Wichita ? A bodiless murder trial has gotten under way in Sedgwick County District Court.

During opening statements Wednesday, the defense for Jeffrey Salas said there was no evidence to show that Tony Epps is dead.

But prosecutors said Salas killed Epps in March 2007 over a drug debt of up to $18,000.

The prosecution says a man called Wichita police after Epps disappeared and said Salas had wanted to store a sport utility vehicle in his garage, and the man suspected the vehicle was stolen.

Police later found the SUV in Oklahoma City, and a small amount of Epps’ blood was found in both the SUV and the garage.

Prosecutors said Salas’ ex-girlfriend said that the defendant told her “I did it” when talking about Epps but didn’t elaborate.