TOPEKA, KAN. – Three people were indicted Wednesday on federal charges of kidnapping and killing a Junction City woman, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. Grissom said his office is prosecuting the case jointly with the Geary County Attorney in federal court.
The body of Amanda Clemons, 24, of Junction City, was found in February 2014 in Geary County, Kan.
Charged with one count of kidnapping resulting in death are:
Larry L. Anderson, 26, who is being held in the Geary County Jail.
Marryssa M. Middleton, 23, who is being held in the Geary County Jail.
Drexel A. Woody, 24, who is being held in the Geary County Jail.
The indictment alleges that on Feb. 7, 2014, the defendants kidnapped the victim and held her on the Fort Riley military installation. While they were holding her they killed her.
If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of life in federal prison without parole. The Junction City Police Department, the Grandview Plaza Police Department, the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, the Riley County Police Department, the Fort Riley Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi and Geary County Attorney Steven Opat are prosecuting.
-dash-
This case is moving from Geary County District Court level to the federal court level.
Steve Opat, Geary County Attorney stated, “On receipt of the federal indictments and the warrants issued from Topeka the defendants will be taken into federal custody, and our charges will be simultaneously dismissed here.”
Opat said. ” Without commenting extra judicially I will simply say upon a review of the facts with the federal authorities and based on the facts, it was determined that the best course in this case in terms of the presentation of evidence and the best possible outcome with regard to a potential penalty was in federal court.”