More than 200,000 unsolved cases have gone cold since 1980, and murder clearance rates continue to drop. Mr. Hees was pronounced dead at the scene. Unfortunately, the number of Kansas homicide and true crime stories in Kansas seems endless. The next morning, the friend sawthat Dykes was gone. Decks will be placed in dayrooms and other common areas, and available through the commissary for purchase by KDOC residents. The death was originally ruled a car accident, but was later revisited after the body of Pastor Bird's lover's husband was found shot to death along a Geary County highway. She was last seen at one of these bars prior to her disappearance. Mr. Porter was a contract worker for Spire Energyworking near 9th Street and Brooklyn Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. Over the years, Kansas has seen its fair share of unexplainable murders and various phenomena that have baffled both law enforcement and the general public alike. Love Kansas? Sure, its not among the ten states with the highest rates of murder per capita, but still anything below, like, top three is kind of a bummer to us. On the evening of December 29th 1999, teenaged best friends Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible went missing after Freeman's family home was set on fire. Unsolved homicide cases are from Cherokee, Dickinson, Doniphan, Finney, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Johnson, Leavenworth, Mitchell, Montgomery, Osage, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte counties. When officers arrived on scene they located a man unresponsive in the street next to a vehicle. On April 13, 2014, former White Patriot Party leader Glenn Miller walked into the Overland Park Jewish Community Center and opened fire, killing three. The victim, Gina Cyphers, 24 years of age, was found by her live-in boyfriend, Jimmie Anderson. Anonymous information to Crime Stoppers leading to an arrest or filing of charges is eligible for "up to $27,500.00" in reward money. In October 1991, Independence, Missouri bus driver Tyrone Rollins discovered the body of Overland Park businessman Gary Simmons inside a hidden cave behind his bus barn. Autopsies determined both victims had been shot numerous times. You put yourself in our shoes and stop and think, how would you feel if it was one of your loved ones? she said. At about 9:45 p.m., two people described as black males in their late teens/early 20s robbed Allens mother and shot and killed Allen. Colorado Ave., where they found Jeffery Lewis, 40, inthe front yard with a fatal gunshot wound to hishead. [5] While at the party, racial slurs were allegedly uttered toward Brooks, possibly igniting tension between Brooks and the other individuals. Anyone with any information about any of these cases is urged to call the police department where the crime happened. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. On December 10, 1998 Margaret M. Tighe was reported as missing by members of her family. On July 26,1989, Fawn Coxs body was discovered in her bed on the 2nd floor of her home near 9th and Van Brunt. Other states have solved multiple cold case homicides, missing person cases and suspicious deaths by making these cards available. Upon arrival, it was determined that there were two females dead inside the business. On October 18, 1994, at 4:36 a.m., officers were dispatched to a disturbance call in the courtyard of an apartment buildiing at 3744 Warwick. The 19-year-old died later that day and his murder has remained unsolved. Even though the crime itself was committed in Nebraska, we still have to mention Duane Earl Pope, a Kansas native who was charged and convicted of killing four in "one of the bloodiest bank robberies in modern times." A relatively new project also doing the same is the Kansas Cold Case Playing Cards Deck.The deck features 52 cases, including unsolved homicides, missing persons and unidentified remains cases. Chandler Street and Indiana Avenue. No further information is available at this time. Some cases are a bit more chilling than others, though, even in cases of solved crimes (see: Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer, who was from and operated in Wichita). When they arrived on the scene, the officers found Brett Kreglolying on the floor of the Pizza Huts entry foyer, located just inside the east side of the business. James K Smith Jr. KCFD EMS responded to the scene and declared the victim deceased. According to state officials, The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), in partnership with the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police (KACP), the Kansas Sheriffs Association (KSA) and the Kansas Peace Officers Association (KPOA), have developed the Cold Case Playing Cards as a way of generating tips that may help resolve cases of unsolved homicides, missing persons or unidentified remains. He was pronounced dead. The men were in the store less than 20 seconds. On December 30,2002, at 8 a.m., the body of 23-year-old Adrian Harrison was discovered in a small abandoned building in the parking lot at 11th and Elmwood. Web5 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Kansas That Will Leave You Baffled 1. These people havent forgotten about this case and ultimately, theyre supporting this project but theyre supporting this case, he said. Mabel Aguirre, then 80, lost her sight in one eye. Upon arrival, officers found a 57 year old male, David J Paterno. WebGREAT BEND, Kan. (KWCH) - A two-decades-old unsolved double murder in Great Bend is getting new attention with the release of a documentary. The suspect told witnesses that he needed to get out of town and was possibly heading toTexas, or possibly to his home stateof Chihuahua, Mexico. The homicide rate for the United States nationally is 6.5 per 100,000. Thegunmen did not rob the store. Tickets will be sold at the door. If you know something please come forward. For more than 50 percent of all murders in these cities, no one is arrested for the crime. According to the same published report, the 2019 homicide rate in Kansas was approximately 3.6 per 100,000 people living in Kansas. Due to its large size and population, Topeka, Kansas, murders appear to be more common than those in many other cities in Kansas. More: Topeka man pleads not guilty to charges in malnutrition death of 2-year-old daughter. At this point, it was speculated that Ashley and Lauria shot the couple, set the house on fire, and then fled--that is, until a death row inmate later came forward, saying he killed the Freemans over a drug debt, took the two girls to Kansas, shot them and threw their bodies into an abandoned mine. Knowing that his muskrat traps were illegal, the man decided against reporting the body. Sure, its not among the ten states with the highest rates of murder per capita, but still anything below, like, top three is kind of a bummer to us. The types of evidence that are often included in Shawnee County homicide trials is almost always entirely dependent on the crime itself. Eric was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. Brooks's body was exhumed in July 2020 and transported to Dover Air Force Base for an autopsy and further investigation by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. Herbody was found about 5 a.m. that day along Interstate 70, about a half-mile east of its intersection with S.W. Well never know what exactly happened to Kelly Lynn Albright, and its one of those cases that haunts Kansans to this day. Eric was transported to an area The lowest unsolved homicide rates are located in Richmond, Charlotte, Tulsa, Albuquerque, and San Diego. On Monday, December 21, 1987, at approximately 8:15 A.M. Charles W. Thompson was found lying on the sidewalk in front of Jalisco's Restaurant located at 5000 State Avenue, in Kansas City, Kansas. The victim of the homicide,Louis Davis, Jr., 57, remains unsolved following an attempted robbery incident. His case was recently reopened by the @FBI who are offering a $100K reward for tips leading to an arrest. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Photos and video of a person who may have been involved were released the following month by the Topeka Police Department, and information about thatindividual is still being sought. Ronnau had lived alone in her familys home since her parents died. Police found Siemens lying in the street suffering from several gunshot wounds. Which ones keep you up at night? If you want to know the statistics and data related to crimes in Kansas, several law enforcement and investigating agencies publish yearly reports showing crime in the area which can be found on various websites. The most recent unsolved murder case is being investigated by the Saline County Sheriffs Office, with the assistance of the KBI. It is not known whether Alonzos death was a hate crime or not. Crane, where she generally arrived about that time to work at her job as a medical technician. His relationship with the event inspired him to help. Some of these include the 2000 murder of Raymond Aguirre, the 2008 murder of David Wakes, the 2009 murder of Jeremy Fabricius, and the 2016 murder of Deljuan Patton, among many others. WebThis homicide occurred in Kansas City, Missouri near 24th and Brighton early in the morning on December 20, 2018. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Various law enforcement and investigatingagencies websites provide reports and data on the number of murders in Kansas by year. According to Project: Cold Case, there wereapproximately 5,643 homicides from 1980to 2019 in Kansas. After his tenth murder in 1991, B.T.K. The circumstances surrounding Brooks's death are mysterious, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate whether or not he was a victim of a hate crime. Though there were suspects, there have never been any arrests made in her disappearance or death. WebOn January 6, 2008, Kansas City Missouri Police Officers were sent to 2716 Grove regarding a disturbance. The notorious "Bloody Benders" were a German immigrant family who owned both a general store and 2. On December 4, 1985, at 10:49 p.m., officers were dispatched to a robbery call at the Pizza Hut located at 7510 E. 87th Street. [3] At the time of his disappearance, he was 23 years old and working as a custodian for Countryside Maintenance in Gardner, Kansas. Kansas has an unusually high murder rate per capita, which isnt necessarily something folks expect when thinking of Americas heartland. While their bodies were never found, Richard Grisson Jr. admitted to/was convicted in all three's disappearance and murder. GREAT BEND, Kan. (KWCH) - A two-decades-old unsolved double murder in Great Bend is getting new attention with the release of a documentary. 49th. Roughly3,678 of those homicides were solved throughout the years, sadlyleaving approximately 1,965 unsolved murders in Kansas today. Web( NewsNation) The murder clearance rate hit an all-time low in 2020, and data analyzed by a nonprofit shows that trend continued last year. One weekend in February 1995 Jon Feeney, a science teacher at Glendale High School, was at a work conference in the Lake of the Ozarks. Police stated no arrests have been announced. -lowest murder rate among states. Upon arrival officers discovered the victim inside his vehicle with apparent trauma to his body. A Topeka man was charged later that year with capital murder linked tothe deaths, but that charge was subsequently dropped. These include the 2012 murder of Quan Donnell, the 1996 murder of Michelle Hutchinson, the 2013 murder of Juan Solis, and the 2016 murder of Robert Williams, among countless others. Shortly before 4 a.m.,Siemens became involved in a disturbance with a Hispanic male in front of the restaurant, after the restaurant refused to sell him anymore liquor because they were closed. Missing person cases are from Leavenworth, Lincoln, Pottawatomie, Saline and Sedgwick counties. When you try to think of famous Kansas murders, you may not immediately have any names that come to mind. The victim, Ahmed Johnson, had been shot. He later recanted his story, saying he lied to get better food and phone privileges. Tirell Ocobock,an 18-year-oldfreshman art student at Washburn University and an employee at Gage Boulevard Animal Hospital, was beaten to death with tree limbs in April 1976. Roxanne Zwiesler was shot to death in her southwest Topeka apartment in an area that was filled with people, yetpolice were unable to find anyone who had heard any gunfire. Its likely that they killed up to 20 people during their reign of terror. Then his family searched for Brooks around the farmhouse and found his body in a creek within an hour, according to the FBI. The lid to the trash container had been attached with a chain an padlock. On December 24, 2010 the body of Pedro Morales was discovered in a ditch along a low-maintenance road in rural Ford County Kansas. Philadelphia's 'Boy in the Box' Identified After 65 Years in One of City's Oldest Unsolved Murders. A cause of death was not determined, and to this day, Brookss family is searching for answers they may never have. Police found two men with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle. Two teenage girls admired him, and then followed the mother and baby to their home. Mull said he hopes by bringing new eyes to the case, theres hope his documentary, The Dolly Madison Murders, can play a role in solving it. [10], On June 11, 2020, the FBI reopened the cold case and issued a $100,000 reward for information related to Brooks' death.[11]. #unsolvedmysteries #Justiceforalonzobrooks https://t.co/5l38xxFr5r. What are some eerie unsolved murders in Kansas? In 2020, there were 100 murders in Kansas, which evens out to about 3.4 for every 100,000 people living there. [6], Following the night of the party, the Brooks family traveled to La Cygne to search for their son and contact the local authorities. Central Park Ave. Ronnau, 59,was alsostabbed multiple timeswith a kitchen knife, which was recovered at the scene. Police said it appeared the 42-year-old Meulihad been interrupted at her apartment while preparing a meal. Anthony Tony Payne - 1977 OP, KS Homicide. As he walked away, the man turned and fired several shots in the direction of Porter, striking him. The victim isJames K Smith Jr. Officers were dispatched to the location on a shooting and arrived to find Mr. Gordon lying on the side walk shot several times. Detectives are continuing to investigate and unfortunately NOtips have been received as of August 21, 2020. Throughout history, there have been many more Kansas killers than you may expect. Kansas Man Charged with 1980 Murder of Nursing Student. According to various sources, the 2018 violent crime rate in Topeka, Kansas, was approximately 606.02 per 100,000 inhabitants, and the 2018 murder rate in Topeka, Kansas, was roughly 11.08 per 100,000 residents. WebThe murders remain unsolved. Nonetheless, Kansas multiple law enforcement and investigating agencies will absolutely not give up in their mission to solve all of Kansas true crimes, no matter how long it takes them. Donald Dykes, 19, spent the last evening of his life in June 1969 at the home at 209 S.W. A selection committee with representatives from KDOC, KBI, the Kansas Attorney Generals Office and local law enforcement prioritized 59 cases to highlight on the first deck of 52 cards. In the early morning hours of November 15, 1959, Richard Hickock If you would like to remain 100% anonymous, please submit information to theThe Greater KC Crime Stoppers via 816 474-TIPS, kccrimestoppers.com, our P3 app, or scan our QR code. Get more stories delivered right to your email. According to Project: Cold Case, there were approximately 5,643 murders in Kansas between 1980 and 2019. As time passed, roughly 3,678 of those murders were solved, Evidence suggests that the suspect(s) broke into the residence during the night and murdered Cox, while other family members were asleep in other parts of thehome. The intruderrobbed the couple of property, including checks. WebUnsolved Salina Cases in New Cards. A jury acquitted a man ofmurder linked to theslaying in 2008. The boyhad been abducted, killed and sexually mutilated. In 2004, Brooks, who lived in Gardner, went with friends to a party at a farmhouse in La Cygne, a small east-central Kansas town. Officers responded to a shooting call to find Alexuas deceased in a vehicle in the 13100 block of 15th Street. Chacour Koop is a Real-Time reporter based in Kansas City. He has a tattoo on the right inner forearm area, possibly agrim reaper with a scythe,and a tattoo on the left upper arm near the shoulder of the initialsR.M.P or M.R.P. The suspect also is described as having numerous,large, visible scars on his right arm, probably cuts. Officers thenfound the body of 35-year-old Lee Lewisin the house next door where the Lewis brothers lived at 1811 S.E. I know its an old case but this is going to put a spotlight on it, and so hopefully people reach out and actually say something, said director Aaron Mull. As the party continued, Brooks's friends left the party at La Cygne at different times, accidentally leaving Brooks behind due to a perceived misunderstanding on how he would be getting a ride home to Gardner. WebHaley. After a long period of no murders, he sent Wichita police a letter asking them if they could trace a floppy disk. At 9 a.m.the next morning, June 25, 1983, the victims body was discovered near 2000 E. 22nd Street, hidden in the brushof a semi-secluded area not far from her home. Twelve-year-old John F. Jack Hanrahan vanished after ridinghis bicycle to play pinball in May 1979 at Gage Bowl, 4200 S.W. At one point during the evening, Ms. Boomer allegedly was knocked to the ground, causing her to lose consciousness, Ms. Boomer has not been seen or heard from since that date. Kansas City Missouri Police Department 2023. Examples of evidence that are most often used in a homicide trial can include DNA evidence such as blood, saliva, or semen, as well as other types of evidence, including fingerprints, weapons, and cell phone pings. The case number is 18-0097629. The fear peaked on Tuesday, March 20, when news broke of a triple homicide. During the morning of May 3, 1997, Todd Siemens, an armed security guard for a local security company, was working at the Taqueria Mexico Restaurant at 910 SW. Blvd. What are some creepy Kansas unsolved mysteries? OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Unsolved Mysteries shared news of the latest development in a tweet. Rhodes attended aparty on the eveningshe was last seen aliveand became involved in what Topeka police later described as a scene. Policesaid there were no signs of forced entry to her apartment, thoughshe apparently struggled with her attacker. The 30-year-old victim was last seen the night of April 14, 1990, or the morning of April 15, 1990. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Mr. Brooks died as a result of blunt-force trauma, and that the dismemberment occurred post-mortem. The second victim, who was identified as 41-year-old John Hees, was located in the second-floor southwest bedroom lying face down on the floor in a large pool of blood. Shawnee County Crime Stoppers is offering a $22,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the double homicide. The mysterious death of 23-year-old man Alonzo "Zo" Brooks is highlighted in Unsolved Mysteries, and while the episode offered a thorough review of the case, many details were omitted. On May 1, 2004, the body of Alonzo Brooks was found in La Cygne, Kansas, about a month after he was reported missing after April 3, 2004. Central Park Ave. aspart of a quadruple homicide that also claimed the life ofCarla Jean Avery. All rights reserved. The Kansas City Police Department has released surveillance footage of a suspect of interest in the homicide where Johnathon Porter was killed in ashooting. Valencia Road. Some said Brooks may have flirted with a girl, some said drunken white men wanted to fight an African-American male, and some said racist whites simply resented Brooks presence., By SEAN MURPHY Subject Peterson returned to the bar at approximately 9 p.m.dressed in different clothing. [7], On May 1, 2004, the Brooks family was allowed to search the property for their son. "Feeling guilty? Those words,accompanied by a photo of a smiling Michael Holley with one of his two daughters,adorned temporary billboards put up in early 2010 encouraging the public to call Crime Stoppers if they had any information about his death. There is a $30,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case. These include: the 2004 murder of Alonzo Brooks, the 1983 murder of Linda Lou Struble, the 1987 murder of Rhonda Fisher, the 1994 murder of Bryan Keith Sanchez, and the 1973 triple murder of Hazel Avery, Steven Avery, and Gary Longfellow, as well as many others. Two black male suspects walked into the 7-Eleven at 319 E. 63rd St. sometime between 1:30 and 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, 2000, and opened fire on the clerk Caroline Neal. WebThe body of Alonzo Brooks, the Black man whose death was featured by Unsolved Mysteries on Netflix, has been exhumed in Kansas, media outlets report. The suspect then murdered her and dumped her body at the location where she was discovered.Anyone with information that can help solve this case is asked to call theCold Case Squad at 816-234-5136. Thompson was a local Kansas City, Kansas attorney, and at the time of the murder was the Democratic Chairman of the Wyandotte County Central Committee, and was very active in politics. No one injured after Union Pacific train derails in Sumner Co. Andover seeks community feedback on comprehensive plan, Sedgwick County DA: No charges against officer in Roller City incident, Wichita teachers honored with 2023 Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award, New Sedgwick County election commissioner appointed, Contact information: 316-831-6166 or investigators@kwch.com. The trio went on to shoot Thomas County Undersheriff Ben Albright (who survived), and kill Rick Schroeder and Glenn Moore, who had been taken hostage during a carjacking. 21st. Harrisons death was later ruled a homicide. With equity for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underserved victims not prioritized in the true crime communitytogether we can do better. On September 4, 2002, at approximately 7:55PM, Great Bend Police Department responded to a call at Dolly Madison Bakery, 1004 Harrison, Great Bend, Ks. Rosalind was declared dead at the scene. Upon finding no such safe, Hickock and Smith murdered the four members of the Clutter family before fleeing to Las Vegas. The Cold Case Playing Cards will replace current decks of standard playing cards available in prisons and county jails. Who knew Kansas was home to one of the scariest serial killers in American history? There are at least four known victims, separated by 1200 miles. They lied, saying no, and Rader foolishly sent them another letter on a disk, which was immediately traced back to his church (and the computer signed in to his account). Mr. Chavezhad suffered an apparent gunshot and was pronounced dead at the scene.Anyone with information that can help solve this case is asked to call theCold Case Squad at 816-234-5136. Upon arrival officers found that Eric L. Davis, 35, and Rosalind D. Dawson, 45,had been shot. In 1985, Daniel Eugene Remeta, along with his girlfriend and another man, shot and killed Larry D. McFarland during a robbery at Stuckey's Restaurant in Grainfield. was suddenly silent, only to reemerge in 2004, leading to the arrest and conviction of Dennis Rader. The jury later convicted Caenen of first-degree murder. Mr. Porter, 23, of Appleton City, was installing pipewhen he and other workers were approached by a passerby who asked him for a cigarette. Please contact Crime Stoppers with information via our phone, (816) 474-8477, our website, www.kccrimestoppers.com, or via our FREE mobile app at P3Tips.com. Witnesses say she was involved in a violent altercation with a man believed to be lifelong criminal with a history of violent behavior, particularly toward women. There are also unsolved murders Topeka, Kansas, including the 2012 murder of Quan Donnell, the 1996 murder of Michelle Hutchinson, the 2013 murder of Juan Solis, and the 2016 murder of Robert Williams, and many others. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also publishes a Uniform Crime Report (UCR) year after year, detailing crimes, crimes data and statistics, and crime locations in most, if not all, counties and cities in each state, including Kansas.