Second suspect charged in west Wichita case of man killed and left in car trunk

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A second suspect has been charged in connection to the murder of Kyce A. Barnes in west Wichita.

The Wichita Police Department said Taryn Bowman was charged with interference with law enforcement; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case on Wednesday.

Bowman was in court on Wednesday, where she made her first appearance. She is not accused of the murder itself; Diatrez Birch was charged with first-degree murder on Friday, Aug. 30.

The charges come after Barnes’ body was found in a trunk in west Wichita, a few blocks east of Tyler Road near Kellogg. Police got a call of an abandoned vehicle around 7 a.m. on Aug. 21.

Officers arrived and spoke to the caller, who said they believed there was a body inside the trunk of the car. Police found Barnes’ body in the trunk of a white four-door Mercedes. The 39-year-old had multiple gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body. He was wrapped in blood-stained bedding.

The investigation led officers to the Delux Inn, 8401 W. Kellogg Drive, a couple hundred yards from the vehicle with the body.

Bowman’s next court appearance is Sept. 16, and her bond is set at $100,000.

Birch’s next court appearance is Sept. 13, and his bond is set at $1 million.

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