Four people have been arrested in connection with the death of a man whose body was found in the bed of a truck Tuesday, covered in tarps, according to the Cowley County Sheriff’s Dept.
The deceased was identified as 34-year-old Matthew Kelly. An investigation is ongoing. An autopsy will be performed at the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center in Wichita.
Just after midnight Tuesday, deputies were sent to the 3000 block of 302nd Road. The reporting party discovered a large amount of suspected blood located in the front yard and had information that a possible shooting had taken place. Sheriff’s Deputies processed the scene.
Three males, Kelly, 30-year-old Dylan Weaver and 25-year-old Justin Pierce had been at the residence earlier, investigators learned. During the investigation a 2018, silver F-250, belonging to Dylan Weaver was located at an address in Winfield.
Possible visual evidence was noted on the vehicle, and it was seized as evidence.
A vehicle was then located in the 10000 block of 11th Road in western Cowley County. In that vehicle was Pierce and 25-year-old Amber Orr. Deputies observed what looked like visible blood in the back of the truck and the vehicle was seized. A search warrant was obtained, and the deceased body of Kelly was recovered.
Weaver, Orr, Pierce and 37-year-old Lisa Wise were taken into custody. All remain in the Cowley County Jail. Information has not been released in regard to individual booking charges.
The sheriff’s office was assisted by multiple agencies, the Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Arkansas City Police Department, Winfield Police Department, Oxford Police Department and the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office.
If you have information in reference to this case please contact the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office, Cowley County Emergency Communications or submit a tip.
To submit an anonymous Tip text the word COWLEYTIPS to 847411, add a space, type in your tip information, and hit send.
