Man charged with first-degree murder in Wichita woman's death

UPDATE: Jonathan Perret, 41, was charged Tuesday (Aug. 16) with first-degree murder in the death of 42-year-old Melissa Englert. The Sedgwick County District Attorney's says Perret's next court appearance is scheduled in two weeks (Aug. 30.)

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UPDATE: Wichita police have identified a woman killed in west Wichita on Thursday.

Lt. Todd Ojile, with the Wichita Police Department's homicide division, said Melissa Englert, 42, was found shot and killed in the 100 block of S. Muirfield on Thursday.

Ojile said the suspect's family in Texas called 911 and said they had received photos via text showing Englert had been shot and killed.

When officers arrived in the 9800 block of W. 2nd Street, they weren't able to make contact with anyone. They finally made entry into the home but didn't find anything.

The victim's vehicle was missing and an alert was put out to find it.

Officers found Englert's vehicle at her parent's home in the 100 block of S. Muirfield. They knocked on the door several times, but were unable to make contact. They knew her parents were in Kansas City.

The suspect finally came out the front door. He had a gun is hand. Police ordered him to drop the gun, which he threw in the yard. He was then arrested.

Officers then went inside the residence where they found Englert dead.

Police have not released the suspect's name. Eyewitness News was been able to confirm through booking sheets that the man is 41-year-old Jonathan Perret. Police say he was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on one count of first degree murder.

Ojile said through their investigation, police learned that Englert and Perret had been in a relationship for eight or nine months. They lived together in the residence on W. 2nd.

Several calls had been made to 911 over the last two months about them arguing or fighting.

Wednesday night, the couple went to Englert's parents' home on S. Muirfield to get the mail. Ojile said they started arguing and Perret pulled out a gun from the home and shot and killed Englert. The shooting occurred sometime after midnight before 5 a.m.

Englert's death marks Wichita's 15th homicide of the year.

Police will present their case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney Monday morning.

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Police are investigating a murder in west Wichita after finding 42 year old woman's body inside a home in the 100 block of S. Muirfield.

Investigators haven't said how the woman died but homicide investigators did remove several pieces of evidence from the house, Including multiple rifles.

Police say family members in Texas asked them to do a welfare check on the couple - a man, 41, and a woman, 42, After possible threats. Officers first checked a scene about two miles away on the 9800 block of W. 2nd Street, but didn't find anything there.

Officers did find the woman's car at the house on S. Muirfield, and her body inside. Her boyfriend was on scene, and they arrested him on murder charges. According to Sedgwick County Jail Booking Sheets, Johnathan Perret,41, was arrested for first degree murder Thursday around 3 p.m.

About 3 p.m., two people who police say are the homeowners returned to this house. It's not clear yet what their relationship is with the victim or the suspect.

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The 42-year-old woman found dead Thursday is the sixth death in five weeks from domestic-related cases. Two of the deaths are murder suicide cases, where the suspects also shot and killed themselves.

About two weeks ago (July 24, 2016), police say a man stabbed his wife to death in a home on the 1100 block of S. Martinson. The victim is 64-year-old Marilyn Dye. The suspect was charged with first degree murder.

On July 15th, Wichita police say a 46-year-old man shot his ex-wife, 46-year-old Lourdes Hernandez, at her home in the 1500 block of S. Goebel. He then shot and killed himself.

Police say the two had recently divorced, and the suspect was returning some items when an argument broke out.

In early July (July 6, 2016) police say Emily Sonneman, 24, was shot killed by her ex-boyfriend. It happened at an apartment complex in the 1700 block of South Rock Road. He then also killed himself.

Police say the couple had recently ended their relationship and the victim, was returning to items to her former boyfriend.

We've recently shared with you how to find help if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence. Here the contact information for several resources:

- Harbor House 316-263-6000

- YWCA Women's Crisis Center 316-263-2323

- Kansas Crisis Hotline 1-888-363-2287

- Local Municipal Court to file a Protection from Abuse Order