Lyndsay George, charged with the first-degree murder of Dream Center employee Teresa M. Dutton on Oct. 8, 2021, was scheduled for a court appearance on Thursday but the hearing was continued to 9 a.m. on Jan. 20 in Barton County District Court, Magistrate Judge Richard E. Burgess Jr. said. This is one of several homicide cases the  Great Bend Tribune will continue to follow in 2022. 

Lyndsay George

The Great Bend Police Department and local firefighters were dispatched to Dutton’s home in the 2800 block of 29th St. around 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in reference to a structure fire. They located Dutton, 59, inside the residence and performed life-saving measures that were unsuccessful. 

During a preliminary investigation, arson was determined to be the cause of the fire. Investigators also determined that the victim’s death was the result of foul play, the GBPD reported. 

Less than 20 minutes later, the GBPD responded to a residence in the 1500 block of Adams Street in reference to an aggravated burglary and battery related to the arson/homicide investigation. George reportedly left that area on foot and at approximately 8:12 a.m. was reported to be at Park Elementary School.

Officers located George in the 2000 block of 19th Street. After a physical altercation with officers, she was arrested.

She is charged with first-degree murder. If convicted, she could be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 50 years. She is also charged with aggravated arson at the Dutton residence, and aggravated burglary with the intent to commit a sexually motivated crime of sexual battery at the Adams Street residence, assault on a law enforcement officer, and disorderly conduct.

According to court records, an evaluation was completed on Oct. 28, 2021, while George was in the custody of Larned State Hospital. She was later moved to the Barton County Detention Center and the state requested a new evaluation, which The Center for Counseling and Consultation was ordered to perform. 

The state is represented by Deputy Attorney General Victor Braden and Assistant Attorney General Amy Norton. George is represented by Joe Shepack.

Freddie Thomas

Freddie Thomas is charged with fatally shooting Jeremy Alan Saldana outside a Great Bend residence on Sept. 11, 2015. 

Thomas, a former Ellsworth Correctional Facility employee, was charged with first-degree murder after shooting the unarmed man outside the home of John and Marissa Reynolds at 2402 Williams St. At his preliminary hearing, Thomas’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss the case on a claim of self-defense, which District Judge Ron Svaty granted after a hearing in June of 2016. The Kansas Court of Appeals later reversed that decision.

A pretrial conference related to this case is set for 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 14 with Barton District Court Judge Carey Hipp. It will be held via Zoom. Thomas is represented by Donald Anderson II and the state is represented by Barton County Attorney Levi Morris.

Elias Trejo

Elias Trejo is charged with second-degree murder in the July 18, 2021, death of Micah Merryman-Scifres at the Best Western Angus Inn, 2920 10th St. The defense has filed a motion to dismiss the case as self-defense and the state has filed a response as to why it should move forward.

According to the state’s response, filed in Barton County District Court, the Great Bend Police Department and Great Bend Fire Department were dispatched to the motel at 11:53 p.m. on July 18, 2021, and found Merryman-Scifres deceased outside with a deep laceration to the front of his neck. A trail of blood led to his room and security video showed Trejo walk by, shirtless, a few minutes later. He reportedly got in a car and drove away, then drove by about a minute later and drove away again.

The Barton County Sheriff’s Office later located the car and Trejo, collecting evidence at the motel and in the vehicle. When interviewed by a detective, according to the court filing, he said the two had been drinking in the room and he left after an argument. When confronted with the evidence, he said “it just goes dark” but that Merryman-Scifres had hit him on the back of the head and tried to choke him. That is allegedly when Trejo said he grabbed something and hit the victim in the throat. Trejo said he was in fear for his life.

Motions for the state were filed by Assistant Attorney General Jessica Domme and heard by Judge Burgess. A court appearance is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 19.

Jose Villegas

Jose Guadalupe Villegas is charged with second-degree, intentional murder in connection to the July 25, 2021, death of Scott Edward Deines. In the alternative, he is charged with involuntary manslaughter or aggravated battery.

Deines had been booked into the Barton County Detention Center on July 16 for a warrant for failure to appear. He was found unresponsive in his cell by jail detention officers on July 25. When Great Bend Fire Department EMS responded, it was determined that he was deceased.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation conducted an investigation and an autopsy report indicated Deines died of blunt force trauma to his head. The state alleges that Villegas injured Deines during a physical altercation at the jail on July 22 that caused his demise on July 25.

His jury trial is set for May 16-23, 2022. He is represented by Paul Oller and the Barton County Attorney’s  Office is handling the prosecution. At Villegas’s arraignment on Dec. 16, 2021, he entered a plea of not guilty before Magistrate Judge Burgess. The case is now being handled by District Judge Carey Hipp.