A first-degree murder charge is expected against Duane E. Wahl, 33, formerly of McCune, Kan., now of Mulberry, Kan., in the disappearance of his former roommate.
Richard Davis, 37, of Mulberry, has been missing since Oct. 30 and is currently presumed dead by Crawford County authorities. Davis was one of several people living with Wahl at the latter’s Mulberry residence during the time of his disappearance.
Wahl had already been in the custody of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department since Oct. 31 both for violating a protection order and for charges of making a false report about a drive-by shooting.
The first-degree murder charge, though, is to stem from DNA evidence collected from Davis and Wahl’s residence. The results of a lab analysis of that evidence was received Wednesday by local authorities, said Sheriff Sandy Horton.
Horton alleges that the DNA evidence comes from Wahl and Davis, although he declined to give specifics, citing the ongoing investigation.
Davis’ body still has not been recovered, although authorities are still searching for his remains.
Wahl is expected to make his court appearance later today, pending the filing of formal charges.
Wahl was charged in late October with making a false report in regards to an incident at his Mulberry home.
Wahl had told police that a man in a silver, newer model Toyota pickup truck with an extended cab fired shots about 12:20 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, at his home at 410 W. Perry St. Wahl told police that he did not know who the man was.
Horton previously told the Globe that Wahl’s report raised some doubts among investigators right off the bat. Information received from an acquaintance of Wahl’s occasioned additional skepticism, and investigators eventually determined that Wahl shot up his own house with a handgun, the sheriff said.
Wahl moved to Mulberry from McCune earlier this year after the McCune mayor shot and killed Wahl’s dogs. The two dogs — a German shepherd and a terrier mix — were shot to death Feb. 1 outside Wahl’s home.
