PHILLIPS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a meth lab.

On Monday, deputies made an arrest in connection to a search warrant executed on July 16, 2022, in the 800 block of Third Avenue West in Glade, Kansas, according to a media release from the Phillips Co. Sheriff.

During the execution of the search warrant, items were located that indicated they may be components of a methamphetamine lab. Kansas Bureau of Investigation Clandestine Laboratory Response Team responded and collected the items of concern. Those items were transported to the KBI for analysis which revealed they were, as suspected, meth lab components.

On Monday, deputies served an arrest warrant on Jimmie C. Lamb, 40, Glade, and took him into custody without incident.

Lamb was arrested on suspicion of unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of precursors, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 Lamb is being held in the Phillips County jail with a $250,000 bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675194629717.png" alt="-Lamb / Phillips County photo" />
 <figcaption>-Lamb / Phillips County photo</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILLIPS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a meth lab.On Monday, deputies made an arrest in connection to a search warrant executed on July 16, 2022, in the 800 block of Third Avenue West in Glade, Kansas, according to a media release from the Phillips Co. Sheriff.During the execution of the search warrant, items were located that indicated they may be components of a methamphetamine lab. Kansas Bureau of Investigation Clandestine Laboratory Response Team responded and collected the items of concern. Those items were transported to the KBI for analysis which revealed they were, as suspected, meth lab components.On Monday, deputies served an arrest warrant on Jimmie C. Lamb, 40, Glade, and took him into custody without incident.Lamb was arrested on suspicion of unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of precursors, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Lamb is being held in the Phillips County jail with a $250,000 bond.&nbsp;

KBI confirms deputies found a meth lab in northwest Kansas

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a homicide at a home in Topeka have made an arrest.

Just before 9:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a medical emergency in the 400 Block of SW Tyler Street, according to Lt. Edward Stanley.

First responders found one victim, later identified as 48-year-old Jeremy Neal of Topeka, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

As a result of the investigation, Police arrested Skyler J.M. Wilson, 33, Topeka on requested charges of Murder in the 1st Degree, according to Lt. Stanley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675030639545.png" alt="Police tape at the scene of the homicide investigation-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police tape at the scene of the homicide investigation-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a homicide at a home in Topeka have made an arrest.Just before 9:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a medical emergency in the 400 Block of SW Tyler Street, according to Lt. Edward Stanley.First responders found one victim, later identified as 48-year-old Jeremy Neal of Topeka, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675175589206.png" alt="Wilson-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Wilson-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>As a result of the investigation, Police arrested Skyler J.M. Wilson, 33, Topeka on requested charges of Murder in the 1st Degree, according to Lt. Stanley.

Police arrest suspect in weekend murder at Kansas home

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. Bonds have been posted.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Jaimy Darra, Failure to appear, Arrested 1/30

Michael Adams, Failure to appear, Arrested 1/30

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. Bonds have been posted.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675176145856.jpeg" alt="Bobbi Redd, Probation violation, Arrested 1/31" />
 <figcaption>Bobbi Redd, Probation violation, Arrested 1/31</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675176263238.jpeg" alt="Myles Vaughn, Driving while license cancelled / suspended / revoked, Use / possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Vehicles; operate motor vehicle without registration or with expired tag, Vehicle liability insurance; liability coverage required, Possession of opiate , opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of marijuana, Arrested 1/30" />
 <figcaption>Myles Vaughn, Driving while license cancelled / suspended / revoked, Use / possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Vehicles; operate motor vehicle without registration or with expired tag, Vehicle liability insurance; liability coverage required, Possession of opiate , opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of marijuana, Arrested 1/30</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675176441016.jpeg" alt="Anthony Swarts, Failure to appear, Arrested 1/30" />
 <figcaption>Anthony Swarts, Failure to appear, Arrested 1/30</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675176511188.jpeg" alt="Timothy Smith, Theft, Interference with law enforcement officer, Obstruct/resist /oppose misdemeanor warrant service or execution, Failure to appear, Arrested 1/30" />
 <figcaption>Timothy Smith, Theft, Interference with law enforcement officer, Obstruct/resist /oppose misdemeanor warrant service or execution, Failure to appear, Arrested 1/30</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675176619811.jpeg" alt="Eleanor Fisher, Failure to appear, Arrested 1/30" />
 <figcaption>Eleanor Fisher, Failure to appear, Arrested 1/30</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675176759459.jpeg" alt="Iziah Wray, Aggravated battery, Arrested 1/30" />
 <figcaption>Iziah Wray, Aggravated battery, Arrested 1/30</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675176800652.jpeg" alt="Addie Cook, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use / possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Arrested 1/30" />
 <figcaption>Addie Cook, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use / possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Arrested 1/30</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675176870553.jpeg" alt="Lonnie Jordan, Interference with judicial process, Escape from custody, Battery, Arrested 1/30" />
 <figcaption>Lonnie Jordan, Interference with judicial process, Escape from custody, Battery, Arrested 1/30</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675176936869.jpeg" alt="Bobbie Rodgers, Aggravated battery, Arrested 1/30" />
 <figcaption>Bobbie Rodgers, Aggravated battery, Arrested 1/30</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675176992096.jpeg" alt="Michael Salada, Possession of stolen property; misdemeanor, Vehicles; unlawful acts; e.g., registration, Possession of controlled substance, Use / possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Arrested 1/30" />
 <figcaption>Michael Salada, Possession of stolen property; misdemeanor, Vehicles; unlawful acts; e.g., registration, Possession of controlled substance, Use / possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Arrested 1/30</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675177118791.jpeg" alt="Philip Locklear, Criminal trespass, Intimidation of a witness or victim, Traffic contraband in correction / care facility, Arrested 1/30" />
 <figcaption>Philip Locklear, Criminal trespass, Intimidation of a witness or victim, Traffic contraband in correction / care facility, Arrested 1/30</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Jaimy Darra, Failure to appear, Arrested 1/30Michael Adams, Failure to appear, Arrested 1/30Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. Bonds have been posted.

Geary County Booking Photos Jan. 31

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal chase and crash and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 5:30 a.m. Saturday, deputies attempted to stop a Hyundia Elantra for alleged traffic infractions on Kellogg Drive, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs. The driver of the vehicle <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20054606">Harry Rediker 22,</a> Wichita,&nbsp; failed to stop and fled from deputies.

The Preliminary Investigation shows Rediker’s vehicle left the roadway at Hoover and Taft and struck a utility pole ending the pursuit.

EMS transported Rediker was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. EMS also transported the passenger in the vehicle identified as 38-year-old Lindsey Garmon of Wellington to a local hospital with serious injuries. Gamon later died at the hospital, according to Gibbs.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20054606">Rediker was booked into the </a>Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of 1st Degree Murder in commission of a felony, Interference with law enforcement officer: obstruct felony warrant service, flee and elude, and state parole violation.

He has previous convictions for theft, criminal possession of a weapon and flee or attempt to elude law enforcement had had been reported as absconder on Jan. 9, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. The agency issued a warrant for his arrest on Jan. 28.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675092662469.png" alt="Rediker has previous convictions for theft, criminal possession of a weapon and flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Rediker has previous convictions for theft, criminal possession of a weapon and flee or attempt to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal chase and crash and have a suspect in custody.Just before 5:30 a.m. Saturday, deputies attempted to stop a Hyundia Elantra for alleged traffic infractions on Kellogg Drive, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs. The driver of the vehicle <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20054606">Harry Rediker 22,</a> Wichita,&nbsp; failed to stop and fled from deputies. The Preliminary Investigation shows Rediker’s vehicle left the roadway at Hoover and Taft and struck a utility pole ending the pursuit.EMS transported Rediker was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. EMS also transported the passenger in the vehicle identified as 38-year-old Lindsey Garmon of Wellington to a local hospital with serious injuries. Gamon later died at the hospital, according to Gibbs.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20054606">Rediker was booked into the </a>Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of 1st Degree Murder in commission of a felony, Interference with law enforcement officer: obstruct felony warrant service, flee and elude, and state parole violation. He has previous convictions for theft, criminal possession of a weapon and flee or attempt to elude law enforcement had had been reported as absconder on Jan. 9, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. The agency issued a warrant for his arrest on Jan. 28.

Wanted Kansas felon jailed after chase, fatal crash

BY JUDD WEIL and NICK GOSNELL Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The jury was sworn in and the trial for the State v. Kyle Hardwick officially began in the courtroom of Judge Keith Schroeder on Jan. 25. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The state called upon over 45 witnesses to testify in the case, as well as presented over 110 pieces of evidence. &nbsp;

Kyle Hardwick, represented by Scott Loftis, an attorney from Ponca City, Oklahoma, is pleading not guilty to the charges of Two counts of intentional and premeditated murder in the first degree. &nbsp;&nbsp;

One count of theft of property or services, valued at $1,500 to $25,000.&nbsp; &nbsp;One count of theft of property or services of a firearm with a value less than $25,000.&nbsp; &nbsp;Two counts of solicitation perjury; testify to material fact in felony proceeding.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The charges stem from the murders of Marion “Ed” Bates, 56, Hutchinson, and&nbsp;Phillip Anstine, 58, Hutchinson, in August 2021. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In their opening statement, Loftis presented Hardwick’s defense. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Loftis told the jury that on Aug. 24, 2021, Hardwick had travelled with Phillip Anstine to the “compound.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

Described by the state in their opening statement, the "compound" is a property east of Hutchinson, where Marion Bates and Phillip Anstine would frequent. It had various other additions like buildings built on it, a camper, a dried-up pond, and burn pits. The two men would hang out there, shoot firearms, and overall hone their survival techniques. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick did not know Marion Bates, but had a prior association with Phillip Anstine through work that included building houses, akin to Habitat for Humanity. Anstine was said to have overseen much of the work, while Hardwick assisted with installation. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick called Anstine a friend and they were said to have a mutual interest in firearms. They were said to be close enough that they would travel to visit each other from time to time, but not frequently. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick’s last visit to see Anstine was said to be because of personal problems in his life. He wanted get out of Kansas City for a while. Hardwick was said to have taken a Greyhound bus from Kansas City, Missouri to Hutchinson, Kansas to visit Anstine.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Loftis told the jury that Anstine had dropped off Hardwick at the compound with a set of keys. Hardwick was said to have permission to drive Anstine’s truck and had those keys as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Anstine then returned shortly after with Little Caesar’s pizza and Samuel Adams beer. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“After drinking about half a beer and eating piece of pizza, Kyle starts to feel sick,” Loftis said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick’s symptoms were described as&nbsp;stomach pains, light-headedness, and disorientation. Hardwick was said to have voiced his sudden illness to Anstine, and then went to the camper on the property where he passed out. Hardwick was said to not remember passing out in the camper. &nbsp;&nbsp;

According to Loftis, Hardwick woke up the next day, still disoriented, face down on a bed in the camper with his pants down, and a pain in his anus. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick is said to surmise he was raped.&nbsp;&nbsp;Upon leaving the camper to search for Anstine out of concern, Hardwick returned to the camper. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Anstine is said to have returned to the compound with a shotgun in his hands. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick is alleged to have tried to tell Anstine of his situation, but became suspicious when Anstine is said to have been dismissive. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Loftis said, when Hardwick then accused Anstine of raping him, Anstine cocked and aimed his shotgun at Hardwick. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hardwick is said to have played to Anstine’s paranoia by looking over Anstine’s shoulder, forcing him to turn around. Hardwick was then said to have used this gambit to wrestle the shotgun out of Anstine’s hands. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Anstine was said to have then pulled a .380 semiautomatic pistol and pointed it at Hardwick, causing Hardwick to fatally shoot him with the shotgun. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Still disoriented from the prior drugging and rape, the defense said that Hardwick then made his way to the pump house, north of the camper, for water. &nbsp;&nbsp;Loftis described to the jury what happened next as, “one of the real tragedies of this case.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

Another man, unknown to Hardwick, appeared and shot at Hardwick. Hardwick shot back with the shotgun he had taken from Anstine, striking the second man. &nbsp;&nbsp;

After a while, determining the man is dead, Hardwick approached the body and searched the man and discovered his identity as Marion Bates. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Loftis said, more than likely Bates was not part of Hardwick’s alleged rape, and only came to aid his friend, Anstine. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The state, consisting of District Attorney (DA) Thomas Stanton and Deputy District Attorney Andrew Davidson, called a number of witnesses, including friends of the victims, who corroborated the state’s opening statement that accused Hardwick of killing the pair for different reasons.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Cathy Havel and Marion Bates had been close friends for around 11 years. Havel last spoke to Bates on Aug. 25, 2021, about a COVID-19 test she was going to take. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Bates said he could not talk at that moment, and had something to do at the compound. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Havel never heard back from Bates. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Havel said she texted and called Bates multiple times on Aug. 26, 2021, and that it was unusual for Bates to not answer his phone in a timely manner. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Evidence presented during the trial showed that Havel did try to reach Bates. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Corroborating each other’s&nbsp;testimonies as they took the stand separately, Havel and Dawnita Hartung eventually went to the compound to search for Bates and Anstine. &nbsp;&nbsp;

They noticed a red Ford pickup truck in the driveway. &nbsp;&nbsp;

It was there they met a man, unknown to them,&nbsp;who identified himself as ‘Kyle Birch.’ &nbsp;&nbsp;

Havel and Hartung pointed out Kyle Hardwick as the man who identified himself as ‘Kyle Birch.’ &nbsp;&nbsp;As ‘Birch,’ Hardwick told the two women that Bates and Anstine had gone to town to buy cigarettes about 40 minutes prior.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The women found this suspicious given how close the nearest gas station was.&nbsp;‘Birch’ had told the women his mother had kicked him out. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hartung during her testimony, said ‘Kyle Birch’ was not someone Bates would hang out with. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Later when the women returned to the compound, they found that the red truck, and Hardwick as ‘Birch,’&nbsp;were gone. &nbsp;Havel and Hartung left notes in the driveway for Bates.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Joined by Jerry Bastion on Aug. 27, Havel and Hartung searched for Bates on the property. &nbsp;&nbsp;Kenneth Bates, the brother of Marion Bates, who was informed his brother was missing, gave Bastion permission to break into Marion Bates’ garage. &nbsp;&nbsp;

There they found Marion Bates unattended vehicle, with his wallet still inside.&nbsp; Shortly after, the authorities were called for a welfare check.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Reno County Sheriff’s Office responded and surveyed the property. Deputies located the body of Marion Bates that day.&nbsp; Bates was discovered in the dried up pond covered by&nbsp;tree limbs. Forensic evidence used to identify him revealed he had not been dead long and that his head was riddled with shotgun pellets. &nbsp;&nbsp;On Aug. 28, at 8 a.m., following the discovery of Bates, a search warrant was obtained for the rest of the property.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to Reno County Sheriff’s deputy Matthew Mondragon, three feet from where Bates was found, Anstine was discovered in a burn&nbsp;pit. Most of his body had been incinerated by a fire in the pit. Forensic evidence used to identify Anstine showed he had been shot in the head as well. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Mondragon identified other pieces of evidence found on the property, including combustible materials, and items belonging to Hardwick. &nbsp;&nbsp;

These items included two debit cards, one with Hardwick’s name, a social security card, also with Hardwick’s name, and a bus ticket with the name ‘Kyle Hardhack.’&nbsp;&nbsp;

The defense did not cross-examine many witnesses, but they did Mondragon. Mondragon was asked to recall zip-ties found on the property and if they could be used to restrain somebody, which he confirmed. &nbsp;&nbsp;

A drone was deployed by Reno County Sheriff Jeremy VanWey to gather another view of the crime scene.&nbsp;

Some of the evidence collected from the scene included .12 gauge shotgun shells, gas cans, campfire fuel, the barrel of a shotgun from the burn pit Anstine was found in,&nbsp;a pair of gloves, two empty bottles of Kentucky Deluxe bourbon, two&nbsp;empty bottles of vodka, a Dollar General receipt,&nbsp;and soil samples with biomaterial.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During his testimony, Daniel Nowlan, Reno County Death Investigator, noted for Anstine’s body to burn the way it did, the fire would have to been man-maintained for a time. &nbsp;&nbsp;

During cross-examination by the defense, Nowlan did confirm that Phillip Anstine did not die by burning alive, and cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. The same cause of death determined for Marion Bates. He also said that Hardwick acted in self-defense could not be ruled out. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Following Daniel Nowlan, the jury was dismissed for the first day. &nbsp;

On day two, Sedgwick County Forensic Center DNA analyst Therese Gibler testified that through her analysis, a sample she tested was almost certainly that of a child of Marion Bates' mother, Betty and a separate sample was almost certainly that of a child of Phillip Anstine's father, Duane. This was intended to establish that the victims were Marion Bates and Phillip Anstine.&nbsp;

Sedgwick County Forensic Center's Dr. Scott Kipper performed the autopsies on Bates and Anstine and confirmed that the shotgun wound killed Bates. Anstine's body was significantly burned, but Kipper was still able to determine that a shotgun wound also killed Anstine. Kipper could not rule out the possibility that the shots were in self-defense.&nbsp;

Several law enforcement witnesses were then called, including members of the Reno County Sheriff's Office and Maize Police, to establish the security of the crime scene and the circumstances under which Kyle Hardwick was found and arrested in Maize on Sept. 1.&nbsp;

The prosecution also attempted to establish through law enforcement testimony that electronic devices, including what they believe to be a cell phone, were found in a fire pit on the property. In addition, they went over the circumstances in which Phillip Anstine's truck was found elsewhere in the county in October.&nbsp;

Also, Anstine's friend Paul Jorgenson testified by Zoom from Wyoming to establish that Anstine told him he had both silver and gold on the property at the compound where the murders occurred.&nbsp;

The majority of day three of the State v. Kyle Hardwick, saw testimonies from officials with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). &nbsp;

During the corroborating testimony of the KBI, regarding the inventory and investigation of the items found in the truck, established to belong to Phillip Anstine, day three saw the most evidence admitted by the state. Including:&nbsp;

A Motorola blue cellphone; mesh covering; a beer bottle; two ghillie suits; a red bag containing ammunition; a pellet rifle; a total of six guns between five rifle cases; a camo duffle bag; metal siding that when removed, revealed seven ammunition boxes containing mostly 22 caliber ammunition; .12 gauge ammunition; a metal tool box; a vitamin container labeled ‘char-claw;’ two action cameras; jeep keys; as well as three empty packages of Marlboro Black 100s cigarettes. &nbsp;

The same brand of cigarettes had previously been found in the camper located at the compound and the abandoned grain silo where Hardwick was arrested. &nbsp;

The inventory of the truck was delivered in testimony by Chris Engle-Tjaden with the KBI.&nbsp;

During cross-examination, the defense confirmed the existence of the .380 ammunition. &nbsp;

Under defense examination, Engle-Tjaden said the only correlation to the mesh covering, was that it was found in the truck. &nbsp;

Forensic testing revealed Hardwick’s DNA was found on a lot of the items. Latent prints belonging to Hardwick were found on a food container and soda bottles. A latent print of Hardwick’s palm was also found on the truck. &nbsp;

Day three closed with people known to Hardwick taking the stand, Chase Mattingly and Sherry Reed. &nbsp;

During his testimony, Mattingly, the boyfriend of Sherry Reed’s daughter, said he had overheard part of a phone conversation between Hardwick and Reed on Aug. 31,&nbsp;2021. &nbsp;

He only understood part of the conversation, and said he had heard Hardwick tell Reed he had messed up. &nbsp;

During cross-examination by the defense, Mattingly said he did not know what Hardwick was referring to at the time. &nbsp;

The state then called key witness, Sherry Reed. &nbsp;

Reed said she has known Hardwick since high school. &nbsp;

Reed, of Lawrence, Kansas, said she believed she still has a friendship with Hardwick. Hardwick had previously lived with Reed. &nbsp;

Hardwick’s&nbsp;additional count of solicitation to commit perjury stems from&nbsp;a FaceTime call between the defendant and Reed.&nbsp;

The FaceTime call had been played in court prior when Hardwick was bound over in June 2022, and was played again on Jan. 27. &nbsp;

In the recorded FaceTime conversation, Hardwick repeatedly tells Reed not to show up for the hearing and, if she did testify, to tell the court she was mentally unstable and on drugs. At one time he said, “Please don’t come,” and repeatedly said, “you don’t have to show up.”&nbsp;

Hardwick was also noted as telling Reed to “just tell the truth.” &nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/07b4a825-c01a-4caf-9b40-ceac29173d6b" target="_blank">Much like her last reported appearance in court,</a> Reed&nbsp;seemed very confused. &nbsp;

She could not remember much about phone calls she got from Hardwick or her meetings with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, nor&nbsp;whether she drove him from Lawrence to a bus station in Kansas City.&nbsp;

During her testimony, Reed implied numerous times her confusion with her activities with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, conversations with Hardwick, and whether she dropped him off at a bus stop were due to her not having her ‘calendar’ or her ‘notes.’ &nbsp;

In effort to help Reed remember, courtesy of the state, she was presented with copies of her prior testimony to aid her in current testimony.&nbsp;

When asked, after taking a moment to review her prior testimony, Reed said she took Hardwick to a bus station in Kansas City in the morning of August 2021. &nbsp;

When asked if she remembered telling the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, she was given $600 out of $1,200 from Hardwick, Reed said she only remembered having $600. &nbsp;

Reed said she remembered giving a lot of evidence to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, including a Dollar General receipt for a cell phone. &nbsp;

Despite the aid of having a copy of her prior testimony, Reed’s memory issues persisted. &nbsp;

The state and Judge Schroeder suggested Reed retrieve the notes she claimed to have, if they would aid with her testimony. However, Reed said they were in her car. &nbsp;

Reed said she knew Hardwick was coming to Hutchinson via bus when she dropped him off in Kansas City. &nbsp;

When presented with state evidence of an iPhone, Reed said she remembered providing the phone to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office. &nbsp;

The state yielded their time with Reed to cross-examination with the defense. &nbsp;

Reed told the defense, she does get a prescription for anxiety, as well as a prescription for Adderall. &nbsp;

The first witness of day four of the trial, was Scott Anstine, the brother of Phillip Anstine. &nbsp;

Scott Anstine said his brother usually stored his weapons in his house, and never just left them in his truck. He confirmed the firearms found in the truck in prior testimony were his brother’s. &nbsp;

Scott Anstine said Phillip Anstine did not store his ammunition on the compound. &nbsp;

Scott Anstine told the court, he is the heir to his brother’s estate. &nbsp;

According to Scott Anstine, his brother kept his truck clean. &nbsp;

During cross-examination and redirection, Scott Anstine did confirm that Phillip Anstine carried a pistol matching the description in the defense’s opening statement. &nbsp;

The testimony of Det. Matt Franklin with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, the lead investigator of the murders of Marion Bates and Phillip Anstine, recalled to the court the events of the case. &nbsp;

According to Det. Franklin, no gold or silver had been found on the compound. &nbsp;

Only Phillip Anstine will know where the boxes of silver and gold others say he had are buried on the property.&nbsp;

During his testimony, it was established via state and defense that Kyle Hardwick and Phillip Anstine had a friendly relationship. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1630432406794.png" alt="Hardwock photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Hardwock photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BY JUDD WEIL and NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The jury was sworn in and the trial for the State v. Kyle Hardwick officially began in the courtroom of Judge Keith Schroeder on Jan. 25. &nbsp;&nbsp;The state called upon over 45 witnesses to testify in the case, as well as presented over 110 pieces of evidence. &nbsp;Kyle Hardwick, represented by Scott Loftis, an attorney from Ponca City, Oklahoma, is pleading not guilty to the charges of Two counts of intentional and premeditated murder in the first degree. &nbsp;&nbsp;One count of theft of property or services, valued at $1,500 to $25,000.&nbsp; &nbsp;One count of theft of property or services of a firearm with a value less than $25,000.&nbsp; &nbsp;Two counts of solicitation perjury; testify to material fact in felony proceeding.&nbsp;&nbsp;The charges stem from the murders of Marion “Ed” Bates, 56, Hutchinson, and&nbsp;Phillip Anstine, 58, Hutchinson, in August 2021. &nbsp;&nbsp;In their opening statement, Loftis presented Hardwick’s defense. &nbsp;&nbsp;Loftis told the jury that on Aug. 24, 2021, Hardwick had travelled with Phillip Anstine to the “compound.” &nbsp;&nbsp;Described by the state in their opening statement, the "compound" is a property east of Hutchinson, where Marion Bates and Phillip Anstine would frequent. It had various other additions like buildings built on it, a camper, a dried-up pond, and burn pits. The two men would hang out there, shoot firearms, and overall hone their survival techniques. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick did not know Marion Bates, but had a prior association with Phillip Anstine through work that included building houses, akin to Habitat for Humanity. Anstine was said to have overseen much of the work, while Hardwick assisted with installation. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick called Anstine a friend and they were said to have a mutual interest in firearms. They were said to be close enough that they would travel to visit each other from time to time, but not frequently. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick’s last visit to see Anstine was said to be because of personal problems in his life. He wanted get out of Kansas City for a while. Hardwick was said to have taken a Greyhound bus from Kansas City, Missouri to Hutchinson, Kansas to visit Anstine.&nbsp;&nbsp;Loftis told the jury that Anstine had dropped off Hardwick at the compound with a set of keys. Hardwick was said to have permission to drive Anstine’s truck and had those keys as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anstine then returned shortly after with Little Caesar’s pizza and Samuel Adams beer. &nbsp;&nbsp;“After drinking about half a beer and eating piece of pizza, Kyle starts to feel sick,” Loftis said. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick’s symptoms were described as&nbsp;stomach pains, light-headedness, and disorientation. Hardwick was said to have voiced his sudden illness to Anstine, and then went to the camper on the property where he passed out. Hardwick was said to not remember passing out in the camper. &nbsp;&nbsp;According to Loftis, Hardwick woke up the next day, still disoriented, face down on a bed in the camper with his pants down, and a pain in his anus. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick is said to surmise he was raped.&nbsp;&nbsp;Upon leaving the camper to search for Anstine out of concern, Hardwick returned to the camper. &nbsp;&nbsp;Anstine is said to have returned to the compound with a shotgun in his hands. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick is alleged to have tried to tell Anstine of his situation, but became suspicious when Anstine is said to have been dismissive. &nbsp;&nbsp;Loftis said, when Hardwick then accused Anstine of raping him, Anstine cocked and aimed his shotgun at Hardwick. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hardwick is said to have played to Anstine’s paranoia by looking over Anstine’s shoulder, forcing him to turn around. Hardwick was then said to have used this gambit to wrestle the shotgun out of Anstine’s hands. &nbsp;&nbsp;Anstine was said to have then pulled a .380 semiautomatic pistol and pointed it at Hardwick, causing Hardwick to fatally shoot him with the shotgun. &nbsp;&nbsp;Still disoriented from the prior drugging and rape, the defense said that Hardwick then made his way to the pump house, north of the camper, for water. &nbsp;&nbsp;Loftis described to the jury what happened next as, “one of the real tragedies of this case.” &nbsp;&nbsp;Another man, unknown to Hardwick, appeared and shot at Hardwick. Hardwick shot back with the shotgun he had taken from Anstine, striking the second man. &nbsp;&nbsp;After a while, determining the man is dead, Hardwick approached the body and searched the man and discovered his identity as Marion Bates. &nbsp;&nbsp;Loftis said, more than likely Bates was not part of Hardwick’s alleged rape, and only came to aid his friend, Anstine. &nbsp;&nbsp;The state, consisting of District Attorney (DA) Thomas Stanton and Deputy District Attorney Andrew Davidson, called a number of witnesses, including friends of the victims, who corroborated the state’s opening statement that accused Hardwick of killing the pair for different reasons.&nbsp; &nbsp;Cathy Havel and Marion Bates had been close friends for around 11 years. Havel last spoke to Bates on Aug. 25, 2021, about a COVID-19 test she was going to take. &nbsp;&nbsp;Bates said he could not talk at that moment, and had something to do at the compound. &nbsp;&nbsp;Havel never heard back from Bates. &nbsp;&nbsp;Havel said she texted and called Bates multiple times on Aug. 26, 2021, and that it was unusual for Bates to not answer his phone in a timely manner. &nbsp;&nbsp;Evidence presented during the trial showed that Havel did try to reach Bates. &nbsp;&nbsp;Corroborating each other’s&nbsp;testimonies as they took the stand separately, Havel and Dawnita Hartung eventually went to the compound to search for Bates and Anstine. &nbsp;&nbsp;They noticed a red Ford pickup truck in the driveway. &nbsp;&nbsp;It was there they met a man, unknown to them,&nbsp;who identified himself as ‘Kyle Birch.’ &nbsp;&nbsp;Havel and Hartung pointed out Kyle Hardwick as the man who identified himself as ‘Kyle Birch.’ &nbsp;&nbsp;As ‘Birch,’ Hardwick told the two women that Bates and Anstine had gone to town to buy cigarettes about 40 minutes prior.&nbsp;&nbsp;The women found this suspicious given how close the nearest gas station was.&nbsp;‘Birch’ had told the women his mother had kicked him out. &nbsp;&nbsp;Hartung during her testimony, said ‘Kyle Birch’ was not someone Bates would hang out with. &nbsp;&nbsp;Later when the women returned to the compound, they found that the red truck, and Hardwick as ‘Birch,’&nbsp;were gone. &nbsp;Havel and Hartung left notes in the driveway for Bates.&nbsp;&nbsp;Joined by Jerry Bastion on Aug. 27, Havel and Hartung searched for Bates on the property. &nbsp;&nbsp;Kenneth Bates, the brother of Marion Bates, who was informed his brother was missing, gave Bastion permission to break into Marion Bates’ garage. &nbsp;&nbsp;There they found Marion Bates unattended vehicle, with his wallet still inside.&nbsp; Shortly after, the authorities were called for a welfare check.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Reno County Sheriff’s Office responded and surveyed the property. Deputies located the body of Marion Bates that day.&nbsp; Bates was discovered in the dried up pond covered by&nbsp;tree limbs. Forensic evidence used to identify him revealed he had not been dead long and that his head was riddled with shotgun pellets. &nbsp;&nbsp;On Aug. 28, at 8 a.m., following the discovery of Bates, a search warrant was obtained for the rest of the property.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Reno County Sheriff’s deputy Matthew Mondragon, three feet from where Bates was found, Anstine was discovered in a burn&nbsp;pit. Most of his body had been incinerated by a fire in the pit. Forensic evidence used to identify Anstine showed he had been shot in the head as well. &nbsp;&nbsp;Mondragon identified other pieces of evidence found on the property, including combustible materials, and items belonging to Hardwick. &nbsp;&nbsp;These items included two debit cards, one with Hardwick’s name, a social security card, also with Hardwick’s name, and a bus ticket with the name ‘Kyle Hardhack.’&nbsp;&nbsp;The defense did not cross-examine many witnesses, but they did Mondragon. Mondragon was asked to recall zip-ties found on the property and if they could be used to restrain somebody, which he confirmed. &nbsp;&nbsp;A drone was deployed by Reno County Sheriff Jeremy VanWey to gather another view of the crime scene.&nbsp;Some of the evidence collected from the scene included .12 gauge shotgun shells, gas cans, campfire fuel, the barrel of a shotgun from the burn pit Anstine was found in,&nbsp;a pair of gloves, two empty bottles of Kentucky Deluxe bourbon, two&nbsp;empty bottles of vodka, a Dollar General receipt,&nbsp;and soil samples with biomaterial.&nbsp;&nbsp;During his testimony, Daniel Nowlan, Reno County Death Investigator, noted for Anstine’s body to burn the way it did, the fire would have to been man-maintained for a time. &nbsp;&nbsp;During cross-examination by the defense, Nowlan did confirm that Phillip Anstine did not die by burning alive, and cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. The same cause of death determined for Marion Bates. He also said that Hardwick acted in self-defense could not be ruled out. &nbsp;&nbsp;Following Daniel Nowlan, the jury was dismissed for the first day. &nbsp;On day two, Sedgwick County Forensic Center DNA analyst Therese Gibler testified that through her analysis, a sample she tested was almost certainly that of a child of Marion Bates' mother, Betty and a separate sample was almost certainly that of a child of Phillip Anstine's father, Duane. This was intended to establish that the victims were Marion Bates and Phillip Anstine.&nbsp;Sedgwick County Forensic Center's Dr. Scott Kipper performed the autopsies on Bates and Anstine and confirmed that the shotgun wound killed Bates. Anstine's body was significantly burned, but Kipper was still able to determine that a shotgun wound also killed Anstine. Kipper could not rule out the possibility that the shots were in self-defense.&nbsp;Several law enforcement witnesses were then called, including members of the Reno County Sheriff's Office and Maize Police, to establish the security of the crime scene and the circumstances under which Kyle Hardwick was found and arrested in Maize on Sept. 1.&nbsp;The prosecution also attempted to establish through law enforcement testimony that electronic devices, including what they believe to be a cell phone, were found in a fire pit on the property. In addition, they went over the circumstances in which Phillip Anstine's truck was found elsewhere in the county in October.&nbsp;Also, Anstine's friend Paul Jorgenson testified by Zoom from Wyoming to establish that Anstine told him he had both silver and gold on the property at the compound where the murders occurred.&nbsp;The majority of day three of the State v. Kyle Hardwick, saw testimonies from officials with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). &nbsp;During the corroborating testimony of the KBI, regarding the inventory and investigation of the items found in the truck, established to belong to Phillip Anstine, day three saw the most evidence admitted by the state. Including:&nbsp;A Motorola blue cellphone; mesh covering; a beer bottle; two ghillie suits; a red bag containing ammunition; a pellet rifle; a total of six guns between five rifle cases; a camo duffle bag; metal siding that when removed, revealed seven ammunition boxes containing mostly 22 caliber ammunition; .12 gauge ammunition; a metal tool box; a vitamin container labeled ‘char-claw;’ two action cameras; jeep keys; as well as three empty packages of Marlboro Black 100s cigarettes. &nbsp;The same brand of cigarettes had previously been found in the camper located at the compound and the abandoned grain silo where Hardwick was arrested. &nbsp;The inventory of the truck was delivered in testimony by Chris Engle-Tjaden with the KBI.&nbsp;During cross-examination, the defense confirmed the existence of the .380 ammunition. &nbsp;Under defense examination, Engle-Tjaden said the only correlation to the mesh covering, was that it was found in the truck. &nbsp;Forensic testing revealed Hardwick’s DNA was found on a lot of the items. Latent prints belonging to Hardwick were found on a food container and soda bottles. A latent print of Hardwick’s palm was also found on the truck. &nbsp;Day three closed with people known to Hardwick taking the stand, Chase Mattingly and Sherry Reed. &nbsp;During his testimony, Mattingly, the boyfriend of Sherry Reed’s daughter, said he had overheard part of a phone conversation between Hardwick and Reed on Aug. 31,&nbsp;2021. &nbsp;He only understood part of the conversation, and said he had heard Hardwick tell Reed he had messed up. &nbsp;During cross-examination by the defense, Mattingly said he did not know what Hardwick was referring to at the time. &nbsp;The state then called key witness, Sherry Reed. &nbsp;Reed said she has known Hardwick since high school. &nbsp;Reed, of Lawrence, Kansas, said she believed she still has a friendship with Hardwick. Hardwick had previously lived with Reed. &nbsp;Hardwick’s&nbsp;additional count of solicitation to commit perjury stems from&nbsp;a FaceTime call between the defendant and Reed.&nbsp;The FaceTime call had been played in court prior when Hardwick was bound over in June 2022, and was played again on Jan. 27. &nbsp;In the recorded FaceTime conversation, Hardwick repeatedly tells Reed not to show up for the hearing and, if she did testify, to tell the court she was mentally unstable and on drugs. At one time he said, “Please don’t come,” and repeatedly said, “you don’t have to show up.”&nbsp;Hardwick was also noted as telling Reed to “just tell the truth.” &nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/07b4a825-c01a-4caf-9b40-ceac29173d6b" target="_blank">Much like her last reported appearance in court,</a> Reed&nbsp;seemed very confused. &nbsp;She could not remember much about phone calls she got from Hardwick or her meetings with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, nor&nbsp;whether she drove him from Lawrence to a bus station in Kansas City.&nbsp;During her testimony, Reed implied numerous times her confusion with her activities with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, conversations with Hardwick, and whether she dropped him off at a bus stop were due to her not having her ‘calendar’ or her ‘notes.’ &nbsp;In effort to help Reed remember, courtesy of the state, she was presented with copies of her prior testimony to aid her in current testimony.&nbsp;When asked, after taking a moment to review her prior testimony, Reed said she took Hardwick to a bus station in Kansas City in the morning of August 2021. &nbsp;When asked if she remembered telling the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, she was given $600 out of $1,200 from Hardwick, Reed said she only remembered having $600. &nbsp;Reed said she remembered giving a lot of evidence to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, including a Dollar General receipt for a cell phone. &nbsp;Despite the aid of having a copy of her prior testimony, Reed’s memory issues persisted. &nbsp;The state and Judge Schroeder suggested Reed retrieve the notes she claimed to have, if they would aid with her testimony. However, Reed said they were in her car. &nbsp;Reed said she knew Hardwick was coming to Hutchinson via bus when she dropped him off in Kansas City. &nbsp;When presented with state evidence of an iPhone, Reed said she remembered providing the phone to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office. &nbsp;The state yielded their time with Reed to cross-examination with the defense. &nbsp;Reed told the defense, she does get a prescription for anxiety, as well as a prescription for Adderall. &nbsp;The first witness of day four of the trial, was Scott Anstine, the brother of Phillip Anstine. &nbsp;Scott Anstine said his brother usually stored his weapons in his house, and never just left them in his truck. He confirmed the firearms found in the truck in prior testimony were his brother’s. &nbsp;Scott Anstine said Phillip Anstine did not store his ammunition on the compound. &nbsp;Scott Anstine told the court, he is the heir to his brother’s estate. &nbsp;According to Scott Anstine, his brother kept his truck clean. &nbsp;During cross-examination and redirection, Scott Anstine did confirm that Phillip Anstine carried a pistol matching the description in the defense’s opening statement. &nbsp;The testimony of Det. Matt Franklin with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, the lead investigator of the murders of Marion Bates and Phillip Anstine, recalled to the court the events of the case. &nbsp;According to Det. Franklin, no gold or silver had been found on the compound. &nbsp;Only Phillip Anstine will know where the boxes of silver and gold others say he had are buried on the property.&nbsp;During his testimony, it was established via state and defense that Kyle Hardwick and Phillip Anstine had a friendly relationship. &nbsp;Det. Franklin was able to recall that through interviews with Sherry Reed and her submission of case-related items from August 2021 to October 2021, Hardwick was able to be taken into custody. &nbsp;It was also established that it was unclear what started the fire used to burn Anstine’s body. &nbsp;During Sherry Reed’s second testimony during the trial, she told the court she remained in contact with Hardwick post-arrest. &nbsp;Following Det. Franklin's testimony, Reed had a much better memory, and even supplied more intimate details about Hardwick, including his work history.&nbsp;The state rested their case on Jan. 30.&nbsp; The defense will continue presenting its evidence on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

More than 45 witnesses called in Kansas double murder trial

Authorities released video footage Friday showing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tyre-nichols-profile-memphis-3104f3cdbaf568daf6647eca080d4001">Tyre Nichols</a>&nbsp;being beaten by five Memphis police officers who held the Black motorist down and repeatedly struck him with their fists, boots and batons.

The video is filled with violent moments showing the officers, who are also Black, chasing and pummeling Nichols and leaving him on the pavement propped against a squad car as they fist-bump and celebrate their actions.The footage emerged one day after the officers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tyre-nichols-police-officers-charged-48d48f2137a2f34482274edb1bd1bab2?utm">charged with murder</a>&nbsp;in Nichols’ death

Protesters and law enforcement around the country continue to condemn what happened in Memphis. New Riley Co. Police Department Director Brian Peete wrote a letter to community condemning the violence by the officers in Memphis.

In an email Peete wrote, "Over the past several days, more information has been made public as to the events surrounding the violent arrest and&nbsp;death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee."

"I am closely monitoring the information being reported&nbsp;publicly, and am encouraged both the Memphis Police Department and city officials are swiftly taking action as they relate to the individuals involved. I pray for the family of Tyre Nichols, as well as&nbsp;all of the families affected by this tragedy."

:"I don't know the specifics of what happened in Memphis, but I'd like to briefly&nbsp;discuss my thoughts&nbsp;as to what I&nbsp;saw in those newly released videos. It's abundantly clear that the officers involved&nbsp;failed to utilize appropriate training when arresting Mr. Nichols.&nbsp;Most&nbsp;importantly they&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;recognize&nbsp;Mr. Nichols&nbsp;as a human undeserving of the numerous terrorizing attacks they levied against him - Mr. Nichols didn't deserve to be subjected to those attacks."

"There are two strong and encompassing indicators I know to be warning signs which always lead to the types of&nbsp;unacceptable acts we all saw in Memphis: the first is how well police and correctional officers are trained, and the second and perhaps the most important is the culture of&nbsp;the organization."

"Your department has strong,&nbsp;foundational&nbsp;training in de-escalation, fair and impartial policing, and use of force. Most importantly, the culture of your department is professional and rooted in&nbsp;the focus of respecting those we serve. We believe in treating everyone fairly and with respect, preserving the dignity of all those we encounter and serve."

"If anyone in the community would like to speak with me regarding this incident or RCPD in general, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (785) 537-2112 ext. 2300."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675134976483.png" alt="RCPD Director Brian Peete -courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>RCPD Director Brian Peete -courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Authorities released video footage Friday showing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tyre-nichols-profile-memphis-3104f3cdbaf568daf6647eca080d4001">Tyre Nichols</a>&nbsp;being beaten by five Memphis police officers who held the Black motorist down and repeatedly struck him with their fists, boots and batons.The video is filled with violent moments showing the officers, who are also Black, chasing and pummeling Nichols and leaving him on the pavement propped against a squad car as they fist-bump and celebrate their actions.The footage emerged one day after the officers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tyre-nichols-police-officers-charged-48d48f2137a2f34482274edb1bd1bab2?utm">charged with murder</a>&nbsp;in Nichols’ deathProtesters and law enforcement around the country continue to condemn what happened in Memphis. New Riley Co. Police Department Director Brian Peete wrote a letter to community condemning the violence by the officers in Memphis.In an email Peete wrote, "Over the past several days, more information has been made public as to the events surrounding the violent arrest and&nbsp;death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee.""I am closely monitoring the information being reported&nbsp;publicly, and am encouraged both the Memphis Police Department and city officials are swiftly taking action as they relate to the individuals involved. I pray for the family of Tyre Nichols, as well as&nbsp;all of the families affected by this tragedy.":"I don't know the specifics of what happened in Memphis, but I'd like to briefly&nbsp;discuss my thoughts&nbsp;as to what I&nbsp;saw in those newly released videos. It's abundantly clear that the officers involved&nbsp;failed to utilize appropriate training when arresting Mr. Nichols.&nbsp;Most&nbsp;importantly they&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;recognize&nbsp;Mr. Nichols&nbsp;as a human undeserving of the numerous terrorizing attacks they levied against him - Mr. Nichols didn't deserve to be subjected to those attacks.""There are two strong and encompassing indicators I know to be warning signs which always lead to the types of&nbsp;unacceptable acts we all saw in Memphis: the first is how well police and correctional officers are trained, and the second and perhaps the most important is the culture of&nbsp;the organization.""Your department has strong,&nbsp;foundational&nbsp;training in de-escalation, fair and impartial policing, and use of force. Most importantly, the culture of your department is professional and rooted in&nbsp;the focus of respecting those we serve. We believe in treating everyone fairly and with respect, preserving the dignity of all those we encounter and serve.""If anyone in the community would like to speak with me regarding this incident or RCPD in general, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (785) 537-2112 ext. 2300."

New RCPD Director responds to police violence in Memphis

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/30/she-killed-her-rapist-after-months-of-abuse-advocates-say-kansas-governor-should-set-her-free/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Sarah Gonzales-McLinn regrets killing Hal Sasko.

She also regrets moving into his 
Lawrence home, where he repeatedly raped her until she channeled a 
lifetime of trauma into psychotic rupture.

On a January night in 2014, she drugged her captor, zip-tied his limbs and slit his throat.

“That is the moment that my pain and 
suffering spilled over onto many different people, even outside of us 
two,” she said in a phone interview from the women’s prison in Topeka. 
“So that moment, yes, I absolutely regret, and I would never do that 
again.”

A jury convicted Gonzales-McLinn of 
first-degree murder in 2015 without knowing about the months of abuse 
that preceded her grisly crime. Now, her advocates hope to get her out 
of prison by convincing the governor to grant her clemency — a longshot 
attempt to correct what they view as injustice.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Sarah-Gonzales-McLinn-Clemency-Application.pdf">The clemency application</a>
 focuses on Sasko’s grooming of her from the age of 14, including the 
financial and psychological traps he used to keep her in bondage. New 
details include the revelation that Sasko, at age 52, had started 
grooming 16-year-old twin girls before his death.

Advocates hope her request for 
clemency will elevate public awareness of human trafficking cases so 
that women like Gonzales-McLinn may be better understood by family, 
friends, law enforcement and judges.

“How is it that she can be tried and 
convicted without a jury being fully aware of what was going on in that 
house? How is that not an injustice?” said Dave Ranney, a retired 
journalist who met Gonzales-McLinn as a volunteer for a writing program 
at the women’s prison. “The question isn’t whether she killed him, it’s 
why? And if you don’t know the answer to that, just ask anyone who 
counsels women who find themselves caught up in abusive relationships. 
They can tell you.”

Gonzales-McLinn was sentenced to a 
minimum of 50 years in prison. In 2021, newly elected Douglas County 
District Attorney Suzanne Valdez made a stunning deal. Gonzales-McLinn’s
 sentence was cut in half in exchange for giving up the right to appeal.
 But there is no guarantee a parole board will let her out of prison 
before she dies.

Valdez publicly <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/30/why-a-prosecutor-and-a-defense-attorney-took-an-extraordinary-step-in-a-high-profile-kansas-murder-case/">defended the plea deal</a> but secretly agreed Gonzales-McLinn should be freed.

Interviews, court records, 
confidential police documents, psychological reports, the clemency 
application and other materials obtained by Kansas Reflector provide 
insight into the events surrounding Sasko’s death and the legal 
proceedings that followed.

State corrections officials refused 
to allow an in-person interview with Gonzales-McLinn, citing 
inconvenience for prison staff and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-policies/AdultIMPP/chapter-8/08-104d-media-and-public-access.pdf/view">state agency policy</a>
 that only grants reporters access for stories on “appropriate” topics. 
Instead, corrections officials required Gonzales-McLinn to answer 
sensitive questions over the phone while surrounded by other inmates.

This was her first interview with a reporter, and she was nervous to tell her story.

“I’ve never talked about this with 
anyone outside of attorneys and psychologists — like, not even my 
family,” Gonzales-McLinn said. “But I just feel like it’s time, also. I 
feel like it has been just so hard to talk about because it does still 
hold a certain amount of power over me.”

Gonzales-McLinn welcomed the 
invitation from Sasko to move into his Lawrence home after she graduated
 a year early from Topeka High School. She was 17, and he was 50.

They met three years earlier, when 
she went to work for Sasko at his Cicis Pizza branch in Topeka. He 
stayed in touch as she moved on to other jobs.

Sasko knew about her troubled 
relationship with her parents. He knew she had been violently raped by a
 man who left her with scars from cigarette burns. She had attempted 
suicide and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and 
depression.

“When I moved into that house, I had 
no idea what was in store for me,” Gonzales-McLinn said. “I truly did 
think of him as a father figure to me. I just had no idea.”

The supposed sanctuary included unlimited access to marijuana and alcohol. Cocaine and ecstasy also were available.

Sasko charged her rent, and she 
bought her own food. He slowly gained control over “most everything that
 I did,” Gonzales-McLinn said.

After they had lived together for 
about six months, he told Gonzales-McLinn he loved her. She said she 
“shut it down,” but he continued to make unwanted advances. Eventually, 
he demanded sex as a condition for staying with him.

“I was very crushed the first time that happened, and I just felt completely helpless at that point,” Gonzales-McLinn said.

Sasko commandeered her paychecks, 
telling her she owed money for gas, her phone, car repairs and other 
expenses. He threatened to sue her if she left and told her he would 
wreck her credit rating so that she could never get an apartment or buy a
 car. She would be homeless, he warned.

Family and friends later told police 
that Sasko bragged about how “amazing” it was to “have an 18-year-old.” 
But he complained to Gonzales-McLinn that she wasn’t attractive enough.

He paid for her to get a nose job, 
then added the $6,000 cost to the bill she would have to repay before 
she could stop having sex with him.

He told her that men don’t like 
flat-chested women. She needed a curvier body. He wanted her to have 
breast augmentation surgery, but the doctor said she was too young. He 
arranged for her to have buttocks implants instead. She objected but 
felt she had no choice. He added the $10,000 cost to her bill.

Her last paycheck, from Bed Bath &amp; Beyond, was for $265.56.

Gonzales-McLinn later told a 
psychologist that she would drink herself into a semi-conscious state 
when Sasko required sex. If she tried to resist, he held her arms.

“I would get as drunk as I could and just lay there,” she told the psychologist.

She estimated that he raped her two to three times per week for 10 months.

By late December 2013, 
Gonzales-McLinn had broken from reality. She searched Google for such 
phrases as: “Why do I think so differently?”

She texted her sister: “I feel like a caged animal right now, and it’s making me crazy.”

Greg Kelley told police he visited 
his uncle’s house a month or two before the murder and was alarmed to 
find a skinned rabbit in a bowl in the refrigerator.

Gonzales-McLinn had bought the rabbit
 at a local pet store, signed a waiver saying she would care for it, 
then used a knife to kill and skin the animal. She dug the rabbit’s fur 
out of the trash and demonstrated for Kelley how she stuck the knife 
through the rabbit’s neck. She had put thought into the technique.

She did this, she explained, to learn how to “self survive.”

The rabbit was marinating because she planned to cook and eat it the next day.

Kelley thought to himself: “This chick has problems.”

In clinical terms, Gonzales-McLinn 
was suffering from major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, 
substance abuse and dissociative identity disorder — formerly known as 
multiple personalities.

“To a reasonable degree of 
psychological certainty, Ms. Gonzales McLinn suffers from a number of 
serious mental illnesses,” wrote Marilyn Hutchinson, a psychologist who 
spent 17.5 hours evaluating Gonzales-McLinn after the murder.

Sharon Sullivan, a Washburn 
University professor and expert on human trafficking, said it is 
important to understand the neurological impact of sexual abuse. 
“Survival brain” takes over, Sullivan said, and the part of the brain 
that controls decision making goes offline.

In Gonzales-McLinn’s case, Sullivan 
said, her brain wasn’t even fully developed. She was trapped. She didn’t
 know there were options.

“I can’t even imagine having to deal 
with that at 18 years old, with so little experience of the world,” 
Sullivan said. “And this is someone who’s supposed to love her, called 
her his daughter. How f***ing creepy is that?”

Gonzales-McLinn said she couldn’t find a way to cope with the abuse in a way that made her feel better.

“There was a lot of drugs and alcohol
 in that house, and that was the only relief that I felt the whole 
time,” Gonzales-McLinn said. “That is kind of a dark road to go down.”

Hutchinson’s report said 
Gonzales-McLinn had been molested by a neighbor as a child, and the rape
 at age 16 “was extraordinarily traumatic.” She had nightmares of 
killing herself and the rapist. She felt unavoidable humiliation.

Sasko’s abuse compounded the trauma. 
Gonzales-McLinn came to the conclusion she would have to kill herself or
 kill him. A change in antidepressant medication may have affected her 
thinking, Hutchinson noted.

On the morning of Jan. 14, 2014, 
Sasko texted Gonzales-McLinn to apologize for trying to sleep with her 
again. But at 5:15 that night, he sent a text asking her to put beer in 
the refrigerator. She knew if he was drinking, she would be raped.

Gonzales-McLinn killed Sasko shortly 
before midnight. She drove her car to Florida so she could see the ocean
 before her inevitable arrest.

Lawrence police questioned her after 
she was found 11 days later in Everglades National Park. Detective Jamie
 Lawson wanted to know why she used Sasko’s blood to write “FREEDOM” on 
the wall.

“What was you trying to express when you did that?” Lawson asked.

Later, Gonzales-McLinn told Hutchinson that killing Sasko felt like standing in the sun for the first time.

In a closed-door meeting with the 
trial judge in 2015, prosecutor Charles Branson successfully argued that
 it would be inappropriate for the jury to hear about Sasko’s abuse of 
Gonzales-McLinn.

“Details of those allegations would 
not be proper in front of the jury during the guilt phase of the trial 
because they would be simply information that would be used to create 
sympathy for the defendant,” Branson said, according to a transcript of 
the conversation.

Branson considered the abuse to be 
“irrelevant information.” He also didn’t want the abuse to be made 
public because news outlets would write about it.

Defense attorney Carl Cornwell agreed
 to restrictions on the evidence of abuse he could present at trial. 
Instead, he tried to convince jurors that Gonzales-McLinn was too 
mentally unstable to understand her actions.

The jury rejected Cornwell’s 
arguments, which emphasized the “system of Sarah,” a reference to her 
multiple personalities. Prosecutors said she was exaggerating symptoms 
of mental illness.

Gonzales-McLinn didn’t realize she 
might have to spend the rest of her life in prison. She was shocked and 
confused when evidence of Sasko’s abuse wasn’t presented at trial.

“I never had this mentality of, ‘I’m 
just going to get out scot-free, that’s what I’m fighting for, that’s 
what I want.’ But I did always want what was fair,” Gonzales-McLinn 
said. “If you don’t say everything that happened, how can somebody 
decide what’s fair?”

Douglas County District Judge Paula 
Martin gave Gonzales-McLinn a Hard 50 sentence, meaning she would have 
to serve at least 50 years before the chance of parole. She would be 
nearly 70 years old by then.

Gonzales-McLinn appealed her sentence
 on the grounds that Cornwell provided ineffective counsel. Meanwhile, 
advocates began to prepare a clemency application — and uncovered 
evidence that wasn’t presented to the jury.