The father of a child who was killed in a fire earlier this year in rural Dickinson County has been arrested.

According to the Dickinson County Sheriff’s office, on Monday January 26, 2026, at approximately 5:48 PM, deputies were dispatched to a structure fire in the 1500 block of 1400 Avenue in rural Dickinson County. The residence was fully engulfed when firefighters and deputies arrived.

Deputies contacted James Crump and a child outside the residence. They were advised that Crump’s other two-year-old son was unaccounted for and may be inside the residence. After the fire
was brought under control by firefighters, the two-year-old male victim was located deceased inside of  the residence.

An investigation into the circumstances of the fire has been conducted and is ongoing. The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Office of the State Fire Marshall.

On July 14, 2026, an arrest warrant was issued by the Dickinson County District Court for James Bradley Crump, 33, of Hope, Kansas, for Murder in the First Degree and Aggravated Endangering a Child. Crump was arrested later that day by deputies without incident and booked into the Dickinson County Detention Facility.

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ORIGINAL: The father of a child who was killed in a fire earlier this year in rural Dickinson County has been arrested.

Back on January 26th, two-year-old Elijah Crump died in a house fire at a home in the 1500 block of 1400 Avenue, northwest of Navarre in rural Dickinson County.

Dickinson County Jail records indicate 33-year-old James Crump was booked into jail on Tuesday evening on charges which include:

• Murder in the 1st degree
• Aggravated Child Endangerment

The records indicate the charges date back to January 26th.

On January 26th first responders were dispatched to a structure fire  The residence was fully engulfed when firefighters and deputies arrived.

Deputies located an adult male and a child outside the residence.  They were advised a two-year-old male was unaccounted for and may be inside the residence.  After the fire was brought under control by firefighters, the two-year-old male victim was located deceased inside of the residence.

Bond is set at $250,000.