Man found dead in Harvey Co. East Park identified, death ruled a homicide

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. (KWCH) - Tuesday Update: The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man found dead at Harvey County East Park on Sunday as Tyler Lee Ford, 31, of Hutchinson. The sheriff’s office said Ford’s death is being investigated as a homicide.

A passerby found Ford Sunday afternoon in the Sunset Ridge area of East Park, west of North East Lake Road and north of Northeast 12th Street. The sheriff’s office said Ford’s body was lying on a dried-out section of the lake bed. Much of the lake is without standing water due to drought conditions.

Ford is believed to have died within the past week. His body is believed to have been placed in the park within the past week. An autopsy performed by the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center determined Ford died of a gunshot wound.

The investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Harvey County Sheriff’s Office.

The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a man’s body was found in Harvey County East Park Sunday afternoon.

Authorities were called to the park just before 1 p.m. after someone found the man’s body in a dried-out portion of the lake bed, just west of North East Lake Road near NE 12th St.

The sheriff’s office is working to determine the man’s identity of the man. His cause of death has not been released.

The department asked for drivers to avoid the area while the investigation continues.