By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
with UPDATE provided by Barber County Sheriff Jason LeClair

The body of David L. Reese, a Harper County man reported missing since August 2, 2024, was found on November 11, 2024 in a secluded and wooded area of Barber County, confirmed by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Following is a timeline and investigation report that covered a 700-mile radius, including Pratt County during the time that Reese was identified as missing. Information below was provided by the Barber County Sheriff’s Department.

On August 2, 2024, the Barber County Sheriff’s Office was contacted in regards to an individual at a property in rural southwest Barber County. The reporting party described the individual to be a white male, approximately 65-75 years old. Reporting party also stated the individual had a brown dog with him and he was driving a white newer model Chevrolet pickup truck with Harper County tags. Reporting party stated they watched the vehicle leave headed eastbound away from the property. Reporting party believed the individual may have been intoxicated. Barber County Sheriff’s Office personnel were unable to locate the vehicle at the time.

On August 3, 2024, the Harper Police Department in Harper, KS issued a silver alert for a David L Reese, of Harper, KS. Through an initial investigation, it was determined that Reese was the individual that arrived at the reporting parties property in rural Barber County. There were no reports of Reese making contact with anyone since August 2, 2024 so we believe the reporting party may have been the last person to see Reese or speak to Reese.

On Monday, August 5, 2024, a large scale grid search was conducted of the property where Reese was last seen. Agencies involved included the Barber County Sheriff’s Office, the Harper Police Department, the Harper County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas State Fire Marshal, Elwood Township Fire Department, Kiowa Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Medicine Lodge Fire Department, Kiowa Fire Department, Barber County Rural Fire Department, and Barber County Emergency Management. This search covered over 700 square miles. Due to the fact that the reporting party witnessed Reese leave his property, this search was very large scale and widespread because no one had any indication where he may have went after leaving the property. Unfortunately, there was no trace of Reese or his vehicle that he was last seen in.

On October 4, 2024, the same reporting party from the last known sighting of Reese contacted Barber County Dispatch and informed them that he believed the dog that was with Reese was back at the property. The Barber County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the scene and were able to positively identify the dog as being David Reese’s dog. Another, more narrow, search was conducted in the area. Again, there were, unfortunately, no signs of Reese or his vehicle during this search.

On the evening of November 10, 2024, Barber County Dispatch was notified that an employee of the initial reporting party had been working on a fence and noticed a white truck in a creek bed. Barber County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the scene and confirmed that the truck was owned by David L Reese and was the same truck he was last seen in. During the time of the initial searches, this area would have been extremely hard to see into. This area is tree covered and not able to be seen by drones or by people unless very close to the location. The Barber County Sheriff’s Office contacted a team with the Great Plains Search and Rescue Canines (GPSK9) and a plan was created to search the area near the truck on the morning of November 11, 2024.

At approximately 9:57 AM on the morning of November 11, 2024, the GPSK9 team began searching the area near the truck and at approximately 10:54 AM, a canine team with GPSK9 indicated to the presence of human remains approximately 80-100 yards from the truck location.

Later in the evening, with the assistance of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, remains were collected from the scene. Through the collection, it was determined that the remains indicated the individual had a hip replacement. After a review of medical records and matching the serial number from the hip replacement, it was determined that the human remains that were located on November 11, 2024, were that of David L. Reese.

Although this was not the outcome anyone had prayed for, we hope this can give Mr. Reese’s family the closure they deserve.

If any more information is available, we will update the public as soon as possible.

Thank you to all parties involved in this search and investigation and a special thank you to Great Plains Search and Rescue Canines (GPSK9) for their assistance in locating Mr. Reese.