Trial set for suspect in kidnapping case

One of three suspects charged with kidnapping a man whose body was found last year in a Lecompton field is set to go to trial.

Gary F. Holmes, 52, Topeka, appeared Thursday in Douglas County District Court, where Judge Paula Martin scheduled his jury trial for 9 a.m. Dec. 16.

Holmes is charged with the aggravated kidnapping of Dale A. Miller, Topeka, whose badly decomposed body was found in April 2001. An autopsy report said Miller died of multiple gunshot wounds to the neck and torso. Holmes also is charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping.

A second suspect, Curtis D. Callarman, 23, Topeka, also is charged with aggravated kidnapping and conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping. He appeared in court Thursday and is scheduled for a Nov. 8 preliminary hearing.

The third suspect, Michael W. Reece, 33, Topeka, faces the conspiracy charge.

Holmes and Callarman are being held in the Douglas County Jail on $50,000 bond each. Reece is in federal custody on drug charges.

Suspect identified in reported rape at KU

Police have identified a suspect in a reported weekend rape at a Kansas University residence hall.

KU Public Safety officers announced Thursday that they had interviewed the 19-year-old Lawrence resident on Wednesday but did not arrest him, Lt. Schuyler Bailey said.

The suspect is not a KU student and does not live in Oliver Hall, 1815 Naismith Drive, where the rape allegedly occurred.

Officers continue to investigate and will forward their findings to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office when the reports are complete, Bailey said.

Lawrence Police are investigating a separate reported weekend rape. An 18-year-old Lawrence woman alleged she was raped by two men at a party at a private residence in western Lawrence. No suspects had been identified Thursday.

Wal-Mart employee finds handgun in parking lot

A Wal-Mart employee on Wednesday found a handgun abandoned in the store’s parking lot, Lawrence Police said.

The employee discovered the small-caliber handgun about 10:30 p.m. inside a fanny pack that had been left in a cart outside the store at 3300 Iowa, Sgt. Mike Pattrick said.

A small amount of cash also was found inside the bag, Pattrick said.

A 54-year-old Lawrence man has claimed the bag and gun but said about $100 was missing, Pattrick said.

Police seized the handgun and are investigating the theft.