In September 1987, Carl Kemp built a wooden casket, lined it with velvet and then killed his wife.

A few days later Kemp called a Lawrence funeral home and asked for someone to come and get his wife’s body. The late Al Yost, owner of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, responded that night to Kemp’s mobile home at 101 N. Mich.

“I asked him where his wife was because I didn’t see her,” Yost told the Journal-World in a 2001 interview. “He said she was ‘out there in a box.'”

Yost found the box covered with cat litter in a storage shed. He called police.

Kemp’s wife, Judy Kemp, 32, was found inside the box.

Kemp will soon be up for parole again after serving nearly 20 years in prison for second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 15 years to life. Twice before his parole was denied.

Judy Kemp was beaten to death. She suffered more than 200 blows to her body, according to court testimony.

Also soon to be up for parole is Cyrus Free. Free was convicted in Douglas County in the early 1990s for aggravated battery and taking indecent liberties with a child.

The Kansas Parole Board is seeking comments from the public about possible parole for Kemp and Free. Public comment sessions with the board are scheduled at the following times and locations:

¢ Monday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Finney State Office Building, Wichita.

¢ Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to noon, Hays Public Library, Hays.

¢ Oct. 22, 10 a.m. to noon, City Hall, Kansas City, Kan.

¢ Oct. 26, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Landon State Office Building, Topeka.

Anyone unable to attend a session may send written comments to Kansas Parole Board, Landon State Office Building, 900 SW Jackson, Room 452 S, Topeka 66612-1220.