DNA linked man to hit-and-run that killed grandfather at Bannister and Wornall
A Kansas City man has been charged in a hit-and-run crash that killed a 79-year-old grandfather last fall, according to Jackson County prosecutors.
Ryan L. Raisley, 31, is charged with second-degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle.
Prosecutors say he was the driver of a stolen Ford work truck that caused a fatal wreck about 11 a.m. Sept. 19 at Bannister and Wornall roads in south Kansas City.
Before the crash, the stolen work truck — described as a converted ambulance pulling a trailer — was being pursued by the son of the vehicle’s owner who saw it stopped at a traffic light in Overland Park.
The work truck was speeding when it ran a red light at Wornall and hit the Ford F-150 driven by David L. Cannon, who was severely injured and later died at a hospital.
The driver of the Ford truck fled the scene on foot after the collision, court records said.
A tip led police to question Raisley days after the crash.
Investigators allegedly found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia when they spoke with him on Sept. 24. A glass pipe he had with him was taken by police and sent to the Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory for DNA testing, court records said.
At the time Raisley was arrested, he denied involvement in the crash.
By March, detectives received a report from the crime laboratory. DNA taken from the glass pipe allegedly matched the blood found in the stolen work truck from the crash.
To investigate further, detectives obtained a buccal swab from Raisley through a search warrant, and on April 4, detectives received another report from the crime laboratory stating that the DNA taken from Raisley was allegedly matched to blood found in the truck.
Prosecutors filed charges against Raisley and a warrant was issued for his arrest on Wednesday.
Raisley was arrested after allegedly leading police on a short pursuit Wednesday afternoon in Kansas City.
His bond has been set at $100,000.
This story was originally published April 10, 2019 at 6:32 PM.
