www.mozilla.com Weather Central
Voices
Headlines

Kan. treasurers say computer system worth the wait -5/21/2012, 7:22 AM

Kan. lawmakers approve bill on higher education -5/21/2012, 7:21 AM

Kan. trooper suffers minor injury in collision -5/21/2012, 7:20 AM

Wichita theater restoration gets $1 million gift -5/21/2012, 7:20 AM

State Rep. Bob Bethell dies in car accident -5/21/2012, 7:20 AM

Residents of Lawrence mobile home park moving on -5/21/2012, 7:20 AM

Court denies request to rethink pipeline ruling -5/18/2012, 2:12 PM

Kan. prosecutor: Teens playing dangerous game -5/18/2012, 2:05 PM

Kan. lawmakers keep grappling with redistricting -5/18/2012, 2:05 PM

Kan. Senate blocks debate on cutting income taxes -5/18/2012, 2:04 PM

Kan. Senate majority leader remains hospitalized -5/18/2012, 2:04 PM

Senate takes new stab at Kansas budget -5/18/2012, 2:04 PM

myTown Calendar

SPOTLIGHT
[var top_story_head]

Great Bend man guilty in teen girl's death

Published on -2/3/2012, 10:59 AM

Printer-friendly version
E-Mail This Story

GREAT BEND, Kan. (AP) -- A Great Bend man will be sentenced April 2 for the death of a 15-year-old girl he injected with morphine.

Thirty-one-year-old Joseph Rykiel pleaded no contest Wednesday to involuntary manslaughter for the death of Jessica Cheyanne Shearer.

He admitted that he injected the girl with morphine on July 4, 2011 and she died later that day. Three other charges were dropped.

Barton County Attorney Doug Matthews says Rykiel rented the basement of a home where the girl died. He says Rykiel used a morphine prescription for one of the home's occupants to inject Shearer at least twice.

The Great Bend Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/wgDygQ) Rykiel met the girl two days before she died. She had left the Barton County Youth Care home for girls shortly just days before her death.

digg delicious facebook stumbleupon google Newsvine
More News and Photos

Associated Press Videos