Wichita Police are investigating a homicide that has an Emporia connection.
During a news conference Wednesday, Officer Charley Davidson announced former Emporian Mackenzie Payne, 22, was stabbed to death early Tuesday.
Wichita Police has not named the person arrested, but Wichita media says officers arrested 25-year-old Dylan Leigh Barber, originally of Herington.
The Kansas Department of Corrections says Barber was convicted of burglary in Reno County in 2015. KAKE-TV in Wichita says he served probation afterward.
Barber is currently being held on $150,000 bond. Formal charges are pending.
Payne, meanwhile, graduated from Emporia High School in 2013 and was a member of the swim team, qualifying for three events at the state meet during her senior year. She had attended the University of Kansas afterward and was preparing to attend medical school.
Payne’s death is the 24th homicide in Wichita this year. Authorities are calling this the third domestic violence homicide of 2018.
