NEOSHO COUNTY _ The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Labette County Sheriff’s Office, and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office located the body of missing 23-year-old Dakota A. Patton, and arrested two subjects connected to his death, according to a media release from the KBI.
On Monday, May 8 around 11:40 a.m., deputies from the Labette County Sheriff’s Office and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office were searching an area northeast of Parsons in rural Neosho County. They discovered Patton’s remains in a field near 20th Road and Xavier Road.
The KBI’s Crime Scene Response Team responded to the area. They collected evidence and determined Patton died from an apparent gunshot wound.
Arrest warrants for first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder were secured for Clint W. Nibarger, 32, of Parsons, and Kimberly J. Thomas, 47, of Parsons.
At approximately 6 p.m. on Monday, Thomas was observed leaving a residence in Hollister, Missouri when she was arrested by the Taney County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies from the Taney County Sheriff’s Office then arrested Nibarger at the same residence at around 6:30 p.m.
Nibarger and Thomas were booked into the Taney County Jail.
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LABETTE COUNTY — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office continue their search for Dakota A. Patton, the 23-year-old man who was last seen the evening of April 25, in Parsons, Kansas. Foul play is suspected in Patton’s disappearance, according to a media release from the KBI.
The Labette County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance on April 27, after Patton’s vehicle was located abandoned in a field in rural Labette County. Patton was also reported missing on April 27.
Patton is a white male. He is 5 feet- 11, weighs around 230 pounds with brown hair, blue eyes, and facial hair. Patton was likely wearing blue jeans, a grey sweatshirt and boots.
KBI agents believe Patton may have last been in an area along the Neosho River, between 20th Road and Wallace Road and 60th Road and Wallace Road.
Investigators ask fisherman, hunters, farmers, and hikers who frequent this area to report anything suspicious they encounter that may be connected to Patton’s disappearance.
If you have any information about the disappearance of Dakota Patton, please contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Labette County Sheriff’s Office at 620-795-2565. Anonymous tips can be made online at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.