Charges dismissed in McPherson homicide

Charges have been dismissed against a 27-year-old man accused in an April 2017 death of a central Kansas man.

The McPherson Sentinel reports first-degree murder and other charges against Ryan Belt were dismissed Friday without prejudice, which means charges could be filed again.

Belt, of Little River, is charged in the death of 58-year-old Steven Carlson of McPherson.  Carlson was found dead in his home in April 2017.  The newspaper reports the dismissal will allow further testing of DNA found at the scene.

Prosecutors said Belt used Carlson’s truck to shoplift at a Walmart the day before Carlson’s body was found.

Belt remains incarcerated in the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility on charges stemming from unrelated cases.

Copyright © 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.