By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
On Tuesday, the Saline County sheriff's office first reported finding a body near the intersection of S. Halstead Road and W. McReynolds Road. In a news release Tuesday, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan noted that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Response Team had been called in. On Wednesday, Soldan said that the case was being investigated as a homicide.
On September 17, Manuel Medina-Castro and members of his immediate family arrived at the Saline County Jail.
Manuel Medina-Castro’s family members reported a vehicle, which Manuel had borrowed from a family member, contained a significant amount of what appeared to be blood and a spent shell casing.
Salina Police Department Detectives responded to the 2500 block of Ambassador Drive, Salina, Kansas, and located the vehicle borrowed by Manuel Medina-Castrol. They also observed a substantial amount of what appeared to be blood inside of the family member’s vehicle. A search warrant was obtained for the vehicle and residence. The subsequent search revealed evidence to indicate a violent crime had occurred, a firearm was recovered, and it was believed someone had been grievously injured.
On September 17, 2021, Manuel Medina-Castro, a 27-year-old resident of Salina was arrested on requested charges of Criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer and Felony Damage to property
Since September 17, 2021, investigators from the Salina Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Saline County Sheriff’s Office have conducted a joint investigation to locate and identify a potential victim.
On Tuesday law enforcement developed information that the victim may be located in the 3100 block of West McReynolds Road, in rural Saline County. During the search of that area, a deceased person was located. Law enforcement is waiting on confirmation of the identity of the victim along with the autopsy results. The autopsy has been scheduled. Notification of the next-of-kin is pending.
On September 22, 2021, the Salina Police Department is requesting the an additional charge of Murder; Second Degree for Manuel Medina-Castro.