An Ark City resident was killed Sunday at a motel room in Garden City in an incident that has led to a murder investigation and arrest of a 16-year-old suspect.
Police were called to the Sunflower Inn for the report of a man not breathing and found 23-year-old Alec Cantu dead on the floor in room 115. Cantu had signs of trauma to his body and it was apparent an altercation had occurred inside the room, according to a press release from police.
Cantu lived in Ark City and worked locally at Walmart. He was visiting Garden City, his hometown, according to those that know him. Around 9:50 a.m. Sunday, about 90 minutes before Cantu was found, the Finney County Sheriff’s Office responded to 4100 W. Railroad Ave. for an abandoned vehicle in the Arkansas River.
The car was registered to Alec Cantu and had been vandalized. On Tuesday, at 10 a.m., Christian Benitez, 16, a Garden City male, was arrested at the Finney County Law Enforcement Center, 304 N 9th Street, on allegations of murder in the 1st degree and aggravated robbery.
Benitez was taken to the Southwest Kansas Juvenile Detention Center.
The case has been turned over to the Finney County Attorney’s Office for further review. The Garden City Police Department is requesting assistance from the community. If you witnessed this incident or have information about this incident, you should call the Garden City Police Department (620) 276-1300. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers (620) 275-7807, or text your tip to Garden City PD, text GCTIP, and your tip to Tip411 (847411).
