WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Wichita Police (WPD) has arrested 34-year-old Kevin Palmer from Wichita on charges of murder.
At about noon on Saturday, agents responded to a call from a gray Ford Escape traveling west on Kellogg near Meridian with a female. Officers found the Ford Escape on Kellogg and West Street with a 13-year-old woman who was caught outside the vehicle and declared dead.
The investigation revealed that the female was sitting on the driver’s side of the Escape while parked outside a nearby restaurant. Her family went to the restaurant to get food while she stayed in the car. Palmer sat in the driver’s seat and fled into the vehicle. The female attempted to exit the vehicle while in motion. When getting out of the car, she became trapped in the seat belt on the outside of the car. Palmer continued to flee for several miles.
A civilian saw the fatal situation, called 911 and followed the vehicle. At Kellogg and West Street, Palmer stopped the Escape and fled on foot. Palmer was quickly arrested by officers arriving on the call.
“This is one of the saddest things I’ve come across in my more than 28 years of law enforcement,” said Chief Gordon Ramsay. “WPD is sending its thoughts and prayers to family, friends and others affected by this tragic incident.”
The investigation is ongoing and the matter will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. Additionally, Palmer had previously been convicted of multiple crimes.
The case numbers associated with the cases are 21C007528 and 21C007542.
Wichita police received calls around noon Saturday from a woman allegedly being towed by a car near Kellogg and West.
Police say the female was sitting in the back seat of a family car when it was taken by a suspect. She tried to flee the car but was still fastened to her seat belt, dragging her behind.
The female was pronounced dead on the spot. The suspect is in custody and the investigation is ongoing.
If anyone has information on this case, they can call WPD detectives at 316-268-4407, the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282, or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
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