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Reynolds' prelim proceeds as scheduled Friday
Full day of testimony provided in Pawnee County District Court
Mike Reynolds mugshot 2024
Michael Gilmore
Published: Nov 11, 2024, 9:54 PM

LARNED — Following a day of testimony Friday in a contested preliminary hearing in Pawnee County District Court, a Topeka judge found sufficient evidence to support all three charges against a Larned man accused of intentional second-degree murder in the March 30 shooting death of Larned State Hospital clinician Dr. Tomas Garza at a rural residence south of Larned.

Senior Judge Nancy Parrish, who has presided over the case since Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman recused himself, also ruled against an immunity from defense claim filed by Reynolds prior to the hearing based on evidence presented that he could not subjectively believe he needed to use deadly force against Dr. Garza, which is a requirement of the measure as outlined by the state.


Case history

The case marks the second intentional murder proceeding in six years in Pawnee County. In 2018, Jacob Ohnmact, Larned, pleaded guilty to a negotiated charge of voluntary manslaughter and felony interference with law enforcement in the December 2016 strangulation death of his wife Kayla Parrett. Ohnmnacht was originally charged with intentional second-degree murder, three counts of felony interference with law enforcement and one count of misdemeanor interference with law enforcement following his arrest. Ohnmacht was sentenced to 18-1/2 years in prison.

The preliminary hearing for Reynolds was originally set for April 17, following his arrest and a multi-agency investigation that included the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Larned Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Reynolds had received first appearance, but the preliminary hearing was delayed several times due to a series of events that included the recusal of Pawnee District Judge Bruce Gatterman in May, resulting in Senior Judge Nancy Parrish, Topeka, presiding over a competency hearing requested by defense counsel. On April 20, staff from the Center for Counseling and Consultation performed a competency evaluation of Reynolds.

On May 28, Judge Parrish found Reynolds competent to stand trial, remanding the case to the magistrate judge for preliminary hearing. However, a third delay occurred on the day set for the preliminary in September, in the magistrate courtroom of the Pawnee County Courthouse. Hodgeman County Magistrate Judge Kenton Gleason granted court-appointed defense attorney Joseph Shepak’s request to withdraw from the case. A search for qualified defense attorney resulted in the appointment of Dodge City defense counsel Natalie Kristine Morlock of Dodge City.


 Friday hearing

A slight delay of 15 minutes from the 9 a.m. start time occurred as defense attorney Morlock asked to confer briefly with her client in private. Upon their return, a discussion ensued between the parties in the courtroom as to sequestration of all witnesses, which was upheld by Judge Parrish.

In another discussion preliminary to the hearing, Reynolds told the court that he had been advised that Morlock was seeking to withdraw as his attorney; however, Morlock responded that she was not planning to withdraw, but that a second attorney had been added to the defense. Judge Parrish then advised Reynolds that Morlock has not asked the Court to withdraw, and that she was still his attorney.

Reynolds is charged with one count of intentional murder in the second degree; one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of criminal possession of a firearm. The charges stem from a joint investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation Criminal Response Team and Coroner Dr. Lyle Noordhoek into the shooting death of Dr. Garza, 52, of Larned, on March 30. Reynolds was taken into custody at the scene without incident shortly after the alleged shooting occurred.

In presenting the prosecution’s case, Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett called several witnesses who testified to the events at the scene during and immediately following an emergency 911 call to Larned Dispatch at 5:10 p.m. that day by LSH employee Andrea Wynn, who had accompanied Garza to the scene.

The combined testimony of several witnesses as well as a composite video synchronizing the audio of the 911 call, dash cam from Pawnee County Sheriff’s Deputy Bryce King and Larned Police Sgt. Tony Boor made by PCSO Det. Jacob Robison revealed that following an argument over a salvaged dog kennel and the release of chickens Garza had kept on the property, Garza had returned to a shed owned by Reynolds and was shot five times upon entry. 

Hearing the shots, Wynn entered the shed but was threatened by Reynolds waving a gun saying that she would be shot if she didn’t leave. A blood trail from the door of the shed to Garza’s black F150 pickup indicated that he was able to walk to the passenger side of the pickup where he collapsed. As she was attempting CPR, Wynn then contacted 911 dispatch and was met by first responders Larned Police Department Sgt. Tony Boor, who entered the building to take Reynolds into custody, and Pawnee County Sheriff’s Deputy Bryce King, who was informed by Wynn where Garza had been shot and who had done the shooting. CPR was maintained until the arrival of EMS, who worked to stabilize the victim for transport to Pawnee Valley Hospital, at approximately 5:40 p.m.

Meanwhile, Sgt. Boor found Reynolds seated in a leather chair next to a workbench, and asked him to stand and surrender a 9 mm handgun with an empty magazine. Reynolds was taken into custody and transported to Pawnee County Jail by Pawnee County Undersheriff Derek Slack. Along with photographic examination of the blood trail, five spent 9 mm shell casings were found at the scene inside the shed. As the result of further KBI investigation, an additional .38 revolver and several long guns were also found at the scene.

Dr. Lyle Noordhoek, who performed the autopsy of Garza’s body, testified that five shots had been fired; three into the chest but not penetrating the heart; one into the right hand with an exit wound and another which entered the right lateral, striking the shoulder blade and changing direction, then down into the lung, which caused it to be filled with gas and fluid. While Dr. Noordhoek testified he could not determine the actual order that the wounds were received, he did determine cause of death as coming from the last shot described. He also testified that two 9 mm slugs were removed during the autopsy.

Following testimony and closing arguments, Judge Parrish also denied Reynolds’ request to reduce bond that had been set at $250,000 and be placed on house arrest. Reynolds is being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff.

Arraignment had not been set and will be scheduled at a date to be determined. If convicted of the murder charge, Reynolds faces between 12 years and 54 years in the custody of the Department of Corrections, depending upon his criminal history.
Pawnee Valley Community Hospital now offers proven PAD treatment
pvch-set-pad
Sayra Santacruz, respiratory therapist, and Dusty Thacker, director of Cardiopulmonary Services at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, demonstrate supervised exercise therapy for patients with peripheral artery disease.
Published: Apr 3, 2025, 1:50 PM

Anyone who has a diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD) now has access to a “proven, effective treatment” at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH), said Dusty Thacker, director of Cardiopulmonary Services.

The treatment is called supervised exercise therapy (SET) and is specifically tailored to PAD, a condition in which blood vessels to the legs and feet become narrowed or blocked. This is due to a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries that limits blood flow.

“SET is a structured workout program designed to help people improve their physical health under the guidance of a trained professional,” Thacker said. “Sessions are tailored to the person’s needs and focus on improving strength, endurance and mobility.

“The treatment also helps improve circulation, which can reduce or eliminate pain while walking.”

Exercise sessions typically involve a combination of aerobics, strength training and stretching. This includes walking on a treadmill at a moderate pace, with an incline, until the patient begins to feel mild to moderate leg pain.

The patient then rests until the pain subsides before resuming the exercise during up to 36 sessions with a registered respiratory therapist.

“SET is a key treatment approach that focuses on improving blood flow, reducing leg pain and enhancing overall mobility,” Thacker summarized.

Smoking and diabetes are the strongest risk factors for PAD, Thacker noted. Other factors include being over 75; high blood pressure and/or cholesterol; not enough physical activity; stress; diets high in saturated fats; obesity; chronic kidney disease; and family history.

“A few classic symptoms of PAD are pain, burning or cramping in your legs and feet during an activity that improve with rest,” Thacker said.

Others are leg and foot pain at night or while lying down, as well as coldness or numbness in the legs or feet. Additional possibilities are leg weakness or heaviness, slow-healing sores on feet or legs, discolored skin and leg-hair loss.

The therapist offers education about smoking cessation, a heart-healthy diet, weight management, blood pressure control and increasing physical activity.

“We are pleased that we now offer this important exercise therapy,” Thacker commented. “Many of our patients have benefited from our Cardiac Rehab and Pulmonary Rehab services by gaining control of their symptoms, improving their quality of life and reducing the risk of future hospitalizations.

“SET is a similar service. Patients with PAD now have a treatment that can help them manage symptoms and improve overall vascular health.

“We are excited to expand our cardiopulmonary services and incredibly fortunate to partner with HaysMed and the DeBakey Heart Institute. This collaboration connects our Larned community with any necessary advanced services and direct access to cardiologists. It allows us to offer specialized care close to home, significantly enhancing the quality of care and positively impacting our patients’ health and well-being.”


Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, 923 Carroll in Larned, is a 25-bed facility, offering many services not typically available in a smaller facility. Included are 24/7 emergency care; acute, skilled and specialized nursing; surgery; high-tech imaging and laboratory tests; wound care; rehabilitation; and sleep and diagnostic center. PVCH Family Medicine provides the full range of family-medicine services; physician-assisted weight loss; and women’s health services. The hospital’s number is 620-285-3161; the clinic’s number is 620-804-6007.