Public defender asks court to seal arrest affidavit of man charged in connection with fatal hit-and-run

photo by: Kansas Department of Corrections

William Ray Klingler

The Public Defender’s Office is asking a judge to not let the public see the arrest affidavit of a man who has been charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run in Douglas County.

The arrest affidavit would let the public know why police believe they had probable cause to arrest and jail William Klingler, who has been charged with failing to stop at an accident that resulted in the death of 20-year-old KU student Elsa McGrain. Klingler is also charged with circumvention of an ignition interlock device, driving while suspended second or subsequent offense and no proof of liability insurance.

photo by: Contributed

Elsa McGrain

Douglas County deputies arrested Klingler on Nov. 9 on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, but the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office did not charge him with that crime.

McGrain, of Omaha, Nebraska, was struck and killed around 6 p.m. Nov. 6 while running in the 1700 block of East 1500 Road.

Court records indicate that Klingler, 36, has a criminal record going back more than 20 years, including multiple DUI and drug charges. In a pending Douglas County case from April 2024, he was charged with a fourth or subsequent DUI offense, as well as methamphetamine and circumvention of an ignition interlock device. He served a prison stint in 2021 after being convicted of tampering with electronic monitoring equipment.

It is the Journal-World’s understanding that the DA’s Office also has filed a motion to redact certain information in the affidavit but not to seal it entirely.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Judge Stacey Donovan had not filed an order concerning the affidavit. She has the option to seal it entirely, release a redacted version or release an unredacted version.

Klingler is being held in the Douglas County Jail on a bond of $500,000 cash or surety. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 6.

A GoFundMe for the Elsa McGrain Legacy Fund, dedicated to continuing McGrain’s impact through acts of care and opportunity in her name, had raised over $90,000 as of Wednesday.