Body found near Haysville during search for missing Wichita woman

Volunteer searchers looking for 23-year-old Savannah Schneider found a woman’s body in a field alongside railroad tracks near Haysville on Saturday.

The searchers found the body in an area where the Wichita Police Department and Sheriff’s Office had searched with cadaver dogs on Tuesday, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Brad Hoch said.

Schneider, who is visually impaired and does not drive, according to a missing person’s flyer, was last seen May 31 leaving her house in the 10300 block of West Alamo, near 13th and Maize. She was reported missing to police on June 4.

Police said they searched for Schneider in the area where her cellphone last pinged. The flyer said the ping happened on June 2.

Between 75 to 100 volunteers showed up Saturday at Campus High School before fanning out in groups to help search for Schneider, according to Kevin Holman, who called 911 after confirming the body was found.

Dispatch said the call came at 9:59 a.m., roughly two hours into the planned five-hour search.

Holman is a retired Sedgwick County fire investigation captain. The 63-year-old said a couple of other searchers found the body between 79th and 87th streets near Seneca Street and called him to confirm their findings because of his experience in recovering bodies as a fire investigator.

“I didn’t know her. I’ve seen a photo of her. That’s it,” Holman said.

“I didn’t like the idea of someone being lost.”

Holman said he has helped in other searches since retiring 10 years ago. Holman said he and another person found the body of missing seminarian Brian Bergkamp during a search in 2016.

Anyone with information about Schneider’s case can call Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

This story was originally published June 13, 2020 at 11:21 AM.