Investigation continues in Colby death

2/13/2013

By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

COLBY -- While there still are few details being released about the circumstances surrounding the death of Teri L. Morris in Colby, authorities have said a Garden City man is being held in lieu of $1 million bond.

William Andrew Shank was arrested Saturday in Logan by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation "in connection with a pending investigation involving the weekend death of 27-year-old Teri L. Morris," according to Don Brown, a spokesman for the Kansas Attorney General's office. Shank was being held in the Thomas County Jail.

No charges, however, had been filed in Thomas County District Court as of Tuesday.

Morris' funeral was set for today, and Thomas County Commissioner Mike Baughn planned to represent the county.

A former sheriff himself, he's heard few details surrounding the case.

"I think people are just shocked more than anything," he said of the community's response.

It would be Colby's first murder in more than 15 years, that one involving the death of Phoebe Harkins, whose assailant was convicted twice on first-degree murder charges before being sentenced to prison.

Baughn's attendance at the funeral is in part because Morris was an emergency medical technician for Thomas County.

"I think they're going to use one of our ambulances to carry the body to the cemetery," he said.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the fire and resulting death of Morris continues, with the AG's office agreeing to act as the lead agency.

The fire was reported to Colby authorities early Saturday morning.

Morris was found near the front of the home and was taken to Citizens Medical Center, where she later died.

The investigation at the residence where Morris was found continued Tuesday. A number of people clad in white jumpsuits moved in and out of the residence, still surrounded by crime-scene tape.

The KBI and the Kansas Fire Marshal's office both are looking into the cause of the fire and Morris's death.

A candlelight vigil for Morris is planned for 7 p.m. Friday at Fike Park.