Monday brought news that no parent should hear and no teacher wants to. One of Kansas State University’s own was found dead.
At his job in Wichita, Daniel Flores, (25), had been working a shift at Steckline Communications that should have ended Sunday night with the conclusion of his tasks, but instead had a very different ending.
On Monday morning, news came that Flores’ body was found in the basement of Steckline Communications when another employee discovered the body after seeing signs of what looked like a burglary.
Police stated Flores died of blunt force trauma, and there were signs of a struggle.
Since Monday, KMAN has been able to not only talk to Steve Smethers, Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies at the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism at K-State, but also to Flores’ father, Jose.
“I knew Daniel very well”, Smethers said. “Daniel took classes from me and he was somebody who was a very visible presence around KSDB-FM.”
Finding the student radio early on in his college career, Flores found his passion that led him to Steckline Communications.
Jose Flores talks about the impact that The Wildcat had on his son.
“He was so excited because right off the bat he got to work with sports and even broadcast a couple of the games his freshman year,” Jose said. “By his senior year, he was doing a talk show with some of the other guys and he also got to broadcast more games.”
Jose mentioned his son was working part-time at Steckline Communications doing board and production work.
Smethers acknowledged a valuable contributor of the radio industry was lost with this tragedy.
“We’re very saddened by this,” Smethers said. “I would gladly give my life so that he could go on realizing his dream and I think probably anyone who knew him probably feels the same way.”
Though radio was a passion, that wasn’t the only thing at K-State Flores loved.
“He was up there the last two times K-State beat KU, so he would talk about that,” Jose said about his son’s obsession with K-State sports.
Jose added the Cotton Bowl trip was another highlight for Daniel through the years.
The funeral for Daniel Flores is scheduled for Monday, February 17 in Derby.
