Wichita police identify person found in burned SUV

Police said Thursday night that the body found in a burned SUV in southeast Wichita belonged to 17-year-old Elisabeth Renteria of Wichita.

At approximately 3:50 a.m. on Jan. 29, Wichita police responded to a shots fired call in the area of Battin and Osie, southeast of Harry and Oliver.

Officers found a 2002 Ford Expedition engulfed in flames in a grassy area near an apartment building in the 1700 block of South Elypco, police said. After the Wichita Fire Department arrived and put out the fire, a body was found inside.

“Investigators are working with the (Sedgwick County) Regional Forensic Science Center to determine the cause of death,” officer Kevin Wheeler said in a news release.

The day after Renteria’s body was found, police arrested 30-year-old Laura Branning on suspicion of arson and criminal desecration of a body.

Capt. Brent Allred said the reported shots could‘ve been noise from the tires popping when the vehicle burned.

“The investigation is ongoing, and investigators are doing further interviews on the case,” Wheeler said. “If anyone has any additional information on this case, they can call WPD Detectives at 316-268-4407, See Something Say Something Hotline at 316-519-2282 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.”

Kansas Department of Corrections records show Branning has prior convictions for possessing drugs in 2012 and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement in 2015.

This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 9:56 PM.