ShawneeDispatch.com

Police say the body of a Shawnee man believed to have jumped off the Kansas Highway 7 bridge over the Kansas River last week was found in the Missouri River Tuesday, more than 50 miles downriver.

Major Larry Larimore said Shawnee Police were notified by the Lafayette County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department that a body was found in the Missouri River in Lexington, Mo., matching the description of Bryan Dean Rundell, 45, the man police believed jumped off the K-7 bridge June 25.

The body was found by a commercial boat driver around 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Missouri River, which is connected to the eastern end of the Kansas River near Kansas City, Mo. The body was identified as Rundell because it matched descriptions of ID, clothing and scars from previous injuries, Larimore said. An autopsy was scheduled Wednesday at the Jackson County, Mo., coroner’s office.

Rundell’s abandoned Nissan Pathfinder was found at 12:36 a.m. June 25 on the K-7 bridge over the Kansas River, with the driver’s door open and the keys in the seat. Police discovered Rundell was the same man involved in a case of aggravated battery the previous weekend and had been reported as making suicidal comments.

Shawnee police had responded the evening of June 22 to Rundell’s home in the 22400 block of 73rd Terrace after getting reports that he had hit his wife with a lamp and also struck himself in the head with a lamp. After police arrived, Rundell asked the police to kill him. Officers used a Taser to detain Rundell, and he was arrested and taken to jail, but he was released June 23.

The Kansas Highway Patrol’s helicopter twice flew over the river in search of any evidence of Rundell, and the Shawnee Fire Department’s water rescue crew also searched the river for three hours before calling off the search on June 25.

Larimore said no foul play was suspected at this time.

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1. 5 July 2008 at 11:09 p.m.

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   kcpeanuts (Anonymous) says…

   I was very sad to see this article. Unfortunately, the media doesn't always take into account how their need to make exciting news effects real people. I feel this article was an example of irresponsible reporting and it's possible to report news and facts without disclosing personal private information. This article will only hurt a family with kids who have already been through more than anyone deserves. I have known this family for years and they are a good family who care about others. This was a good man who experienced a break and that was tragic enough, but I hate to see his reputation hurt by these kind of reports. I feel deeply saddened for this family and their children and I'm sorry that they may see this in the paper.

2. 6 July 2008 at 7:26 p.m.

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   aihin (Anonymous) says…

   I agree 100% with the comments above. There were too many details in the article. Did their address need to be printed? He was a good, educated man, and I will remember his many positive qualities. Think of the children next time!!!

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