The search for a missing individual in Ellis County has concluded. On Thursday at 9 a.m., the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office announced that they had found 48-year-old Kurt J. Stecklein in the riverbed adjacent to a bridge located east of Saline River Road and Codell Avenue. He was subsequently airlifted to a hospital, where he is reported to be in critical condition.
In addition to locating Stecklein, authorities also discovered his truck along a private lease road approximately one mile northeast of the bridge. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remains ongoing, as officials in Ellis County continue to gather information related to the case.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
Deputies in Ellis County are actively searching for a man who reportedly contacted a family member for assistance with transportation at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The individual in question, identified as Kurt Joseph Stecklein, aged 48, was last seen operating a dark-blue 2011 Chevy Silverado pickup truck in the vicinity of Saline River Road and Codell Avenue, located in the rural areas of Ellis County.
Undersheriff Chuck White has indicated that Stecklein may have been experiencing a medical emergency, prompting him to reach out to a family member for help. Unfortunately, the family member was unable to locate Stecklein or his vehicle, leading them to notify the sheriff’s office for further assistance. In response, deputies, along with Kansas Highway Patrol aircraft, conducted extensive searches of the area both after nightfall and again the following morning, but their efforts yielded no results.
Stecklein is described as a white male, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds, with brown hair. Authorities are urging anyone who may have information regarding Stecklein’s location or the whereabouts of his pickup truck to reach out to the sheriff’s office at 785-625-1040.
