 27 News reached out to both the police department and bureau of investigation on July 22. As of August 12 they have yet to comment.

"Jennifer went missing 25 years ago, and it feels like 25 minutes," Vicki Lancaster said. "The Topeka Police Department basically did nothing."

Vicki Lancaster said she felt as though the investigation was going well when it began. But when the original detective on the case retired and a new one was appointed, she believes the case lost all momentum.

Vicki Lancaster said the new detective at some point during their investigation put a note in the case file telling investigators to not contact the family, something that Lancaster did not request. She said that line is still in the case today, and that police continues to not contact her, or anybody else, about the case.

"Not knowing anything is worse than knowing she is dead," Vicki Lancaster said. "I expected help from the police. It's not like a car went missing, we're talking about three people."

Although some details have been lost over the last two decades, the night Jennifer went missing is burned into Vicki Lancaster's mind. She said she knows this case is not unique, and that thousands of families every year have to deal with a loved one disappearing. Lancaster wants people to know they're not alone, and while it's sad many can't get any help, people still have to have hope that one day they'll know what happened to their loved ones.

If you have any information about Jennifer Lancaster's disappearance, or any other missing persons case, you're encouraged to submit a tip to the KBI.

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