EARLIER RELEASE
July 15, 2026
Death investigation in Barton County
BARTON COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is assisting the Claflin Police Department and the Barton County Sheriff’s Office with a suspicious death investigation in Claflin, Kansas.
The Barton County Attorney requested KBI assistance at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, officers with the Claflin Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of East Hamilton Avenue to conduct a welfare check. The check was requested after a family member reported they had not heard from a female resident of the home in over a week.
Upon arrival, officers made contact with a male resident, identified as Barry Kearns, 60. While conducting a welfare check inside the home, officers discovered blood and secured the residence. Due to the presence of multiple dogs, law enforcement coordinated with local animal control to safely remove the animals. During this process, the body of a deceased female was discovered inside the attached garage.
At approximately 11:45 p.m., Claflin police officers arrested Kearns on an initial charge of second-degree murder. Kearns was booked into the Barton County Jail. Kearns has not been formally charged.
This investigation is ongoing. No further information will be released at this time.
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