Pueblo police trying to search iPhone of Kelsie Schelling’s boyfriend for clues to disappearance

The Pueblo Police Department is trying to search the iPhone of Kelsie Schelling’s boyfriend, for clues to her disappearance.

Deputy Chief Andrew McLachlan with Pueblo Police Department says they’re having a difficult time getting the information they need from Donthe Lucas’ iPhone. He was her last known contact.

“We’ve gotten conflicting information from them regarding what the status of the phone was, and that’s a frustration in itself,” said Laura Saxton, Schelling’s mother.

Saxton wonders – why now.

“I’m a little baffled with what’s going on and why all of the sudden there’s talk of it after this period of time,” said Saxton.

Investigators have tried to break into the phone for months, but say Apple makes it very difficult. That’s also been the case for the FBI in the San Bernardino shootings.

Pueblo PD says they’re waiting to see how that plays out before moving forward. Saxton says there are other options.

“Donthe is alive, they can use the court to try and get the password from him and if he doesn’t comply he can be held in contempt,” said Saxton.

McLachlan says he could try and get the warrant to make Lucas open his phone. If that happens, there has to be another hearing and Lucas’ attorney could argue that the police made him self-incriminate himself and they could lose the cellphone as evidence, if there is any.

Schelling’s was eight weeks pregnant when she visited Pueblo in 2013. She planned to meet Lucas, the father of her unborn child, to discuss her pregnancy.

Schelling’s family has been searching since.

“There’s a lot of things that we feel should have been done by police and were not done. It’s just heartbreaking,” said Saxton.

Saxton filed a lawsuit against the Police Department, claiming they mishandled the case. The lawsuit also names Donthe Lucas and three relatives.