Jocelyn Ybarra was 23 when she was found dead inside her vehicle in the 1900 block of North 41st Terrace in Kansas City, Kansas, on June 2, 2018. She had suffered a fatal gunshot wound and was 12 weeks pregnant at the time. A neighbor reported hearing a scream and at least two gunshots before the vehicle rolled downhill and stopped in a driveway with its engine running and three doors open.

The investigation led to the arrest of 26-year-old Alora Mendoza. Mendoza originally faced two counts of first-degree felony murder and attempted aggravated robbery but in November 2018 pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless second-degree murder for the deaths of Jocelyn and her unborn child. Mendoza’s plea was tied to an agreement in which she was expected to testify against a co-defendant, Nicholas Magee.

In January 2020 a jury acquitted Nicholas Magee; the prosecution’s case relied heavily on Mendoza’s testimony and lacked weapon, DNA, or fingerprint evidence directly linking Magee to the homicide. The acquittal left Jocelyn’s family and the former Kansas City, Kansas Police Chief criticizing the handling of the case. If anyone has information about what happened that night, please come forward.