Kansas Klips

Fort Hays State mourns the loss of football student-athlete

HAYS — The Fort Hays State University football team, athletic department, and campus community are mourning the loss of student-athlete Daniel Howard, who died early Sunday morning (Jan. 1) in his hometown of Oklahoma City. Howard was a Sociology major at FHSU and was 22 years old. In a statement from the university, FHSU President Dr. Tisa Mason expressed the profound sorrow felt by the university at large. “Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with Daniel’s family, teammates, and friends as they grieve this terrible loss,” Mason said. The head coach of the Fort Hays team, Chris Brown, said, “We are so grateful to have been a part of his life, and he will be missed greatly and remembered forever.” Daniel Howard came to Fort Hays State in the spring of 2022, a transfer from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. He made an immediate impact for the Tiger defense during the 2022 season, playing in all 11 games and making nine starts as a defensive back. He recorded 53 tackles, ranking third on the team, and recorded an interception and a pair of pass breakups. Howard attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M for three years and played two seasons, where he was a two-time all-conference performer. (FHSU Communications)

Homicide at Lansing Correctional Facility

LANSING — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) are investigating a homicide that occurred Friday night at the Lansing Correctional Facility. The Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) contacted the KBI just after 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, to report the suspicious death of a resident of the LCF. The initial investigation indicates that on Friday, just before 8:30 p.m., corrections officers from LCF were summoned to a two-person cell by a 25-year-old male inmate in the cell. When they arrived they found the other occupant, 62-year-old Gary Raburn, unresponsive inside the cell. He appeared to have been attacked and strangled. Corrections officers entered the cell and attempted life-saving measures. EMS responded and continued attempts to revive Raburn, however, he was declared deceased at approximately 9:30 p.m. An autopsy will be conducted. A suspect has been identified, but charges are pending. The investigation is ongoing. (KBI News Release)

Woman injured after wrong-way crash in I-70 rest area

TREGO COUNTY — A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 8 a.m. Saturday in Trego County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Jeep Cherokee driven by Teresa Mae Myers, 64, WaKeeney, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of the Kansas 147-Ogallah exit. The driver turned around, traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes towards the rest area. The Jeep continued into the rest area from the wrong direction and struck a legally parked 2020 Volvo semi truck head-on. EMS transported Myers to Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital. A man identified as W. A. Richard Weber, 65, Kissimmee, Florida, was in the sleeper section of the semi and not injured. Myers was properly restrained, according to the KHP. (HaysPost.com)

Wichita woman sentenced to life in prison for shooting death of her sister

WICHITA — Joy Wilson has been sentenced to life in prison for the shooting death of her sister. In 2021, officers responded to a call from St. Joseph Hospital at approximately 5:30 Saturday morning. When they arrived, they discovered Wilson. At the time, Wilson told officers that her sister had been shot inside a home and needed help. When officers arrived at the residence, they discovered 40-year-old Shawna Webb shot dead. Police later discovered a handgun in her car. Wilson has the possibility of parole eligibility after 25 years. (KAKE News)

Wichita man sentenced to at least 79 years in prison for murder, other charges

WICHITA — A 25-year-old Wichita man has been sentenced to just over 79 years to life in prison for the shooting death of a young man in 2018. Sedgwick County District Judge Tyler Roush sentenced Deizmond Peters to life without parole for 618 months for first-degree murder and an additional 332 months for aggravated robbery, four counts of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon. The DA’s office said the sentences will be served consecutively. A jury convicted Peters in March 2022. The shooting happened in February of 2018. Police said the victim, 18-year-old Donte Devore, was inside a home near Lincoln and Edgemoor when someone knocked on the door. After answering the door, several suspects walked into the house armed with handguns. A fight broke out and shots were fired, killing Devore. Peters was arrested in February of 2019. Two other people, Lascottric Yarbrough, now 23, and a suspect who was a juvenile at the time, were arrested in the days following the shooting. Yarbrough remains jailed on $200,000 bond, records show. His case is set for jury trial on January 30. (KAKE News)

AG Derek Schmidt releases KBI report on investigation of allegations of clergy abuse of children

TOPEKA — On Friday, Jan. 6, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt received and released the final report by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation concerning allegations of child sexual abuse by members of the clergy in Kansas. In November 2018, following the release of internal files and documents by the Catholic dioceses in Kansas concerning allegations of sexual abuse, Schmidt asked the KBI to assess this information and conduct any criminal investigation that may be appropriate. The KBI established an internal task force for this matter. The summary of that task force report was issued by the KBI to the attorney general today. The KBI reviewed documents, interviewed victims and conducted investigations, referring 30 cases to local county prosecutors for further consideration. Most of the files that were reviewed were several decades old. The report can be found at https://bit.ly/3Cq7Tb9. (AG News Release)