Several arrests made in connection with the case…RCPD News Release is as follows….
Press Conference Comments – Freel Homicide – 8 December, 2011
Director Schoen’s Comments
Yesterday at 1055 hours the Riley County Police Department received a report of a body beside the road in rural Riley County in the 5200 block of N. 48th Street; North of Manhattan. Detectives responded to the scene and determined that the cause of death was likely homicide and further inquiry was made in an attempt to identify the body and the circumstances surrounding his death. As investigation into this homicide was continuing and at 1407 hours yesterday afternoon, the Department received a separate report of guns being taken from a residence located at 240 Westwood, in Manhattan, Kansas.
Officers and detectives responding to this call soon learned that the individual found lying deceased in the 5200 block of N. 48th St. was a previous resident of that address. Having by this time identified the deceased, Detectives then began investigating his whereabouts over the course of time leading up to the homicide and interviewed a number of persons associated with the victim.
As the investigation progressed several factors became apparent. These included:
1. The homicide victim and one of his male associates were suspected in a series of armed robberies of illegal aliens located in Manhattan
2. The homicide suspect and two of his female acquaintances had been involved in a home invasion armed robbery which occurred on Hunting Street, in Manhattan, Ks, on December 6th, 2011.
3. Evidence from these various crimes was located at five different residences at various locations in or near Manhattan. During the evening and overnight, Officers of the Riley County Police Department executed four search warrants and conducted one consent search of these residences. The addresses included:
1016 Pottawatomie Court (Search Warrant)
3450 W 69th Ave. (Search Warrant)
Lot 61 Redbud Estates (Search Warrant)
108 Longview (Search Warrant)
240 Westwood (Consent Search)
With respect to the homicide:
Detectives were able to determine that the relationship between the victim and the suspect had soured recently due to conflicts largely centered around events subsequent to the armed robberies they had committed together. This to the extent that the suspect took the victim for a ride in rural Riley County, during which an argument ensued and when the victim exited the car in the 5200 block of N. 48th St, he was shot once in the chest by the suspect.
The homicide victim was identified as:
Steve R. Freel
31 years of age
240 Westwood
Manhattan, KS
The following individuals were arrested and are currently confined in the Riley County Jail:
Michael Blake Layne
19 years of age
1016 Pottawatomie Court
Manhattan, KS
1st Degree Murder $1,000,000.00 bond
Domingo Alfredo Soto: AKA “Diablo”
41 years of age
3450 69th Ave.
Manhattan, KS
Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder $500,000.00 bond
With respect to the armed robbery on Hunting Street:
During interviews related to the homicide investigation, three persons being interviewed revealed their involvement in the armed robbery, and were arrested and are currently confined in the Riley County Jail:
Michael Blake Layne
19 years of age
1016 Pottawatomie Court
Manhattan, KS
Aggravated Robbery
Reyna Elizabeth Youdath
18 years of age
448 Goodnow Hall
KSU, Manhattan, KS
Aggravated Robbery
Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Robbery $250,000.00 bond
Areale Hank Hanks
25 years of age
108 Longview Dr.
Manhattan, KS
Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Robbery $250,000.00 bond
As officers were monitoring the residence at 1016 Pottawatomie Court pending approval of the search warrant for that address, they observed two individuals burglarize the address and remove evidence related to the robbery for which Layne, Youdath, and Hanks had been arrested. These two persons were arrested and are currently confined in theRiley County Jail.
Devin Earl Bruce
19 years of age
931 Osage
Manhattan, KS
Burglary
Conspiracy to Commit Burglary
Obstruction of the Legal Process
Aiding a Felon
Possession of Marijuana $7,500.00 bond
Tevin Lance Bruce
19 years of age
931 Osage
Manhattan, KS
Burglary
Conspiracy to Commit Burglary
Obstruction of the Legal Process
Aiding a Felon $7,000.00 bond
Investigation into these crimes is continuing. Additionally, two more robbery cases involving Lane and Freel are pending in the Riley County Attorney’s Office and additional aggravated robbery charges against Lane are anticipated.
Finally, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to the Riley County Attorney’s Office for their rapid response to these crimes and the assistance they provided throughout the night as investigation into these crimes was ongoing. I also want to congratulate the men and women of the Riley County Police Department for their handling of these complex, inter-related investigations in a professional manner and the arrests that resulted from their efforts.
