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A body found in rural Ellsworth County has been identified as a missing Salina man.

According to Salina Police, on Tuesday, July 19th, 2022, the Ellsworth County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a rural area in Ellsworth County for a report of a body being found in a field. Deputies responded and located human remains in an extreme state of decomposition.   The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was notified and responded to investigate the scene.

On Thursday, July 21, 2022, an autopsy was performed, and the medical examiner determined the manner of death as a homicide.

On Friday, July 22, 2022, a forensic odontologist was able to compare the dental records of Nathan Philip Thompson and the deceased remains and confirm the body’s identity as that of Thompson.  Next of kin have been notified of these developments.

The case dates back to a mobile home fire on June 13th when the Salina Fire Department responded to a trailer home fire located at 1635 Elgin.  Once the fire was extinguished the fire department determined no one was at home but has since classified the fire as arson.

Police received information from neighbors that 44-year-old Nathan Thompson, who had been residing in the trailer home, had not been seen for approximately one week.  He has not been seen since, and in addition, he failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing in Salina Municipal Court on June 14th.

The case will be reclassified as a homicide, and the investigation is still ongoing.  Anyone with information on the van and/or its driver is encouraged to contact the Salina Police Department, Crime Stoppers, or the Tip line below.

If you have had contact with Nathan Thompson since June 1, 2022, have information concerning his disappearance, or have information relative to the fire at 1635 Elgin please contact the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210. You may also call Crimestoppers at 785-825-TIPS or make an online tip at:  https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210 and ask to speak to Detective Lemon, case 2022-17281.

ORIGINAL: The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating after a body was found in rural Ellsworth County earlier this week.

The Ellsworth County Sheriff’s Office told Wichita media the body was discovered in a field on Tuesday,

So far, authorities have not released the victim’s name or the cause of death.

After the body was discovered, later the same day the agency send out a request to the public, asking if anyone had seen a white van on or around June 9th in Eastern Ellsworth County. The van is believed to be connected to the disappearance of Nathan Thompson in Salina.

Police have been asking the public for any information they can provide with regards to the van since June 9th, especially any sightings in rural areas.

The missing person case case dates back to a mobile home fire on June 13th when the Salina Fire Department responded to a trailer home fire located at 1635 Elgin.  Once the fire was extinguished the fire department determined no one was at home but has since classified the fire as arson.

Police received information from neighbors that 44-year-old Nathan Thompson, who had been residing in the trailer home, has not been seen for approximately one week.  He has not been seen since, and in addition, he failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing in Salina Municipal Court on June 14th.

The Salina Police Department received information that foul play may be involved in Thompson’s disappearance.

The Ellsworth County Sheriff’s Office send out a request to the public, asking if anyone had seen this white van on or around June 9th in Eastern Ellsworth County.

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