Dec 20, 2022

Crime Stoppers tip helped police catch Kansas murder suspect

Posted Dec 20, 2022 1:00 AM
Valenciana-photo Sedgwick County
Valenciana-photo Sedgwick County

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the death of a man whose body was found in rural Sumner County have  suspects in custody. A tip from CrimeStoppers helped officer make a second arrest Thursday afternoon, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

On November 29, police were contacted by a 69-year-old man who reported 41-year-old Brent Boone, of Wichita, missing under unusual circumstances.

Boone was last seen on November 24, 2022, at 9:30 pm at his residence in the 1300 block of N. Pershing in Wichita before leaving in a vehicle with two individuals – identified as Valenciana and 19- year-old Tehya Turner, both of Wichita.

-Turner-photo Sedgwick Co.
-Turner-photo Sedgwick Co.

It is believed that an altercation occurred inside the car, during which Boone was killed.

On Wednesday, November 30, follow-up investigation led officers to a crime scene in the 9300 block of S. Pattie in Haysville, where they began processing evidence. Police located the vehicle on December 1, near 21st and Ridge, abandoned, according to Ditch.

Further investigation led officers to a rural area Southwest of Clearwater, one mile west of N Clearwater Road and 140th Ave N, where a body was located. Investigators with WPD and members of the Sumner County Sheriff's Office are working to confirm the body's identity, but at this time, it is believed to be Boone.

Police took Turner into custody Dec. 2 and she is being held on a $1 million dollar bond charged with first degree murder, burglary and possession of marijuana, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Moen-photo Sedgwick Co.
Moen-photo Sedgwick Co.

On Thursday, a Crime Stoppers tip identified a possible vehicle associated with Valenciana. Just after noon Thursday, police located the car near Wilma and Bluffview in Wichita, according to Macy. Officers attempted a traffic stop, resulting in a short pursuit. The pursuit ended when the vehicle crashed near Harry and Pinecrest, and the driver, 35-year-old Jeremy Moen of Wichita, was arrested and booked for traffic charges and a state parole warrant.

Further investigation revealed that Saul Valenciana was possibly inside a residence in the 1600 block of S. Parkwood. Units established a perimeter, made contact with Valenciana via phone, and began negotiations for his surrender.

Neighboring homes were evacuated as a precaution, and the WPD Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and WPD crisis negotiators were called to the scene to assist. They made contact with another male inside the residence, and he was able to exit safely. Valenciana exited the home at approximately 3:23 p.m. and was taken into custody without incident.

During negotiations, information was received about potential explosive devices inside the residence. As a precaution, the WPD Bomb Squad was called in to assess the situation. The scene was deemed safe, and released to investigators.

Valenciana was booked into the Sedgwick county jail and has been charged with murder, burglary, and theft, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney.