Jacob Strouse charged with first-degree murder in Chautauqua homicide

A 21-year-old man suspected in the shooting death of a 66-year-old woman last week made his first appearance in Sedgwick County District Court on Wednesday afternoon.

Jacob Strouse was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, theft, criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, aggravated weapons violation by a convicted felon and two counts of aggravated burglary.

Strouse was arrested early Friday morning in connection with the death of Jacquelyn Harvey at her house in the 300 block of South Chautauqua. Her body was discovered by her son on the morning of Sept. 16.

Strouse, appearing before Judge Joe Kisner in a green Sedgwick County Jail jumpsuit over a closed-circuit monitor, said little other than “Yes, sir,” to Kisner in his minute-and-a-half appearance.

Strouse was booked on a count of aggravated kidnapping, but was not charged with that. He is being held on a $250,000 bond.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 7.

Police on Tuesday issued a warrant for the arrest of 22-year-old Brittany R. McDay in connection with Harvey’s death. Police are asking anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts to call the homicide section at 316-268-4181; 911; or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Staff in the court’s records office could not release Strouse’s first appearance paperwork on Wednesday, because they said it is a “co-defendant case,” and McDay had not yet been arrested.

This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 1:36 PM with the headline "Jacob Strouse charged with first-degree murder in Chautauqua homicide."