Important Question that Concerns the Safety of Elk County's Residents

[Janet Harrington]

From the Independence Daily Reporter, November 24, 2011 by Allen Smith Staff Writer

A 27-year-old Oak Valley man was charged with first-degree premediated murder, and several drug charges, in connection with the Nov. 17 killing of an Elk County man.

Kansas Sundown Campbell, 27, of Oak Valley, was charged with first-degree murder, manufacture of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine during a hearing held late Wednesday afternoon in Elk County District Court in Howard, according to Jeff Wagaman, deputy chief of staff in office of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Elk County District Judge Kirstin Hutchinson set Campbell's bond at $500,000 and scheduled a status hearing for 4 p.m. Wednesday in Howard.

Kansas Assistant Attorney General Lee Davidson is prosecuting the case at the request of Elk County attorney Kimberly King.
Details of what led to the death of 47-year-old Gordon Scott Smith are sketchy because law enforcement officials in Elk County refuse to discuss the case, referring all calls to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the attorney general's office.

The KBI failed to return a Wednesday morning phone call, but Wagaman has been forthcoming with information on the case since his office became involved.

A law enforcement source familiar with the case who asked not to be identified has previously said that Elk County deputies were attempting to execute a search warrant involving a drug case, possibly looking for items used for a methamphetamine lab, when they discovered Smith's body.

Campbell allegedly fled the scene. He turned himself in to Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at about 8 p.m. Tuesday and was subsequently turned over to Elk County authorities.

Wow. The sheriff's office won't talk to the media. Go figure.