CORRECTION 5:10 p.m. Wednesday: The Salina Police Department has corrected the age of Manuel Medina-Castro. That correction has been made below.
By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
The Salina Police Department this afternoon released the following statement concerning a homicide investigation it is working with the Saline County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI).
On Tuesday afternoon, the 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. This morning, Soldan said that the case was being investigated as a homicide.
This afternoon, the Salina Police Department revealed that it was working on the homicide case with the Saline County Sheriff's Office and the KBI.
Following is the statement from the Salina Police Department.
. . .
On September 17, 2021, 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 for the following crimes:
â—ŹCriminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
â—ŹBattery of a Law Enforcement Officer
â—ŹFelony 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 September 21, 2021, law enforcement developed information that the victim may be located in the 3100 block of West McReynolds Road, Saline County, Kansas. 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 following additional charge for Manuel Medina-Castro:
â—ŹMurder; Second Degree.
This continues to be an active investigation and no further information will be provided at this time.
If you have any information relative to this case, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637), or visit https://new.tipsubmit.com/en/create-report/anonymous/salina.org to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Saline County Sheriff’s Office at (785) 826-6500. Saline County Sheriff’s case number 2021-16812.