Authorities schedule 1 p.m. news conference to discuss significant developments in Lawrence homicide investigation

The Lawrence Police Department and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office are planning to hold a joint news conference at 1 p.m. today regarding significant updates in the investigation of Harold Sasko’s homicide. The news conference will be at the Lawrence Police Department’s Investigations and Training Center at 4820 Bob Billings Parkway.

Update: Click here for our live coverage of the news conference, starting at 1 p.m.

On Sunday, Lawrence detectives confirmed that Sarah Brooke Gonzales McLinn, a 19-year-old Lawrence woman who had lived with Sasko and had been missing for more than a week, was found in Florida.

A law enforcement agency in Florida contacted the Lawrence Police Department Saturday evening saying it thought it had found McLinn and the 2008 Nissan Altima also sought by investigators in the homicide investigation of Sasko, 52.

Police intensified their search for McLinn over a week ago after discovering Sasko’s body in the residence at which both lived.

Police did not say where in Florida McLinn was found and did not clarify how she fits into Sasko’s death investigation. Throughout her disappearance, police were unable to say whether McLinn was a victim, suspect or witness.

Police discovered Sasko’s body on Jan. 17 after visiting the residence, in the 2900 block of West 26th Street, in hopes of finding McLinn, who had already been reported missing by her family. She last had been seen Jan. 14, police said.

Investigators have not detailed how Sasko died, only to say he suffered traumatic injuries. Upon discovering the body, police said Sasko’s vehicle, the Nissan Altima, and a dog were missing.

On Sunday morning, before her daughter was reported found, Michelle Gonzales released a statement calling McLinn “a victim” and suggesting that police had told the family the nature of Sasko’s injuries indicated whoever killed him could not have acted alone.

Sasko owned CiCi’s Pizza franchises in Lawrence and Topeka, where McLinn worked before coming to Lawrence. Kimberly Qualls, a close friend of Sasko’s, told the Journal-World that Sasko allowed McLinn to move in so she could have a stable environment, save money and prepare for college.