WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – The Wichita Police Department (WPD) has arrested 34-year-old Kevin Palmer of Wichita on a charge of murder.
Around 12 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to a call from a gray Ford Escape who was traveling west on Kellogg at Meridian to tow a woman. Officers located the Ford Escape in Kellogg and West Street with a 13-year-old woman caught on the outside of the vehicle and pronounced dead.
The investigation revealed that the woman was sitting at the back of the Escape while it was parked outside a nearby restaurant. Her family entered the restaurant to fetch food while staying in the vehicle. Palmer sat in the driver’s seat and fled in the vehicle. The woman tried to leave the vehicle while it was moving. When she pulled out, she was trapped in the seat belt on the outside of the vehicle. Palmer fled a few miles further.
A citizen sees the deadly situation, called 911, and follows the vehicle. In Kellogg and West Street, Palmer stops the Escape and flees on foot. Palmer was quickly arrested by officers arriving at the call.
“This is one of the saddest cases I have been involved in in my more than 28 years of law enforcement,” said Chief Gordon Ramsay. “WPD sends its thoughts and prayers to family, friends and others affected by this tragic incident.”
The investigation is continuing, and the case will be submitted to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. In addition, Palmer has previously been convicted of several crimes.
The case numbers related to the cases are 21C007528 and 21C007542.
Police in Wichita received calls around noon on Saturday from a woman who was allegedly dragged by a car near Kellogg and West.
Police say the woman was in the back seat of a family car when it was taken by a suspect. She tried to flee the vehicle, but was still strapped to her seat belt, leaving her behind.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect is in custody and the investigation is continuing.
If anyone has information on this matter, they can call WPD detectives at 316-268-4407, the hotline See Something Say Something at 316-519-2282, or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
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