Suspect in fatal stabbing charged with second-degree murder, felony theft

A 33-year-old Oskaloosa man was charged Thursday with second-degree murder and felony theft in connection with the Monday stabbing death of Tracy Dean Lautenschlager, 45, of Lawrence.

Joshaua Lee Back

Shaun Arnold, of the Shawnee Police Department, and his dog Gio work the crime scene Tuesday, May 26, 2015, of a fatal stabbing at 700 Arkansas St.

Charging documents allege that Joshua Lee Back killed Lautenschlager and stole a 1992 GMC Sienna truck from Sue Radcliffe, who is listed on Douglas County Appraiser’s Office records as the owner of a home at 700 Arkansas St., where police believe the stabbing occurred.

Emergency responders on Monday found Lautenschlager bleeding outside of the McDonald’s at 1309 W. Sixth St. shortly after 6 a.m. After medics took him to the hospital, where he later died, police followed a blood trail back to the 700 Arkansas St. home, Lawrence police spokesman Sgt. Trent McKinley said Monday. Lautenschlager’s connection to the home, if any, is unclear.

On Wednesday, Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew said Lautenschlager worked as an election poll worker for Douglas County since 2012. Shew described Lautenschlager as “a person who was willing to go the extra mile.”

Police investigators remained at 700 Arkansas St. Monday and Tuesday, but had left the scene by Wednesday.

Back was arrested in Leavenworth County Wednesday after leading law enforcement on a chase in a “stolen gold color GMC Yukon” through Jefferson and Leavenworth counties, Capt. Mike Pattrick of the Lawrence Police Department said. Police have not said why Back was identified as a suspect, other than that his arrest came after investigators “were following leads” in the case.

Back’s second-degree murder charge indicates he “intentionally” killed Lautenschlager, according to court documents. Second-degree murder does not require an element of premeditation, unlike first-degree murder. The felony theft charge indicates the truck was valued at “at least $1,000 but less than $25,000.”

According to court records, Back was wanted on a warrant out of Douglas County at the time of the Monday stabbing. The warrant had been issued after Back failed to appear for a court hearing on a November 2014 felony interference with law enforcement charge.

Back pleaded no contest in 2001 to a misdemeanor criminal damage of property in Douglas County. According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, Back has a 2001 aggravated indecent liberties with a child conviction and a 2013 criminal possession of a weapon conviction out of Jefferson County.

The Journal-World reported in 2013 that Back had allegedly been “menacing people” in an Oskaloosa mobile home park with a sawed-off shotgun. It is illegal in Kansas to carry a shotgun with a barrel shorter than 18 inches and for convicted felons to possess firearms.

Back additionally has a 2011 conviction for obstructing the legal process from Shawnee County, according to the department of corrections.

Douglas County Judge Pro Tem James George set bond for Back’s second-degree murder and felony theft case at $750,000. George also set a $5,000 bond for Back’s 2014 felony interference charge.

If Back makes bond, he will have to wear a GPS bracelet and will be forbidden to contact any non-law enforcement witnesses. Back is scheduled to appear next in court on June 24.