Pittsburg police investigate leads into Friday murder
Over the course of the last several days, investigators from the Pittsburg Police Department and from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, as well as, agents with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, have actively followed up on numerous leads and have conducted numerous interviews related to the murder of Stephanie Marie Short and the shooting of Velma Marie Cubie on Friday May 13.
A number of search warrants were also executed at various residences in Pittsburg, directly related to this incident.
A number of arrests have been made by police during this investigation, which are unrelated to the shooting incident.
Read the full detailed press release from the Pittsburg Police Department below:
On May 14, 2022, a search warrant was executed at 111 W. 24th Street in Pittsburg; during which time approximately three pounds of marijuana, distribution amounts of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm was located.
On May 17, 2022, 32-year–old Kentorian Contrell Hamilton, of Pittsburg, was arrested by investigators on charges related to the search warrant at 111 W. 24th Street. Hamilton was transported to the police station where he was interviewed concerning the on-going homicide investigation. Hamilton was transported to the Crawford County Jail where he was booked in for distribution of marijuana and distribution of cocaine. He was issued a $25,000 bond and has since bonded out.
On May 14, 2022, a search warrant was executed at 113 W. 23rd Street. During the execution of this search warrant, investigators located two firearms, approximately one pound of marijuana and a small amount of methamphetamine.
On May 16, 2022, 30-year-old Steven McArthur Taylor Jr., of Pittsburg, was arrested on charges related to this search warrant. Taylor was transported to the police station where he was interviewed concerning this on-going homicide investigation. Taylor was then transported to the Crawford County Jail where he was booked in for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Taylor was issued a $5,000 bond and has since bonded out.
On May 18, 2022, 21–year–old Matthew Robert Watkins, of Pittsburg, was picked up at his place of employment for two outstanding failure to appear traffic warrants, one out of Pittsburg and one out of Frontenac. Watkins was questioned related to the homicide and later transported to the Crawford County Jail where he remains in custody in lieu of a $1,320.00 bond.
On May 19, 2022, Pittsburg investigators responded to an address in the 800 block of West Euclid Street to locate a person of interest related to this investigation. Upon arrival a male subject fled the area in a vehicle, and in doing so, struck a police vehicle. Police pursued the vehicle to the 700 block of West 9th Street where it stopped and the driver fled on foot into a residence. Investigators pursued the subject into the residence and was informed he was hiding in the attic. The subject refused to come out of the attic and forceful entry was made through the attic door. The subject was apprehended, without incident, and identified as 47–year–old Michael Allen Wilson, of Pittsburg.
Wilson was found to have two active no bond warrants out of Crawford County for violation of bond supervision. Wilson was arrested on the warrants and transported to the Crawford County Jail. He was subsequently charged with felony fleeing and attempting to elude an officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. Wilson is being held without bond.
While conducting follow up on the homicide investigation in the 800 block of West Euclid, investigators also made contact with 32-year–old Tyler Dornez Smith, of Pittsburg. Smith was found to have one active warrant out of Pittsburg for failure to appear and one active warrant out of Crawford County for failure to appear. Smith was also interviewed concerning the on-going homicide investigation. He was then transported to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, where he is being held in lieu of a $2,933.00 bond.
This homicide investigation is on-going and investigators are asking that anyone with information pertaining to this investigation contact the Pittsburg Police Department at 620-231-1700, or at our tip line, 620-231-TIPS (8477).
Callers may remain anonymous.