A majority of true crime stories center on the criminal but the story of Ali Kemp is at heart, the story of an exceptional young woman, a father who would not quit and a legacy which continues to shield tens of thousands of women throughout the U.S.
The incident of June 18, 2002 in quiet Leawood, Kansas sent shock waves across the U.S. But from overwhelming pain sprang a 21 st Century model for civilian investigations and an epidemic movement for national self-defense.
Who Was Ali Kemp? A Life of Purpose
Alexandra “Ali” Kemp was a kind, selfless, young, student leader, only 19 years old. Ali had recently finished her freshman year at Kansas State University. She had attended Blue Valley North High School and had joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority at Kansas State.
She was a student-athlete and a three-sport player including volleyball, soccer, and basketball. Ali was active in many areas outside of school and sports. She was dedicated to helping others and often volunteered her time for her church as well as local charity programs. It was her greatest wish to visit Russia and assist needy and underprivileged children.
During the summer of 2002, Ali took a position as a lifeguard/pool manager at the swimming pool at the Foxborough neighborhood of Johnson County, Kansas. No one in town ever believed such a safe, secure environment could lead to harm.
Victim Biography: Alexandra “Ali” Kemp
| Data Metric | Profile Details |
| Full Name | Alexandra “Ali” Kemp |
| Date of Birth (DOB) | May 21, 1983 |
| Date of Death | June 18, 2002 |
| Age at Passing | 19 years old |
| Place of Birth | Overland Park, Johnson County, Kansas, USA |
| Hometown | Leawood, Kansas, USA |
| Residence (At Time of Death) | Leawood, Kansas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Zodiac / Birth Sign | Taurus |
| Religion | Christian (Methodist / United Methodist Church) |
| Profession / Occupation | College Student (Kansas State University), Pool Manager, and Lifeguard |
| Sorority Affiliation | Pi Beta Phi (Alpha Chi Chapter at K-State) |
| Education | Blue Valley North High School (Graduate); Kansas State University (Freshman) |
| Key Family Members | Roger Kemp (Father, Deceased 2022); Kathy Kemp (Mother); Tyler & Drew Kemp (Brothers) |
| Primary Claim to Fame | Namesake of The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation and the T.A.K.E. Defense Training program. |
Case, Crime Scene, & Judicial Matrix
| Analytical Factor | Case Specification Details |
| Associated Case Title | State of Kansas v. Benjamin Appleby |
| Specific Crime Category | Capital Murder, Attempted Rape |
| Crime Scene Location | Pump room of the Foxborough Neighborhood Swimming Pool |
| City / State of Crime | Leawood, Johnson County, Kansas |
| Date & Time of Crime | June 18, 2002 (Late afternoon hours) |
| Weapon/Method of Crime | Blunt force trauma (Beating) and Ligature Strangulation |
| Motive Identified | Attempted sexual assault |
| Arrest Date & Location | November 29, 2004 — Bantam, Litchfield County, Connecticut |
| Trial Court Location | Johnson County District Court, Kansas |
| Initial Court Verdict (2006) | Guilty of Capital Murder and Attempted Rape |
| Initial Court Decision | Sentenced to the “Hard 50” (Life imprisonment with zero parole eligibility for a minimum of 50 years) |
| Kansas Supreme Court Ruling | Upheld the Capital Murder conviction and “Hard 50” life sentence; vacated the redundant secondary sentence for attempted rape due to merger laws. |
| 10th Circuit Federal Court Appeal (2017) | All federal habeas corpus appeals completely denied; lower court lifetime sentencing finalized. |
| Earliest Possible Parole Date | November 2054 (Appleby will be ~79 years old) |
| Current Incarceration Facility | El Dorado Correctional Facility (Maximum Security), Kansas |
The Crime That Shocked Leawood, Kansas
The humid afternoon of June 18, 2002, took an unforgettable turn for Ali on an ordinary day at work. When she never came home nor answered her phone, her father Roger Kemp took it upon himself to check at the pool in her neighborhood.
There, Roger found Ali, savagely beaten to death, inside the pool’s pump room in a scene which would live with him forever. It was a random encounter, and an individual attacked, strangled, and killed Ali. With few immediate suspects or leads, it looked like the case might be cold.
Roger Kemp’s Relentless Hunt and the Billboard Campaign
Refusing to let his daughter’s case fade into obscurity, Roger Kemp took matters into his own hands. Working alongside law enforcement, he launched an unprecedented public awareness campaign that permanently changed how fugitive investigations are conducted.
- The Billboard Innovation: Partnering with Lamar Advertising, Roger established a massive billboard campaign featuring a composite sketch of the suspect. This localized approach caught national attention and prompted law enforcement agencies across the country to adopt billboard-based manhunts.
- National Media Mobilization: Roger successfully got Ali’s story featured on segments of America’s Most Wanted, ABC’s 20/20, and CBS Prime Time, ensuring millions of eyes were looking for her killer.
- A Community United: A reward fund of $50,000 was established, fueling thousands of tips over more than two years.
The Arrest and Conviction of Benjamin Appleby
The persistent effort was successful. In November 2004, investigators received exact tips and arrested a 29 year old man by the name of Benjamin Appleby in Bantam, CT. He was living as Teddy Hoover II in order to avoid a separate 1997 warrant.
Appleby had a small pool cleaning company in the Kansas area, so he would have been familiar with the pool layouts in that neighborhood at the time of the murder. The evidence of DNA was later used in order to link him to the crime scene and to force him to confess to the attempted rape and murder of Ali Kemp.
The Judicial Process
- 2006 Trial: Appleby was convicted of capital murder and received a “Hard 50” sentence, meaning he must serve a minimum of 50 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.
- Appeals: Appleby launched multiple legal challenges over the years—arguing that his confession was improperly obtained and attempting to have his sentence reduced.
- 2017 Federal Dismissal: The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver firmly rejected his final appeals, upholding his life sentence and ensuring he remains behind bars.
The T.A.K.E. Defense Training Movement
The Kemp family vowed that Ali’s killer would not claim another victim. In 2004, they established The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation, creating a personal safety program called T.A.K.E. Defense (Together Against Keyboard/Kemp Exploitation & Violence).
Managed for years with the tireless dedication of Roger Kemp (until his sudden passing in 2002) and Executive Director Jill Leiker, T.A.K.E. Defense provides low-cost and free self-defense training across the country.
| Feature | Details |
| Target Audience | Girls and women, specifically targeting university campuses. |
| Techniques Taught | Reality-based, effective physical defense requiring no prior martial arts experience. |
| Impact | Over 70,000 women and girls trained to fight back and escape dangerous scenarios. |
Master Chronology & Investigative Milestone Timeline
An optimized step-by-step chronological breakdown tracking how a neighborhood cold case turned into a pioneering blueprint for national law enforcement fugitive captures.
The Commission of the Crime
June 18, 2002
Ali Kemp is murdered inside the Foxborough community pool pump house. Her father, Roger Kemp, discovers her body. Local police seal the scene and collect DNA evidence.
The Investigation Stalls
2002 – 2003
Local law enforcement interviews hundreds of residents, pool users, and contractors, but fails to identify a definitive suspect matching the DNA profile.
The Billboard Innovation Inception
Summer 2003
Roger Kemp launches an independent, aggressive commercial highway billboard campaign showcasing a suspect composite sketch, fundamentally changing multi-jurisdictional detective strategies.
National Media Amplification
Late 2003
The case is broadcasted on prominent networks, including features on America’s Most Wanted, widening the investigative dragnet coast-to-coast.
Fugitive Capture in New England
November 2004
An anonymous informant in Connecticut alerts authorities after connecting Appleby’s likeness to the national broadcasts. Police arrest Appleby under his stolen alias, Teddy Hoover II.
Criminal Trial & Sentencing
2006
Following definitive genetic match verification against the crime scene DNA, Appleby is formally sentenced to a minimum of 50 years behind bars.
Final Federal Appellate Denial
September 2017
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismisses the final petition challenging his confession, exhausting all legal remedies for the defense.
Passing of Roger Kemp
March 1, 2022
Roger Kemp passes away at age 77, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a national victim advocate and a Presidential Citizens Medal recipient.
An Enduring Legacy: The Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award
Her legacy is also recognized institutionally. Annually, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri hosts the Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award. It recognizes young women, like Crystal Kipper and Ali Kemp, who have lost their lives to violence, by presenting law enforcement units or task forces who go above and beyond to keep kids safe and make community crime rates decrease (i.e. The FBI Transnational Organized Crime Squad’s major fentanyl and illegal firearms investigations) with this award. Although Ali Kemp was taken from us at just 19 years old, she will never be forgotten. Her name has become representative of strength, action and the true sense of female empowerment and through her foundation, she will always continue to be the meaning behind her full name: Alexandra, the helpful of mankind.
FAQs
Who killed Ali Kemp?
Ali Kemp was killed by Benjamin Appleby.
What was Benjamin Appleby’s sentence?
In 2006, Benjamin Appleby was convicted of capital murder in Johnson County, Kansas.
Where is Benjamin Appleby now?
Benjamin Appleby is currently serving his life sentence at the El Dorado Correctional Facility, a maximum-security state prison located in El Dorado, Kansas.
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