SEDGWICK COUNTY — Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said the weekend death of a 13-year-old girl is "one of the saddest cases I have been associated with in my over 28-years of law enforcement."
On Saturday, the 13-year-old later identified as Brianna Ibarra died while being dragged for miles by her family's SUV that had been stolen.
Police arrested 34-year-old Kevin Palmer of Wichita on a charge of felony murder, according to Officer Charley Davidson.
Just after noon on Saturday, police responded to a call of a grey Ford Escape traveling westbound on Kellogg at Meridian dragging a girl.
Officers located the Ford Escape at Kellogg and West Street with the girl caught on the outside of the vehicle. First responders pronounced her dead at the scene.
Investigators learned the girl was sitting in the back seat of the SUV while it was parked outside of a nearby restaurant running. Her family went into the restaurant to get food as she remained in the vehicle.
The suspect later identified as Palmer got into the driver’s seat and fled in the vehicle. The girl attempted to exit the vehicle while it was moving and became caught in the seatbelt on the outside of the SUV. Palmer continued to flee for several miles.
A citizen saw the deadly situation, called 911, and followed the vehicle. At Kellogg and West Street, Palmer stopped the SUV and fled on foot. Arriving officers quickly arrested him, according to Davidson.
Friends established a GoFundMe to assist the Ibarra family.
Palmer is being held on bonds totaling over $500,000, according to online jail records. He is scheduled for a first court appearance in the case this week.