Search fatalities

On 12/15/2025, De Soto Police Department officers responded to a report of a stabbing at the Panasonic plant in De Soto, Kansas. Upon arrival, officers encountered a suspect who had stabbed another person. During the encounter, officers fired their weapons, killing the suspect. A separate victim was critically injured in the stabbing. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the investigation of the officer-involved shooting and stabbing.

https://www2.ljworld.com/news/state-regional/2025/dec/15/update-suspect-in-stabbing-killed-in-officer-involved-shooting-at-panasonic-plant/

On 11/15/2025, deputies responded to a domestic disturbance near South Topeka Boulevard and 113th Street in Carbondale. Within minutes of arriving officers were met with gunfire and returned fire. Stephen M. McMillan was shot and killed at the scene. Four officers were shot and injured and a seventy seven year old man at the residence was also injured. Authorities reported no continuing threat to the public.

https://www.kmbc.com/article/4-law-enforcement-officers-shot-in-rural-osage-county-ks/69447091
https://www.wibw.com/2025/11/15/three-deputies-trooper-shot-osage-county/
https://www.kwch.com/2025/11/16/suspect-dead-four-officers-injured-after-officer-involved-shooting-osage-county/

On 10/31/2025, Wichita police attempted to stop a vehicle in east Wichita after identifying 16-year-old Dreshawn Hardyway, who was reportedly violating probation conditions. Hardyway fled in a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu with several passengers. The pursuit ended when the vehicle collided with a 2021 Chrysler Voyager near 8th Street and Edgemoor Street. Hardyway was transported to Wesley Medical Center and died from his injuries on 11/03/2025.

https://www.kwch.com/2025/11/05/teen-involved-police-chase-crash-east-wichita-dies-injuries/
https://jcpost.com/posts/b8a1cf42-42d0-4bf6-950e-5505522abc93
https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article312795355.html

On October 26, 2025, Morgan Nikolai Stephens, 36, of Burlington, Colorado, died after his 2024 RAM truck veered off the road on Kansas Highway 27 north of Syracuse in Hamilton County, Kansas. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that the vehicle entered the shoulder, over-corrected, and rolled multiple times. Stephens was not wearing a seatbelt and later died at the hospital.

https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/colorado-man-dies-following-rollover-crash-in-western-kansas/
https://www.wibw.com/2025/10/27/colorado-man-killed-sunday-in-southwest-kansas-rollover-crash/
https://www.westernkansasnews.com/colorado-man-dies-in-rollover-crash-in-hamilton-county/

On 09/30/2025, police pursued a vehicle in Owasso, Oklahoma. The chase crossed into Kansas and continued into Coffeyville. At the intersection of Patterson Boulevard and Eighth Street, the fleeing vehicle ran a red light and struck a car carrying two sisters. Serafina L. O’Connell, 15, was critically injured and later died from her injuries. Her 17-year-old sister sustained minor injuries. The reason for the fatal chase was retail shoplifting, not an emergency.

https://www.iolaregister.com/news/state-news/missouri-woman-charged-in-teens-death
https://www.koamnewsnow.com/news/local/teen-crash-victim-from-friday-in-coffeyville-has-now-died-charges-upgraded/article_7cb68d9c-96ea-11ef-b2a1-7f47f9ce59c8.html
https://www.kake.com/story/51347943/kansas-teen-dies-days-after-crash-caused-by-fleeing-driver-police

On 09/28/2025, police in Hays, Kansas responded to a domestic violence call after a woman reported her partner had rammed her vehicle. Officers and a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper located the man, Zane Wickham, at his home on Downing Avenue. A standoff ensued involving negotiators, drones, and tactical teams. Around 6:15 a.m., police entered the residence and found Wickham dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

https://www.police1.com/officer-down/kan-officer-shot-killed-by-domestic-violence-suspect
https://apnews.com/article/76a52c104327e3cad9d21fe654814815
https://www.ksnblocal4.com/2025/09/28/hays-pd-officer-killed-on-duty-responding-domestic-violence-call-suspect-dead-officer-identified/
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KSKBI/bulletins/3f4c371

On September 26, 2025, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers attempted to stop a 2024 Jeep driven by 38-year-old Tenisha D. Mayberry of Blue Springs, Missouri, for unspecified reasons. The vehicle continued driving, and troopers escalated a pursuit through Ellis County. The Jeep later crashed along U.S. Highway 183. Multiple people were injured, and a 17-year-old male passenger was transported to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Mayberry was arrested and initially charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement; additional charges were filed following the passenger’s death.

https://hayspost.com/posts/92a8e3c3-3d2b-4a7d-8129-3e5692e6e61b
https://www.ksn.com/news/local/teen-dies-after-high-speed-chase-crash-near-hays/
https://www.kwch.com/2025/09/29/driver-charged-after-fatal-chase-crash-ellis-county/

On 08/16/2025, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Hays Police responded to a domestic violence call after a minor reported a man and woman fighting inside a home and that the man had a firearm. Two other minors were present. The man refused to let anyone leave, prompting a standoff with Hays PD, Kansas Highway Patrol, and a crisis negotiator. At 1:22 a.m., the adult woman exited with head trauma and was hospitalized. At 6:42 a.m., the minors were evacuated safely. Negotiators continued speaking with the man when officers heard a gunshot. At 8:15 a.m., he was found dead inside the home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation.

https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/hays-police-investigating-death-following-domestic-dispute-standoff/
https://www.kwch.com/2025/08/17/hays-man-dead-after-hours-long-standoff-related-domestic-violence-call-believed-be-self-inflicted-gunshot/
https://hayspost.com/posts/200ae96d-ffc6-4157-a219-bb272dd1e9dc

On 08/11/2025, at approximately 7:14 p.m., Wichita Police Department officers responded to the 500 block of North Hillside outside Wesley Medical Center after receiving reports of a shooting. Officers found Terri Stidham suffering from a gunshot wound to her upper body. She was taken into Wesley Medical Center for emergency surgery but died from her injuries. Police identified Stidham's former husband, 47-year-old Robert John Schoenberger Jr., as the person they believed was responsible for the shooting.
According to Wichita Police, Stidham had been driving a vehicle with Schoenberger riding as a passenger when a disturbance developed between them. Police alleged that Stidham stopped outside Wesley Medical Center and got out of the vehicle in an attempt to get away. Investigators alleged that Schoenberger remained in the vehicle and fired at Stidham, striking her, before leaving the area on foot with a firearm. Gunfire also struck the hospital building.
Police subsequently identified Schoenberger as Stidham's ex-husband and reported that he was on parole and had removed his electronic ankle monitor. Authorities issued an alert identifying him as armed and dangerous and began searching for him.
On 08/12/2025, police received information that Schoenberger was inside an apartment in the 2300 block of North Somerset Street, near 21st Street and Amidon Avenue. Officers arrived shortly before 1:00 p.m., surrounded the apartment building and deployed the Wichita Police Department SWAT team. Police attempted for several hours to establish contact with Schoenberger and persuade him to leave the apartment peacefully.
After receiving no response, police eventually deployed a drone into the apartment. At approximately 4:47 p.m., the drone located Schoenberger inside suffering from what police determined was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officers entered the apartment and confirmed that he was dead. No Wichita officer fired a weapon during the standoff.
Schoenberger died while surrounded by police and SWAT officers actively attempting to apprehend him for Stidham's killing. His death is therefore classified in this database as suicide under police duress.

https://www.kwch.com/2025/08/12/suspect-shooting-outside-wesley-medical-center-found-dead-following-standoff
https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article289153247.html
https://www.ksn.com/news/local/suspect-in-wesley-medical-center-shooting-found-dead-after-standoff-in-west-wichita

On 08/08/2025, at approximately 2:49 p.m., 24-year-old Paul Beasley Jr. entered Crown Tobacco at 8301 State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Beasley allegedly pointed a firearm at the cashier but did not attempt to take money or merchandise. Instead, he instructed the cashier to call 911 and tell dispatchers that the store was being robbed. The store owner later confirmed that Beasley did not try to steal anything and appeared to have deliberately summoned police to the business.
Approximately one minute later, a Kansas City, Kansas Police Department officer entered the store. The KBI alleged that the officer saw Beasley holding a firearm and retreated outside. Beasley followed the officer from the business to the parking lot, where additional KCKPD officers had arrived. Five officers then opened fire, striking Beasley. Officers provided medical aid until EMS transported him to a hospital, where he died.
The circumstances surrounding the encounter raised substantial questions about whether Beasley had intentionally created a confrontation with police during a mental health crisis. His family subsequently said he had been experiencing serious psychiatric problems before his death. His cousin, Asura Imen, said Beasley's problems began after he took what the family believed was a psychedelic drug that may have been adulterated while he was in Denver. Family members said he had subsequently been hospitalized multiple times for mental health problems but had not received adequate long-term treatment.
Beasley's family also disclosed that he had experienced a major personal trauma when his oldest child died in his arms from an previously undiagnosed heart defect. Relatives described Beasley as a father of two who cared for his family and said that his mental health had deteriorated before the police encounter. His unusual conduct at Crown Tobacco — allegedly displaying a gun while specifically ordering the cashier to summon police without attempting to steal anything — is consistent with the family's account that he was experiencing a severe mental health crisis immediately before his death.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation assumed responsibility for the independent investigation at approximately 3:10 p.m. KBI agents and its Crime Scene Response Team processed the scene and investigated the actions of the five KCKPD officers who fired. The KBI stated that its initial description was preliminary and based on early evidence and statements and specifically cautioned that it did not represent the final investigative findings. The completed investigation was to be submitted to the Wyandotte County District Attorney's Office for a determination concerning criminal charges.
The five Kansas City, Kansas police officers who fired at Beasley have not been publicly identified in the KBI release or the subsequent news reporting located for this update.Searches using Beasley's name, the Crown Tobacco address, the KBI investigation, subsequent prosecutor references and later reporting through August 2026 did not produce a reliable public identification of the five shooters.

https://sunflowerstateradio.com/2025/08/08/officer-involved-shooting-in-kansas-city-2/
https://www.wibw.com/2025/08/08/shooting-involving-kansas-city-kansas-police-injures-1-person/

On 07/30/2025, multiple agencies surrounded the Mott House, a well-known transgender support house in Topeka, after locating Carlos Slaughter inside. Topeka Police, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, FBI agents, and SWAT units established a perimeter and conducted a prolonged standoff. Negotiations failed, and SWAT units breached the property, smashing multiple windows and forcing entry through doors despite reports that a rear door may have been open. Drones were deployed to monitor interior activity. The breaches caused significant structural and interior damage, including shattered glass across the yard, displaced furniture, and scattered belongings. Inside, Slaughter was found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The operation’s level of physical destruction has drawn public criticism due to the building’s role as a safe space for the transgender community. Repairs, including new window installation and yard cleanup, began shortly after the incident.

https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/crime/2025/07/30/suspect-in-oklahoma-homicide-dies-at-topeka-transgender-support-house/85443903007/
https://www.wibw.com/2025/07/30/oklahoma-city-homicide-suspect-later-found-dead-possible-suicide-was-located-topeka-officials-say/
https://freepressokc.com/suspect-in-okc-homicide-dies-during-standoff-in-kansas/
https://okcfox.com/news/local/suspect-in-deadly-okc-house-fire-identified-found-dead-in-kansas-oklahoma-city-police-department-topeka-kansas-standoff-found-dead-victim-woman-house-fire-homicide-injuries/
https://www.advocate.com/crime/mott-house-transgender-damaged-police 

On 07/24/2025, an on-duty Wichita Police Department officer was concluding a shift in the parking lot of the North Patrol Substation at 3015 E. 21st Street North when 19-year-old Nehemiah C. Flemming and another male approached him. According to investigators, Flemming asked the officer about the department's policy on shooting people who are armed with guns.
Investigators stated that Flemming then produced a handgun, leading to a brief physical struggle during which he pointed the weapon at the officer. The officer took cover, and two nearby officers—one on duty and one off duty—fired their weapons, striking Flemming. Officers rendered emergency medical aid before he was transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. The second male fled before the shooting but was later located without incident. Preliminary interviews with Flemming's family indicated he had been making suicidal statements before the encounter, and investigators stated they believed the incident may have been a suicide-by-police event.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation through the Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team. As of the latest publicly available information, the officers involved have not been publicly identified, and no public prosecutorial findings or charging decision have been announced.

https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/shooting-leaves-1-injured-outside-northeast-wichita-police-substation/
https://www.kwch.com/2025/07/24/one-hurt-shooting-near-wichita-police-station/
https://hayspost.com/posts/93d312ea-863a-4f66-9cb7-7cc683d8c364
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/wichita-kansas-shooting-1-person-critically-injured-after-gunfire-erupts-outside-of-police-substation-101753365560643.html
https://www.kake.com/story/50973929/police-identify-man-shot-killed-by-officers-outside-substation-in-wichita

On 06/27/2025, around 9:28 p.m., Deputy Brandon Gaede, 30, with the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a report of illegal fireworks at a residence on 1st Street in Phillipsburg, Kansas. While attempting to arrest 27-year-old Kolton Griffith, a struggle broke out. Griffith produced a concealed handgun and shot Deputy Gaede. Gaede returned fire, killing Griffith. Deputy Gaede was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:24 p.m. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation.

https://www.kwch.com/2025/06/28/phillips-county-sheriffs-deputy-dies-suspect-dead-after-gunfire-exchanged-phillipsburg/
https://apnews.com/article/3e4d3622fa06fd816ada84878f3599a1

On June 22, 2025, around 3 a.m., Lenexa Police responded to a report of an armed person at the Lenexa Crossing apartment complex. Officers located the person in a parked vehicle near the clubhouse. Police say the person fired at officers, and officers returned fire. The person was transported to a hospital and later pronounced dead. The Johnson County Officer-Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team is conducting the investigation.

https://johnsoncountypost.com/2025/06/22/lenexa-crossing-officer-shooting-262291/
https://www.kmbc.com/article/lenexa-police-deadly-shooting-armed-suspect-johnson-county/60999606
https://www.ksn.com/news/kansas/kbi-investigating-officer-involved-shooting-in-lenexa/

On May 31, 2025, 54-year-old Michael Wayne Thomas died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while on a remote video interview with detectives from the Oklahoma City Police Department. The interview was part of an ongoing investigation into the 2010 murder of Julie Mitchell, in which Thomas had been named a person of interest. While speaking to detectives via Zoom from a wooded area near a Kansas casino, approximately 45 minutes into the call, Thomas drew a firearm and shot himself. The shooting was captured audibly on the call. His death occurred before police could reach his location.

https://people.com/person-interest-unsolved-murder-case-shoots-himself-head-zoom-call-authorities-reports-11748693
https://people.com/person-interest-unsolved-murder-suicide-zoom-call-authorities-reports-11748693

Anthony Marshall Jr., 47, accused of robbing an Equity Bank in Topeka, was chased by Kansas Highway Patrol across three counties on May 13, 2025. Troopers used stop sticks near the Bridgeport exit off I-135, disabling his car. After veering into a ditch, Marshall died from a self-inflicted gunshot and was pronounced dead at Salina Regional Health Center.

https://www.kwch.com/2025/05/13/khp-bank-robbery-suspect-dies-self-inflicted-gunshot-after-leading-troopers-3-county-chase/
https://hayspost.com/posts/7ddee477-b820-452f-8d7a-0c9c1e1e47cf
https://www.wibw.com/2025/05/13/update-robbery-suspect-dies-after-being-found-with-self-inflicted-gunshot/
https://www.ksnt.com/news/kansas/bank-robbery-suspect-dies-after-police-chase-across-kansas/
https://www.kake.com/story/50837170/robbery-suspect-dies-after-chase-across-kansas

On March 21, 2025, around 3:34 p.m., Kansas Highway Patrol troopers attempted a traffic stop on Daijon Estell, 24, to serve a warrant on Interstate 70 near the 7th Street exit in Kansas City, Kansas. Estell refused to exit the vehicle and pulled out a handgun. As troopers gave commands, he shot himself in the head. No officers discharged their weapons. A young child was found in the vehicle unharmed and was safely reunited with family. Estell was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:43 p.m. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation.

https://fox4kc.com/news/man-shoots-himself-while-being-arrested-by-kansas-troopers-on-i-70-kbi/
https://www.kmbc.com/article/suspect-shoots-himself-during-kck-traffic-stop/64259849
https://jcpost.com/posts/7bebaedc-dd2c-418a-92a6-739a654fb611
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article302578639.html
https://www.wibw.com/2025/03/22/kbi-investigating-suicide-traffic-stop-kansas-city/ 

On February 23, 2025, at approximately 4:00 a.m., Kansas City, Kansas, police officers responded to reports of an armed disturbance in the 700 block of Nebraska Avenue. Surveillance footage showed 33-year-old Brian Hilt attempting to damage property to enter an apartment building while armed with a firearm. A fire alarm was activated around 5:00 a.m., prompting the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department to respond. Upon observing the property damage, they contacted police. Two KCKPD officers encountered Hilt in a hallway and fired at him. Hilt was pronounced dead at the scene. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting an inquiry into the incident.

On February 6, 2025, around 1:30 p.m., a Labette County Sheriff's deputy observed a tan Ford F-150, driven by 52-year-old John H. Jones, run a stop sign at 20000 and Wallace Road near Oswego, Kansas. Upon noticing the deputy, Jones attempted evasive maneuvers, including driving through a field, and then fled northbound on Wallace Road at speeds exceeding 100 mph. During the pursuit, Jones forced multiple motorists off the road and attempted to ram the deputy's vehicle. He failed to negotiate a curve near 22097 Wallace Road, resulting in a collision with a tree. Jones was transported to Labette Health, where he died from his injuries. Authorities later discovered that Jones was driving with a suspended license and had outstanding warrants in Montgomery and Neosho counties. He also had prior convictions for aggravated burglary, theft, criminal threat, obstruction, and multiple drug-related offenses.

https://hayspost.com/posts/3ae1d882-5ed2-4898-bfe8-776275d6ab24 

On February 4, 2025, Salina Police Department officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance involving a male barricaded inside a residence with a child. After negotiations failed, the situation escalated, leading officers to open fire and fatally wound the individual. The child was rescued unharmed. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting an inquiry into the incident.

https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/news/child-rescued-suspect-shot-after-standoff-in-salina/

On January 31, 2025, Gove County Sheriff's deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at 517 W. 3rd Street in Grainfield, Kansas. Deputies encountered 30-year-old Ty Kaiser in a physical altercation with a 63-year-old male relative. Kaiser struck the man in the face. When deputies attempted to detain Kaiser, he initially complied but then resisted. A Taser was deployed but was ineffective. Kaiser then charged at a deputy and struck him multiple times. The deputy opened fire, striking Kaiser. Kaiser was transported to Gove County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The deputy and the 63-year-old man sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES: 1 fatality (Ty Kaiser); 2 injuries (deputy and 63-year-old male relative)

https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/man-fatally-shot-deputy-hospitalized-following-officer-involved-shooting-in-grainfield/ 

On January 30, 2025, at approximately 8:15 AM, a male individual exited his vehicle and moved toward police officers in Wichita, Kansas. The officers then shot and killed him. The incident is under investigation by the Wichita Police Department.

https://www.kake.com/home/man-dead-after-shooting-involving-kansas-deputy-kbi-says/article_3f59423a-e005-11ef-9bfe-876fc4ea9842.html

On January 27, 2025, a man sought in connection with a homicide in Anderson County, Kansas, was killed in a vehicle crash during a police chase in Kiowa County. The Kansas Highway Patrol initiated the pursuit after identifying the vehicle. The chase ended when the vehicle crashed, killing the driver. Authorities have not released further details about the incident.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WfYs0j7n7s

On January 27, 2025, Jerry Wayne Thompson, a 55-year-old man wanted in connection with a homicide in Anderson County, Kansas, died following a police pursuit that ended in a crash in Kiowa County. Thompson had been sought after 36-year-old Sheila Kendall was found dead in a residence he owned in Kincaid, Kansas.

After an arrest warrant was issued, the Kansas Highway Patrol located Thompson driving a stolen 2009 Ford Focus on U.S. 54 near Greensburg. When a trooper attempted to pull him over, he refused to stop. Officers escalated a chase, and the Kiowa County Sheriff's Office deployed stop sticks. Thompson lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, struck a field entrance, became airborne, and rolled over. He was ejected from the car and later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/person-dead-after-crash-in-kiowa-county/
https://www.wibw.com/2025/01/27/man-sought-anderson-county-homicide-dies-crash-during-friday-chase-kiowa-county/
https://www.iolaregister.com/news/local-news/suspect-in-anderson-county-homicide-dies-after-police-chase

https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/person-dead-after-crash-in-kiowa-county/

https://www.wibw.com/2025/01/27/man-sought-anderson-county-homicide-dies-crash-during-friday-chase-kiowa-county/

On January 25, 2025, officers from the Atchison Police Department responded to a hostage situation in Atchison, Kansas. During the standoff, Bryson McCray, 36, was shot and killed by police. APD says a hostage was freed; during the confrontation McCray exchanged fire with officers and was shot; KBI is investigating. No officer names released.

https://sunflowerstateradio.com/2025/01/25/officer-involved-shooting-in-atchison/https://www.kmbc.com/article/st-joseph-man-dies-police-shooting-atchison-hostage-standoff/63579286

On January 24, 2025, Wichita Police Department officers responded to a report of a man acting erratically in the 3800 block of South Oliver, near Spirit AeroSystems. Police shot and killed the man. He is believed to have been unarmed. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation into the incident.

1. https://www.kwch.com/2025/01/24/man-critically-injured-officer-involved-shooting-near-spirit-aerosystems/

On January 19, 2025, officers from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Haysville Police Department, supported by a regional SWAT team, executed an arrest warrant at a residence in the 100 block of Maple Street in Haysville, Kansas. The operation began with a full tactical deployment—armored vehicles were positioned for ballistic cover, entry teams staged with ballistic shields and breaching tools, and sniper-observer units established overwatch on surrounding angles.
Upon making entry into the home, officers encountered a male teenager who, according to official statements, pointed a firearm toward the entry team. SWAT operators opened fire, striking the individual. Immediate medical attention was provided, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is leading an independent review, which includes analysis of body-worn camera footage, ballistic trajectories, and officer statements. The name of the deceased has not been released publicly, and no injuries to officers were reported.

https://hayspost.com/posts/f6a6bf5f-ab6a-4da5-aa1f-2b3761990d32

On December 27, 2024, at approximately 9: 10 a.m., officers from the Great Bend Police Department responded to a disturbance call at 1516 7th Street in Great Bend, Kansas. Upon arrival, witnesses reported that 32-year-old Mario Martinez-Garcia had entered the workplace of 32-year-old Esmeralda Torres-Lopez, forced her outside, and shot her. Torres-Lopez was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 9: 55 a.m.
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Martinez-Garcia fled the scene in a white 2021 Chevy Silverado. Detectives spotted the vehicle speeding away and multiple law enforcement agencies escalated a chase. Officers deployed a tire deflation device, and a Barton County Sheriff's deputy performed a tactical vehicle intervention, causing the truck to leave the roadway and come to rest in a field near mile marker 191 on Highway 50 in Stafford County. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers found Martinez-Garcia deceased inside with a gunshot wound to his head. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.
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Total Fatalities/Injuries:
• Fatalities: 2 (Esmeralda Torres-Lopez, Mario Martinez-Garcia)

https://www.kwch.com/2024/12/27/2-dead-after-homicide-police-chase-apparent-suicide-barton-stafford-counties/

On December 26, 2024, at approximately 4: 45 p.m., a Leavenworth County sheriff's deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for a registration violation on County Road #1. The driver, identified as 31-year-old Brian Trober, did not stop. Police escalated a chase onto Interstate 70 where Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) then took over the pursuit after determining the vehicle was reported stolen. Approximately 20 minutes after the initial stop, Trober lost control of the vehicle while exiting from eastbound I-70 to southbound I-635. The vehicle struck a guardrail, overturned, and descended a rock embankment, coming to rest in a ditch. Trober was pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
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Total Fatalities/Injuries:
• Fatalities: 1 (Brian Trober)
• Injuries: 1 (female passenger, serious injuries)

https: //salinapost.com/posts/0901d371-f266-4b9e-a0de-bcdbc2636609

https: //fox4kc.com/news/pursuit-ends-in-deadly-crash-in-wyandotte-county/

On December 5, 2024, at approximately 8:52 p.m., the Douglas County Sheriff's Office responded to a distress call from a woman in the 900 block of East 2300 Road, south of Eudora, Kansas. An officer from the Eudora Police Department arrived first and heard a gunshot upon reaching the front door.
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Authorities contacted a 52-year-old male inside the residence, who was reportedly hostile and threatened to shoot law enforcement officers while locking himself in. Officers determined that a 44-year-old female inside the home was deceased.
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After several hours of phone communication, contact with the man was lost. Due to concerns about potential explosives, officers proceeded cautiously. At approximately 4:30 p.m. on December 6, the Kansas Highway Patrol entered the residence and found the man deceased from a presumed suicide.
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The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is conducting an internal investigation into the incident, meaning the same agency involved in the operation is responsible for reviewing its own actions, with no external oversight reported.
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NUMBER OF CASUALTIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER: 2 fatalities.
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Last Update: 12/06/2024

1. https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/2-found-dead-during-standoff-at-home-south-of-eudora

On December 5, 2024, at approximately 8:52 p.m., the Douglas County Sheriff's Office responded to a distress call from a woman in the 900 block of East 2300 Road, south of Eudora, Kansas. An officer from the Eudora Police Department arrived first and heard a gunshot upon reaching the front door.
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Authorities contacted a 52-year-old male inside the residence, who was reportedly hostile and threatened to shoot law enforcement officers while locking himself in. Officers determined that a 44-year-old female inside the home was deceased.
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After several hours of phone communication, contact with the man was lost. Due to concerns about potential explosives, officers proceeded cautiously. At approximately 4:30 p.m. on December 6, the Kansas Highway Patrol entered the residence and found the man deceased from a presumed suicide.
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The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is conducting an internal investigation into the incident, meaning the same agency involved in the operation is responsible for reviewing its own actions, with no external oversight reported.
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NUMBER OF CASUALTIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER: 2 fatalities.
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Last Update: 12/06/2024

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1. https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/2-found-dead-during-standoff-at-home-south-of-eudora

On October 28, 2024, 43-year-old Mandy Lynn Buckwalter was fatally injured in a head-on collision at the intersection of 29th Street North and Wilderness in Wichita, Kansas. Wichita Police Department officers were tracking a stolen 2024 Ford Transit van with assistance from the Kansas Highway Patrol’s (KHP) Air Support Unit.
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During the pursuit, officers deployed spike strips to deflate two of the vehicle’s tires. The driver continued driving, striking a police vehicle in the process. Officers claim they did not engage in a direct pursuit but maintained surveillance through aerial support. The vehicle eventually stopped at a business on North Webb Road, where two individuals fled on foot. The driver then stole a second vehicle from the business and continued driving. Police pursued the vehicle with a helicopter and an unknown number of police vehicles following, until the fleeing vehicle collided with Buckwalter’s eastbound 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. Buckwalter was pronounced deceased at the location.
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Mandy Buckwalter, a home assistant supervisor at Heartspring’s therapeutic school, worked with children with developmental disabilities and was described as a cherished colleague who made a lasting impact on many lives.
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The case remains under investigation by the Wichita Police Department, with findings to be reviewed by the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office.

https://greatbendpost.com/posts/524b674d-107b-4c2b-9c47-18405bdec4dc
https://www.wichita.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=11101
https://www.yahoo.com/news/woman-killed-ne-wichita-driver-195739045.html
https://www.elliottmortuary.com/obituary/mandy-buckwalter

On October 23, 2024, at approximately 2:55 p.m., staff at the Wyandotte County Detention Center in Kansas City, Kansas, responded to a medical emergency involving a Black male inmate in his 30s. Detention center personnel initiated life-saving measures and contacted emergency medical services. The inmate was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
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The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is conducting an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death. The inmate's identity has not been released pending family notification.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES DURING THIS INCIDENT: 1 fatality, 0 injuries.
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https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/kbi-investigating-after-inmate-dies-at-wyandotte-county-detention-center
https://www.kmbc.com/article/inmate-dies-medical-emergency-wyandotte-county-jail/62697704
https://fox4kc.com/news/kbi-investigating-wyandotte-county-jail-death/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/wyandotte-county-inmate-dies-medical-002952277.html

On October 12, 2024, at approximately 7:06 a.m., 27-year-old Jonathan Macias contacted 911, stating he was armed and intended to shoot individuals near the 6900 block of Childs Street in Wichita, Kansas. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Maize Police Department, and Park City Police Department, responded to the location. Officers observed Macias wearing what appeared to be body armor.
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Over the course of an hour, officers attempted to de-escalate the situation as Macias drove his vehicle erratically through the neighborhood, entering and exiting the car multiple times. Officers deployed spike strips to deflate the vehicle's tires; however, Macias continued driving. At approximately 8:15 a.m., Macias exited his vehicle, turned toward officers, and reached behind his back. Believing he was reaching for a weapon, officers discharged firearms and less-lethal bean bag rounds, striking Macias.
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Macias was pronounced deceased at the location. No weapon was found, and the vest he wore lacked ballistic panels. The incident is under investigation by the Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT), with the Wichita Police Department serving as the lead investigative agency.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES DURING THIS INCIDENT: 1 fatality, 0 injuries.
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Last Update: December 8, 2024

https://www.ksn.com/news/local/new-information-released-in-deadly-officer-involved-shooting-northwest-of-wichita/
https://www.hayspost.com/posts/ef7c2121-0109-4c20-b1cb-6e2ab8199c1d
https://www.yahoo.com/news/m-gonna-shoot-someone-police-182310042.html
https://www.centralavenuefuneralservices.com/obituary/Jonathan-Macias-1

On September 1, 2024, at approximately 1:39 a.m., officers from the Prairie Village Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a silver Chevrolet Malibu for a traffic violation near 63rd Street and State Line Road. The driver did not stop. Officers claim that they did not initiate a pursuit but observed the vehicle going eastbound at a high rate of speed, crossing into Kansas City, Missouri.
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The Chevrolet then traveled across a grassy median, struck a small tree on the west side of 62nd Street, vaulted across the street, and collided with a large tree, causing the vehicle to disintegrate. The driver, the sole occupant, was ejected and pronounced deceased at the location. The person remains unidentified as of the date of this update. The Kansas City Police Department is investigating the incident.

https://www.kmbc.com/article/driver-dies-traffic-stop-in-prairie-village/62028541
https://fox4kc.com/news/one-dead-after-crashing-into-tree-near-state-line-road-in-kansas-city/
https://salinapost.com/posts/3cc2ef6e-2390-43e3-ac90-eb756bbaf77d
https://www.yahoo.com/news/one-dead-ejection-vehicle-speeding-155243600.html

On 08/29/2024, shortly before 3 p.m., Coffeyville Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on a Ford pickup driven by Derik J. Trotter, 33, near 4th Street and Poplar Place in Coffeyville. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation reported that Trotter was connected to an active investigation and that officers intended to detain him while serving a search warrant for items in his possession.
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Three Coffeyville police officers were present, and two approached Trotter's pickup. According to the KBI's account, officers attempted to place Trotter in handcuffs, and police alleged that he physically resisted and attempted to escape. Two officers deployed Tasers during the encounter.
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The KBI alleged that Trotter continued physically resisting after the Tasers were deployed. One Coffeyville police officer then fired multiple rounds, striking Trotter. The KBI's initial release did not report that Trotter possessed or used a firearm during the encounter.
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Officers provided medical aid before EMS transported Trotter to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.
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The Coffeyville Police Department requested an independent investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation immediately after the shooting. KBI agents and its Crime Scene Response Team investigated, with the completed investigation designated for review by the Montgomery County Attorney.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND
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The Coffeyville Police Department did not publicly identify the officer who shot Trotter or the other officers involved in the encounter.

https://www.kansas.gov/kbi/docs/media%20releases/2024/Media%20Release%20-%20Fatal%20officer-involved%20shooting%20in%20Coffeyville.pdf
https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/news/kansas/fatal-officer-involved-shooting-in-coffeyville/
https://hayspost.com/posts/00b1ad1b-7361-472f-a494-7c75693ebab4
https://bartlesvilleradio.com/pages/news/431232024/kbi-investigates-coffeyville-police-shooting-death
https://www.kwch.com/2024/08/30/coffeyville-police-officer-shoots-kills-man-while-trying-make-arrest/
https://www.wibw.com/2024/08/30/fatal-officer-involved-shooting-coffeyville/

On 08/27/2024, 17-month-old Mixalis Papalas-Schultz died at Children’s Mercy Hospital from injuries sustained two days earlier when the vehicle in which he was a passenger crashed during an Atchison County Sheriff’s Office pursuit south of Atchison.
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The incident began at approximately 5:30 p.m. on 08/25/2024, when Atchison police received a report that a vehicle had crashed into a wall in the 700 block of S Street and then left the scene. Police were told that the vehicle had lost its front bumper in the collision.
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Approximately 10 minutes later, an Atchison County sheriff’s deputy spotted a vehicle matching that description parked in the grass along Sherman Road south of the Atchison city limits, just north of 244th Road. The deputy passed the vehicle, turned around, activated the patrol vehicle’s emergency lights and pulled in behind it.
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The deputy approached the driver’s side and began speaking with the driver, identified as Maria Papalas, 28. According to the Atchison County Sheriff’s Office, Papalas began rolling up the window and then drove away at high speed. The deputy did not realize that 17-month-old Mixalis was in the back seat.
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The deputy followed Papalas south on Sherman Road but lost sight of the Toyota Corolla. After traveling south of 242nd Road, the deputy saw a cloud of dust on the west side of Sherman Road and discovered that the Toyota had left the roadway, crossed a fence and crashed into trees after rolling multiple times.
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When the deputy reached the wrecked Toyota, Papalas was outside the vehicle and reaching through a window to remove Mixalis from the back seat. The deputy attempted to take Papalas into custody, and police alleged that she struck and kicked the deputy during the encounter. After taking her into custody, the deputy provided assistance to the critically injured child until Atchison County Rescue and EMS arrived.
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Mixalis was transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City with life-threatening injuries. He remained hospitalized until approximately 2:25 p.m. on 08/27/2024, when he died from his injuries.
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Initial Kansas Highway Patrol reporting stated that Mixalis had been properly restrained in a child safety restraint during the crash. However, later court proceedings produced contrary evidence. At Papalas’s 2025 criminal case, evidence showed that Mixalis had not been properly restrained in a car seat when the crash occurred.
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Papalas was initially charged with first-degree murder committed during the commission of a felony, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, aggravated child endangerment, interference with law enforcement, battery on a law-enforcement officer, driving under the influence, marijuana possession and reckless driving.
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In May 2025, Papalas pleaded no contest under a plea agreement to amended charges of second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated endangering a child. The remaining charges were dismissed.
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On 06/24/2025, an Atchison County District Court judge sentenced Papalas to a total of 303 months in prison, or 25 years and three months, for second-degree murder and the two aggravated child-endangerment convictions.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND
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The Atchison County Sheriff’s Office did not publicly identify the deputy who initiated the pursuit preceding the crash that ultimately killed Mixalis.

https://hayspost.com/posts/5a96b362-23b7-425c-a556-0850fce680ca
https://fox4kc.com/news/1-year-old-boy-killed-in-police-chase-crash-in-atchison-kansas/
https://www.mscnews.net/news/?nk=78128
https://www.kmbc.com/article/atchison-kansas-woman-charged-with-murder-in-chase-that-killed-1-year-old/61999629
https://www.wibw.com/2024/08/26/child-seriously-injured-crash-during-atchison-county-police-chase/
https://www.newspressnow.com/public-safety/2024/08/29/atchison-mother-charged-after-1-year-old-dies-following-police-pursuit/
https://www.wibw.com/2024/08/29/woman-jailed-after-child-dies-injuries-sunday-crash-during-police-chase-near-atchison/
https://mscnews.net/local-news/814408/atchison-woman-sentenced-on-charges-in-fatal-crash
https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-woman-sentenced-child-killed-police-chase/65175835

On 08/19/2024, Gerald Dwain “Jerry” Rahier II, 42, was killed when Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ethan Masterson crashed his patrol SUV into the driver’s side of Rahier’s 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe at the rural intersection of 100 South Road and 40 East Road in Sheridan County. Masterson was responding to a separate fatal crash on K-23 south of Hoxie.
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Masterson was traveling west on 100 South Road while Rahier was traveling south on 40 East Road. Kansas Highway Patrol reported that Masterson had his emergency lights and siren activated as he approached the intersection. Masterson entered the intersection and struck the driver’s side of Rahier’s Tahoe. The intersection was described in later reporting as an intersection of two dirt roads that apparently did not have stop signs.
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The collision killed Rahier at the scene. His partner, Arielle C. Lemos, and their two young children were also in the Tahoe. All three were injured. One child was airlifted after suffering particularly serious injuries. All four people in Rahier’s vehicle were restrained.
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The family disputed the Kansas Highway Patrol’s account that Masterson was operating with his emergency lights and siren activated. A fundraiser established for the family stated that the trooper was speeding and did not have his lights and siren operating. KHP maintained that both emergency lights and siren were activated.
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The Kansas Highway Patrol Critical Highway Accident Response Team investigated the fatal collision.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND
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Ethan Masterson was the Kansas Highway Patrol trooper driving the patrol SUV that struck Rahier’s vehicle.
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https://hayspost.com/posts/e8bc65fe-6f82-4a75-88dc-17cdc994ae42
https://salinapost.com/posts/72411cb0-d25a-423c-9908-6bc6c728ddda
https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/kansas-trooper-involved-in-fatal-crash-while-responding-to-a-fatal-crash/
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/32835749/gerald-d.-rahier
https://www.kwch.com/2024/08/20/khp-trooper-involved-fatal-crash-sheridan-county/
https://www.kansas.com/news/state/article291262700.html
GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-arielle-and-her-boys-after-tragic-accident

On 07/31/2024, Wichita Police Department officers conducting surveillance near a location under investigation for drug trafficking observed a black Chevrolet Impala with an altered and expired registration tag leaving the area. Officers initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle pulled into the McDonald's parking lot at 545 North Hillside Street in Wichita.
Officers contacted the three occupants and observed 29-year-old Brennan Russell, who was seated in the rear passenger seat, making movements consistent with concealing an object beneath the seat. Officers ordered Russell from the vehicle and advised him he was under arrest. Russell refused to comply, and officers requested additional units. A Taser was deployed through the open rear passenger door but was ineffective.
According to investigators, Russell then drew a handgun from his waistband and pointed it toward one of the officers. A second officer, positioned behind the vehicle, observed Russell point the firearm at the first officer before turning the gun toward his own head. Russell fired a single shot into his head. Almost simultaneously, the first officer fired five rounds, striking Russell four times in the arm and torso. Officers provided CPR until EMS arrived, but Russell was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office conducted the independent investigation. Body-worn camera footage, witness statements, forensic evidence, and the autopsy were reviewed by the Sedgwick County District Attorney. In March 2026, District Attorney Marc Bennett concluded there was insufficient evidence to disprove that the officer acted in lawful self-defense and declined to file criminal charges. The coroner determined Russell's self-inflicted gunshot wound would have been fatal on its own, but the officer's gunfire likely accelerated his death, resulting in the manner of death being classified as homicide.
The district attorney's report also stated that investigators recovered a Kimber Micro 9 pistol, suspected narcotics, scales, packaging materials, and other drug-related items from the vehicle. Toxicology testing found fentanyl and other controlled substances in Russell's system at the time of his death.

https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriff/media-releases/wpd-officer-involved-shooting-73124/
https://www.kansas.com/news/article290797834.html
https://salinapost.com/posts/cb097a64-4f8b-4953-94e0-105f14976957

On 07/24/2024, officers with the Salina Police Department went to 544 N. 12th Street to serve an arrest warrant on Larry J. Wray Jr. Officers arrested Larry Wray Jr. without incident in a detached garage on the property. During the arrest, officers encountered 25-year-old Jesse D. Wray inside the garage. According to investigators, Wray displayed a firearm and threatened to shoot officers if they entered.
Officers established a perimeter and requested the Salina Police Department SWAT Team and the Kansas Highway Patrol for assistance. While officers awaited additional resources, smoke and flames began coming from the garage. A woman exited the garage with her hands raised, followed by Wray, who moved behind a parked truck in the driveway.
Investigators stated that Wray assumed a shooting stance while pointing a firearm toward officers. Two Salina police officers fired nine rounds but did not strike him. Wray then moved to the west side of the garage, where a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper and a Salina police officer fired four rounds, fatally wounding him. Wray was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was evaluated at Salina Regional Health Center and later released.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation and presented its findings to the Saline County Attorney. On 11/04/2024, Saline County Attorney Jeffery Ebel concluded that the officers' use of deadly force was legally justified and declined to file criminal charges. As of the latest publicly available information, the identities of the officers who fired have not been released.

https://www.kansas.gov/kbi/docs/media%20releases/2024/Media%20Release%20-%20Officer-involved%20shooting%20in%20Salina.pdf
https://salina311.com/update-findings-of-fatal-officer-involved-shooting-in-salina/
https://apnews.com/article/42c0b067bfb05ba395afa574c5d17893
https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Jesse-Wray