Police find body of woman; three people in custody

By ROBERT A. CRONKLETON

The Kansas City Star

Carol A. Thomas

Breaking News

Authorities this afternoon found the body of a woman in a remote area of Ray County.

Police are working to identify the body, but they think it is that of Carol A. Thomas, 23, who was kidnapped Wednesday night from Excelsior Springs, said Excelsior Springs police Lt. Clint Reno.

Authorities found the body around noon in a wooded field near West 230th Street and Knutter Road east of Elmira, Mo.

Two men and a woman have been arrested, Reno said. “At this point, we are not looking for any further suspects,” Reno said. “We believe we have them all in custody.”

Authorities are looking for another person as a witness. “We think that person has a lot of information for us,” Reno said.

Thomas, who is from the Excelsior Springs area but whose current city of residence is unknown, was assaulted by three people and forced into the trunk of a car about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on S. Myrtle Street in Excelsior Springs.

Witnesses originally described the assailants as three men. They fled in the car, a red Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix with license plate number ME4 Z4N.

The car was found near Missouri routes C and D east of Lawson. The area is primarily fields, although there is a small cemetery nearby, Reno said.

“The car was completely burned out,” Reno said. “There was not much left. However, there were no human remains in the car.”

Police searched the area but didn’t find anyone.

Authorities started searching the area where she was found after receiving a tip that a landowner though he saw a vehicle pull out from there.

No cause of death has been determined, Reno said.

Law enforcement officers from the Missouri Highway Patrol, Ray, Clinton and Clay County sheriff departments and Excelsior Springs were involved in the search.

To reach Robert A. Cronkleton, call 816-234-4261 or send e-mail to bcronkleton@kcstar.com.

Posted on Thu, Nov. 05, 2009 03:40 PM

Buzz Up

Comment (0)

Join the discussion

Share your observations and experiences about news. Lively, open, civil debate is the goal. Please refrain from personal attacks or comments that are racist, vulgar or otherwise inappropriate. If you see an inappropriate comment, please click the "Report as abuse" link.