KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After a tear-filled, candle light vigil on Monday night, a family continues their fight for justice and answers.

35-year-old Jonathan Rodgers was found near Independence Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri’s, Northeast with serious injuries.

He later died at the hospital.

The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department said officers found Rodgers with bodily trauma on Independence Avenue after receiving another call for a response near the intersection of east 6th Street and Monroe Avenue

Both calls were connected to Rodgers.

Later investigation revealed Rodgers’ injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma.

Rodgers’ family is frustrated with KCPD over their lack of answers.

“Everybody’s just putting this off like, ‘Oh, he was homeless,’” Zelpha Rodgers, Jonathan’s mother, said. “He was not just a homeless person. He had a home, he had a family, he had children.”

Jack McCormick

Zelpha Rodgers has returned to the intersection of Sixth and Monroe many times, looking for any information about what led up to her son’s death.

She told KSHB 41 News police didn’t initially contact her, and now aren’t responding to her many calls for answers.

“I came down here searching that next morning,” she said. “They never notified me. Everything I know, I have found out on my own.”

Jonathan was living on the streets for periods of time, but would sometimes return home to his mother and three young children.

On Oct. 17, Zelpha says Jonathan decided to come home for good.

“He was just getting things back together,” Zelpha Rodgers said.

According to Zelpha, Jonathan had called her earlier that afternoon and had asked to be picked up at the dollar store on Independence Avenue.

“He tossed his bag in the front seat and said, ‘I’m running around to the ATM, I’ll be right back’,” Zelpha Rodgers said.

But that was the last time she saw her son.

After Jonathan did not return to the car for awhile, Zelpha says she had to take the children home for dinner and bed.

It wasn’t until her family pulled up a news article she realized her son may not be coming home.

“I want to know why my son’s case is being blown over like it’s just somebody that has no family, no nothing,” Zelpha Rodgers said.

KCPD has not identified any suspects or stated why Jonathan had bodily trauma. A spokesperson told KSHB 41 News detectives are actively investigating.

Unsolved crimes among the homeless community is an unfortunate occurrence Shelter KC’s executive director sees too often.

“It’s just not safe in the streets,” Eric Burger said. “It just isn’t.”

Brian Luton

Burger explained mental health issues and substance abuse struggles are contributing to the rising rates of chronic homelessness in the KC area.

“That already makes you vulnerable,” Burger said. “That already makes you into a situation where you are more susceptible to be victimized.”

Zelpha explained she refuses to let her son be just another victim.

“I cannot fully mourn or grieve until I got answers,” Zelpha Rodgers said.

If you are experiencing a housing crisis, you can call 211 to get in touch with the Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness and learn about housing resources.

If you know someone or see someone who is unhoused, calling 311 will notify the Kansas City outreach team who works directly with the shelters.

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KSHB 41 reporter Isabella Ledonne reports on stories about government accountability. Share your story idea with Isabella.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Applebee’s, once a major player in the Kansas City-area restaurant scene, announced Wednesday that eight restaurants owned by franchisees are closed, with only two remaining in the area.

“Applebee’s restaurants are independently owned and operated by franchisees,” said Tony Moralejo, president of Applebee’s. “The closure of eight restaurants in the Kansas City market look to be the result of financial circumstances and decisions made by the franchisee. This situation is unfortunate, and we continue to believe the Kansas City area is a great neighborhood for Applebee’s restaurants. We are exploring options about the future of these restaurants. Two Applebee’s restaurants continue to serve our guests in the Kansas City area.”

The restaurants still open are in Blue Springs at 1100 Northwest Missouri 7 Highway and in Gladstone at 6069 Antioch Road.

KSHB 41 received an email from a former employee who woke up to this message at 6:25 a.m. — “We regret to inform you that, effective immediately, the Applebee’s location where you are employed has permanently closed. You will be paid for all hours worked through October 29, 2024, with your final paycheck issued on November 12, 2024. For more details, please visit this link.”

The former employee stated in the email that the link was blank.

They also were not offered severance pay or jobs at the remaining restaurants.

Abe Gustin and John Hamra opened their first Applebee’s franchise in Kansas City, Missouri, under the restaurant’s new name — Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar.

By 1992, the company had 100 restaurants and in 2000, Applebee’s opened its 1,000th restaurant in Aurora, Colorado, according to the company’s history on its website.

Gustin and Hamra bought the company from W.R. Grace in 1988 and it went public in 1989, according to the company’s history. The 100th restaurant opened in 1992 in Nashville.

IHOP Corp. bought the company in 2007, creating the largest full-service restaurant company in the world.

Applebee’s corporate headquarters is in Pasadena, California.

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Severe storms, which may include high winds and tornadoes, are expected Wednesday in north-central and northeast Kansas, forecasters say.

The National Weather Service has upgraded from “slight” to “enhanced” the possibility those areas will see severe storms, which forecasters say will be most likely between 4 and 10 p.m.

“Thunderstorms will develop along a cold front as it moves southeast across the area today,” the weather service said in a graphic posted on the website of its Topeka office. “The potential hazards with the storms include damaging winds, a few tornadoes and hail.”

Forecasters have high confidence that north-central and northeast Kansas will see thunderstorms, that website said.

Storms may start as early as 11 a.m. over north-central Kansas, with the severe weather threat there beginning about 1 p.m., it said.

“Damaging winds are the most likely hazard,” the website said. “But there may be enough ingredients for a strong tornado or two.”

The site added: “The risk for tornadoes is a low probability/high impact setup in that it’s not ideal, but there are enough ingredients to be on alert. Storms are most likely going to move together in a line and the tornado concern is for spin-ups with the line of storms.”

Forecasters predicted Wednesday’s threat would be medium to high for high winds, medium for tornadoes, low to medium for hail and low for flooding.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.