The body of missing Manhattan man David Welch was discovered in a crashed, maroon Pontiac Montana van in a ravine about 47 miles west of Green River, Utah on Friday. Riley County Police Department said Welch, 54, was positively identified by the Utah Highway Patrol.
Welch was the husband of Kelly Welch, professor of family studies and human services. Authorities said a hitchhiker discovered the scene of the accident while walking past it. Officials said although evidence at the crash indicated the accident occurred Tuesday, Sept. 3, the vehicle rested at the bottom of the ravine where it could not be seen by highway traffic. Welch reportedly left his home on the evening of Monday, Sept. 2 without telling friends or family where he was going. His disappearance began a missing person investigation, including a local search for his whereabouts.
K-State police released a special alert on Friday of stalking near the campus. A female student reported that a suspect posed as a police officer and followed her in a vehicle that looked like an unmarked police vehicle. The suspect, described as a white male with short, dark hair and a stocky build, impersonated an officer when he made contact with the victim. No arrests have been made in the case. Police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact them at 785-532-6412 or anonymously at ksu.edu/police/silent.
A search warrant resulted in the arrest of three people Thursday night. Riley County Police arrested Manhattan residents Alyssa Hedman, Brandy Schultz and Eric Tucker. Hedman, 21, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Schultz, 20, was arrested on two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of meth and paraphernalia, and two counts of no Kansas drug tax stamp. Tucker, 27, was arrested for possession of meth and paraphernalia, and misuse of a telecommunications device.
