Latest news with #KansasDepartmentofWildlifeandParks
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Person of interest in 2010 cold case murder of Oklahoma mom shoots himself in the head on Zoom call with horrified investigators
A person of interest in a cold case killing of an Oklahoma mother who was beaten to death in front of her baby 15 years ago shot himself in the head in the middle of a Zoom call with police about his possible involvement. Michael Thomas — a longtime person of interest in the killing of 34-year-old Julie Mitchell — requested that his meeting last week with investigators be virtual rather than in person before he killed himself on camera, according to local reports. 3 Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, KOCO 5 Advertisement Thomas, 54, shot himself during the May 31 Zoom after being on the call for about 45 minutes, his shocked attorney Ed Blau told The Oklahoman. 'The phone landed right by his head, so we got to hear him die, hear the death rattle,' the attorney said Tuesday. 'It was as shocking and horrific as you can imagine.' Thomas, who took the call from a wooded area outside a Kansas casino, was being questioned as part of the investigation into the murder of Mitchell, who was beaten to death in the bedroom of her Oklahoma City home in November 2010. Her 13-month-old baby was discovered unharmed right by her bludgeoned body. Advertisement Police found Mitchell's body in the master bedroom closet. Approximately $30,000 was missing from a closet safe, according to The Oklahoman. Thomas — whose company checkbook was found at Mitchell's home after her death — had been a person of interest in the case for years, and was interviewed by police at least five or six times, his lawyer told KOCO 5. When investigators wanted to question him again this week, Thomas agreed – but on one condition, the station reported. He insisted that the meeting not be in person. Advertisement 3 Julie Mitchell was beaten to death in her Oklahoma City home in 2010. 'Beggars can't always be choosers, and this is somebody we wanted to talk to, we needed to talk to. There were questions we needed to have answered by him,' Master Sgt. Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department told KOCO. So Thomas, Blau and Oklahoma City detectives arranged for a Zoom call on May 31 that Thomas was going to take out of the state. 'He had agreed to be interviewed by detectives, but only on the stipulation that he wasn't going to be at the same location. He wanted to be in a manner like a Zoom call,' Knight added. Advertisement Oklahoma City Police Detective Bryn Carter told News 9 that Thomas dominated the conversation. 'He didn't give me an opportunity to ask him any questions,' Carter said. 'He controlled the conversation from start to finish.' 3 Michael Thomas shot himself in the head during police questioning on Zoom. KOCO 5 About 45 minutes into the call, in the middle of questioning, Thomas took out a gun and shot himself in the head, according to reports. The cops on the call said they had never experienced anything that shocking before during an interview. 'I don't remember in my time here, 35 years here, someone killing themselves during an interview,' Knight told KOCO. 'In 31 years on the police department doing hundreds of hundreds of interviews, I've never had anyone commit suicide in front of me,' Carter echoed. Over the years and rounds of questioning, Thomas — who reportedly owed a gambling debt to Mitchell's bookie husband — repeatedly denied having anything to do with the fatal beating of Mitchell. Advertisement 'I — 100% — did not,' he told The Oklahoman in 2012. 'That's for sure.' Cops are continuing to investigate the cold case.
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Locals say bizarre ‘massacre' of mother goose and her six tiny goslings in Kansas street was no accident
The shocking discovery of the smooshed and mangled bodies of a mother goose and her six tiny goslings on a Kansas street has ignited local residents who believe the mysterious mass deaths were no accident — and possibly a violation of federal law. 'It was just a massacre of goslings in the street,' Wichita resident Cylie Gillespie told KAKE after she came across the grisly scene Monday morning that left her physically ill. The family of Canada geese was likely struck by a car and Gillespie believes a cruel driver deliberately ran them over. Advertisement 'There was seven of them in a row. There was one hit, one hit, one hit, one hit, like it was over, a good amount of space,' she said. 'It didn't look like they hit one, and then, you know, swerved to miss the rest of them. They hit one, and then continued to hit the remainder of the flock.' It looked like the car made no effort to avoid the geese, Gillespie added. Residents in Wichita hope the killer of a mother goose and six goslings is found and arrested. FOX NEWS KANSAS Advertisement 'If you hit one, whatever, I guess accidents happen,' she told the local news station. 'But to me, it was deliberate due to the fact of how they were all lined up.' The Wichita local is one of several residents who look forward to this time of year when the geese make a stop in town as they migrate south, she said. But what she saw Monday, caused her to have an overwhelming physical response. Canada geese are a common sight in Kansas this time of year. FOX NEWS KANSAS Advertisement 'I threw up a little bit. I cried, I needed a hug,' Gillespie said. 'I was hurt, I was upset, I was very angry.' 'I was just disgusted with humanity,' she added. Canada geese are federally protected, thanks to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Without a permit, it's a crime to intentionally harm or kill the animal. Advertisement Gillespie hopes police get involved to find and arrest the waterfowl killer. 'It's just sickening,' she said. 'I'm at a loss for words. I want action. I want something to be done,' she told KAKE.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rare bird spotted at Kansas state park results in partial beach shutdown
ROOKS COUNTY (KSNT) – Wildlife officials are giving a rare bird space after it decided to make a nest at a Kansas state park. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has closed part of the swimming beach area at Webster State Park this week in Rooks County after spotting a nesting piping plover. Wildlife officials have closed off part of the beach with yellow tape to give the bird space to rear its young. Piping plover birds are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act and the Kansas Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act, according to the KDWP. The migratory birds are recognized as rare visitors to Kansas that are found nesting on beaches and sandbars. Exotic pet fish are turning up in Kansas lakes, where do they come from? Ten counties are listed as containing critical habitat for piping plover in Kansas but they may generally be spotted anywhere where suitable conditions exist. You can spot a piping plover by some of its more noticeable features, such as yellow legs, a narrow black band above the forehead from eye to eye and a dark ring around the neck. People visiting Webster State Park are asked to give the bird space and watch it from outside the areas marked with yellow tape. You can learn more about Kansas' state parks by heading to the KDWP's website. Check camping options on USACE lands with this new website For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Exotic pet fish are turning up in Kansas lakes, where do they come from?
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Anglers are hooking some strange fish in Kansas that look like they belong in a personal aquarium rather than the local lake. 27 News got in touch with experts at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) this week to find out how often its fisheries staff are finding exotic fish swimming in the state's lakes and waterways. Whether they came from somebody's fish tank or were being used as bait, odd specimens are finding their way into the state's waters, causing problems for wildlife staff and the natural ecosystem. 'It's hard to quantify, but staff come across these species several times a year,' said Jeff Koch, assistant director of Fisheries Research with the KDWP. 'Koi, goldfish, and other species that might have originated from an aquarium release are observed by biologists and anglers quite often.' What are the rarest fish you can catch in Kansas and where can you find them? Koch said the KDWP has received confirmed reports of armored catfish, a South American fish, appearing in Kansas that are popular in the aquarium trade. Oscar fish have also been found and collected from the state's waters. But the list of exotic fish doesn't stop there. KDWP Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Chris Steffen said the agency has also found arawana, pacu, plecostomus, ornate bichir and other fish that don't belong in Kansas. Restricted camping, recreation options take effect across Kansas The fish can come from a variety of sources such as being released intentionally by their owners after becoming too difficult to maintain. Some, such as goldfish, are sold in Kansas as bait fish and may escape into the water. Michael Parr, a KDWP aquatic invasive species biologist, said goldfish are sold in Kansas regularly. Goldfish are checked for viruses and diseases before they are cleared for use in the state's waters. 'When anglers purchase goldfish from a certified bait dealer, the goldfish have most likely been tested and are certified disease-free,' Parr said. 'The majority of live bait sold commercially sold Kansas is purchased and imported from an out-of-state source to be resold in the state.' KHP trooper warns of 'tire gator' danger on Kansas highways Koch said KDWP fisheries staff remove any exotic fish they find that pose a threat to the environment and other native wildlife. Some, like koi fish, pose a larger challenge for biologists to tackle. 'The largest koi or goldfish in our database is approximately 26 inches long,' Koch said. 'It is important to note that Koi are domesticated common carp, selectively bred for their coloration. As such, koi likely have the potential to get as large as common carp, which are generally regarded as a fisheries management challenge. They can reproduce prolifically and have negative impacts on native species and water quality.' Several varieties of carp are considered especially invasive and a pose a big threat to the state's native fish due to their ability to grow fast and reproduce in great numbers. Koch said the KDWP works with store and pet owners by sharing resources online to educate them about the potential harm that comes with releasing exotic fish into Kansas' waters. Rattlesnakes slither out as temperatures warm in Kansas 'Releasing an aquatic pet is not kind to the pet,' Koch said. 'These fish are not adapted to our climate or aquatic systems and will generally not fare well. However, in the event that they do survive, their impacts on native species can be very negative.' Fish that do survive and reproduce in Kansas may be designated as an invasive species. The KDWP reports these species can hurt the natural environment by: Diminishing food supplies and degrading habitat for native species. Reducing numbers and variety of desirable fish. Reducing fishing and other recreational opportunities. Lowering property values and decreasing quality of municipal water sources. Fouling water lines, clogging intakes, burning out pumps and causing other forms of damage. Increasing the risk of flooding due to overcrowding and clogging of lake outlets. You can learn more about invasive species and how they're damaging the natural environment of Kansas by heading to the KDWP's website. Koch also recommends checking out the Don't Let It Loose website to learn more about responsible pet ownership, rehoming and pet regulations by state. Kansas Forest Service at risk of 80% funding loss, layoffs with proposed federal cuts For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Newly improved section of Flint Hills Trail to open in May
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) announced Friday the completion and opening of a newly improved section of the Flint Hills Trail State Park in Franklin County. The 2.3-mile segment, located west of Ottawa between Louisiana Terrace and Iowa Road, will officially open to the public on Saturday, May 17. Construction set to begin on first Buc-ee's store in Kansas Once it opens, visitors can take advantage of 93 miles of continuous trail from Osawatomie to Council Grove. Construction included a 10-foot-wide multi-use trail surface, a pedestrian bridge over the BNSF Railway and improvements to three existing bridges. Thanks to these enhancements, visitors no longer have to take a 3.4-mile detour on county roads to cross the railroad tracks safely. 'With every completed section, we're not just building trail—we're connecting communities, expanding recreation access, and helping more Kansans experience the natural beauty of our state,' KDWP Secretary Christopher Kennedy said. The department said the project was made possible through a Transportation Alternatives Program grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). A ribbon-cutting celebration for the improved section will be planned at a later date, the KDWP said. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri The department also said it has long-range plans to develop the trail along its full length as funding becomes available. To learn more about Flint Hills Trail State Park, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
