SALINA, Kan. (AP) A preliminary hearing to determine if there’s enough evidence to try a man in the death of a Salina woman is set for Aug. 1.
KSAL-AM reports that Joel Heil, 24, appeared via closed-circuit video Thursday morning in Saline County District Court. He’s charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kristin Tyler, 27.
The mother of four was missing two weeks before her body was found May 9 in a ravine off Interstate 135 in rural Saline County.
The preliminary hearing was scheduled for August to give Heil’s attorney, Julie Effenbeck, time to gather information about the case, including obtaining autopsy results.
Heil also faces felony drug and battery charges in an unrelated case. He’s jailed on a $1 million bond.
