Kansas City pool death ruled homicide; person of interest in custody

The death of a 70-year-old man who was found in a backyard pool on Tuesday has been ruled a homicide and a “person of interest” was in custody Wednesday night, police said.

The victim was identified as Hal D. Cornell III.

Police were called to a home in the 10900 block of Poplar Avenue on Tuesday morning on a reported drowning. A relative who lives in the house told police the victim went into the back yard Saturday and that he had not seen him since.

The victim’s wife, who lives next door, discovered the body.

This story was originally published May 14, 2014 at 9:33 PM with the headline "Kansas City pool death ruled homicide; person of interest in custody."