Two Suspects Arrested in Connection With Missing Man Found Dead in Rural Field, Authorities Say

Two people were arrested after a 23-year-old man reported missing was found dead in a Kansas field, authorities said.

Around 11:40 a.m. on May 8, deputies with the Labette County Sheriff’s Office and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office located the body of Dakota A. Patton in rural Neosho County.

The investigation into Patton’s death determined he died from an apparent gunshot wound, authorities said, KTTS reported.

According to the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, the victim was last seen alive the evening of April 25 in Parsons and he was reported missing two days later.

His abandoned vehicle was located in a field in Parsons the same day, April 27.

Law enforcement identified two suspects in the case, Clint W. Nibarger, 32, and Kimberly J. Thomas, 47, both of Parsons, and obtained warrants for their arrests.

The Taney County Sheriff’s Officetook Thomas into custody around 6 p.m. on May 8 at a residence in Hollister, Missouri.

The sheriff’s office then arrested the second suspect, Nibarger, at the home about 30 minutes later.

Nibarger and Thomas were each booked into the Taney County jail.

The investigation is ongoing.