Law enforcement at the state and federal levels in Kansas and Oklahoma say the person of interest in Thursday’s double homicide in Iola is in custody after he was discovered in Tulsa on Friday.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Iola Police Department are reporting Ben Converse, 38, was located around 5:15 pm with the help of the Broken Arrow, Okla., Police Department. He fled on foot briefly but shot himself at an apartment complex.
US Marshals say they then took Converse into custody. Converse was taken to an unnamed medical facility and, at last word, was being treated for a life-threatening wound.
The Tulsa World says authorities were trying to serve Converse with a Kansas warrant for aggravated burglary before he fled. The KBI news release has not confirmed whether that was indeed the case.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation developed Converse as a person of interest as they investigated the shooting deaths of 69-year-old John Tadlock and his daughter, 36-year-old Molly Wilson, in Iola. The KBI has not confirmed what led it to Converse as a person of interest in the case, and it is unclear whether the burglary warrant has any connection to the double homicide.
8 pm Friday: US Marshals take Iola double-homicide person of interest into custody
Tulsa Police say a man who apparently shot and wounded himself at an apartment complex in that city Friday is the person of interest in two Allen County homicides Thursday.
KFAQ Radio says Tulsa authorities have identified the injured person as 38-year-old Ben Converse. His condition is not currently known. The Tulsa World and KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City says US Marshals have taken Converse into custody and transported him for medical treatment.
The Tulsa World says Converse led a pursuit as authorities tried to serve him with a Kansas warrant for aggravated burglary.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation developed Converse as a person of interest as they investigated the shooting deaths of 69-year-old John Tadlock and his daughter, 36-year-old Molly Wilson, in Iola. The KBI has not confirmed what led it to Converse as a person of interest in the case, and it is unclear whether the burglary warrant has any connection to the double homicide.
4 pm Friday: Person of interest sought in Allen County homicides
Two people are dead in Allen County, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation is looking for a person of interest as the investigation continues.
KBI spokesperson Melissa Underwood says Iola Police reported to an address in the town shortly after 5 pm Thursday after a report of two people found dead. Officers learned the two, 69-year-old John Tadlock and his daughter, 36-year-old Molly Wilson, were shot to death.
Underwood says the KBI is currently searching for 38-year-old Ben Converse, a white male who is 5-foot-9, 175 pounds with hazel eyes. Converse may be driving a maroon 2011 Kia Forte with the Kansas tag 509 KZS. He may be in Kansas or Oklahoma, according to the KBI.
If you see Converse, do not approach. Instead, call Iola Police at 620-365-4960.
