Victim’s family ‘pretty jacked’ after KC man is charged in 2013 stabbing death

Robert Norris and his wife, Michelle Metje, were out and about Thursday afternoon when they received a long-awaited phone call.

The couple were at a local restaurant in Overland Park distributing fliers and business cards to promote a fundraiser when they received news that charges were forthcoming in the 2013 stabbing death of Metje’s son, Corey Laykovich.

John Seger, 24, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder. He is accused of fatally stabbing Laykovich, 22, during a struggle after an argument three years ago.

According to court records, Seger was arrested by Independence police Wednesday after he admitted to stabbing the victim.

The nearly 45-minute trek from across the state line to the Independence Police Department paled in comparison to the wait for justice over the last three years, Norris said.

“This is the beginning,” he said Thursday evening, hours after Independence police informed them of the murder charge against Seger. “We’re not done yet. We still have a ways to go before we can really feel good about this, but right now it’s about the small victories.”

Asked how Metje reacted to the news, Norris said: “Before or after she stopped crying? She’s pretty jacked about it.”

The family started a homicide advocacy group after Laykovich’s death. Corey’s Network helps family members of homicide victims with expenses associated with a funeral and other support.

The nonprofit will host a metrowide fundraiser Friday at area Chuck E. Cheese locations. The business will donate 15 percent of sales from 3 to 9 p.m. to the organization.

Last year, the group raised enough to help cover the funeral costs of four young homicide victims, Norris said. He hopes Friday’s event will help further the organization’s mission.

“We’re hoping that the publicity of this arrest will help drive a lot of people out to the fundraiser,” Norris said.

Laykovich’s brother discovered him in his bedroom suffering from a stab wound in the early hours of July 27, 2013.

The brother told police he had heard Laykovich return home earlier in the evening and checked on him after he heard Laykovich breathing heavily.

According to court records, police tracked Laykovich’s activities that evening and concluded he had walked home. Residents had heard screaming and yelling not far from his home.

Seger, prosecutors say, was identified as someone who might have wanted to hurt Laykovich.

Norris said the family knew very little of Seger.

“He was an acquaintance of Corey’s,” Norris said.

Seger’s bond was set at $250,000.

This story was originally published January 19, 2017 at 6:55 PM with the headline "Victim’s family ‘pretty jacked’ after KC man is charged in 2013 stabbing death."