Authorities have made two arrests in a murder investigation on a body found near North St. just east of the Salina city limits and the Smoky Hill river yesterday.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says that Charles Henry Rodgers, 30, of Salina has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the investigation.
Rodgers is on Salina’s Most Wanted list for June. He was also an acquaintance of the victim.
Saline County Sheriff, Roger Soldan, tells KSAL News that a second person has also been arrested in connection with the alleged murder.
James Ervin Pavey, 40, of Salina, was also arrested and charged with first-degree murder among other charges.
The body discovered yesterday has been identified as Brandon Lee Shelby, 29, of Salina.
Law enforcement believes that Shelby was killed at the location of where his body was found and his death happened sometime during the morning yesterday.
That location is on North Street on the north side of the road, near a wooded area that is also a popular fishing area. On the south side of the road is the Salina Country Club.
According to the KBI, preliminary information suggests that Shelby suffered blunt force trauma to the head and other severe injuries. An autopsy will take place today to determine an official cause of death.
The Saline County Sheriff’s Office and the KBI have been working together on the case and Soldan says that the KBI anticipates more arrests made in connection with Shelby’s alleged murder.
KSAL News will have more updates on this situation as they come available.
Below are clips from Soldan’s press conference this morning and pictures of the location where Shelby’s body was found:
The area north of North St. and east of the Smoky Hill River where Shelby’s body had been discovered.
James Ervin Pavey, 40, of Salina, charged with first-degree murder among other charges.
Original Story: An investigation is underway after the discovery of a body.
According to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, on Tuesday at 10:44AM Salina EMS and Saline County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to East North Street in the area of the Smoky Hill River Bridge in rural Saline County in reference to a
body on the North side of the road.
A White Male in his late 20’s was pronounced dead at the scene by Salina EMS.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Response Team has been called in to assist with this
investigation.
If you witnessed any suspicious activity in this area during the last 24 hours or if you think you may have information in reference to this incident please contact the Saline County Sheriff’s Office (785) 826-6500 or the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-KSCRIME
