School employees at Elk Valley USD #283 in Longton, Kansas discovered a dead man on campus grounds around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation has since identified him as 50-year-old Jason Barrager. Investigators say he had no obvious injuries, and while an autopsy is planned, authorities have reported no indications of foul play or any danger to students or the public.
Discovery Prompted Immediate Call to Law Enforcement
Staff at the district notified local law enforcement right away after finding Barrager's body Tuesday, according to ksnt.com. The Elk County Sheriff's Office then requested assistance from the KBI that same day, and the state agency took over as the lead investigator on the case, a role confirmed by FOX4KC.com.
Investigators determined that Barrager had been alone on the school property around 3 a.m. and did not leave the area between then and when he was found, the outlet's report notes. He was found with no obvious injuries to his body, according to the same account, though the exact cause of death has not been released.
Identity Confirmed, Details of Barrager's Background Emerge
The KBI later confirmed the man's identity as Jason Barrager, 50. Sourcing on his hometown conflicts: ksnt.com reported him as being from Independence, Missouri, while a separate report from hayspost.com identified him as being from Independence, Kansas.
Per that same hayspost.com account, Barrager had been released from prison over the summer after serving more than two years on a drug conviction out of Montgomery County. An autopsy will still be performed to determine the cause of his death, according to ksn.com, which also reported that the KBI said there are no indications of foul play in Barrager's death.
School District Says It Cooperated With Investigators
Superintendent Megan Gaston said the district provided investigators with the materials they requested, including available surveillance footage, according to kggfradio.com. The KBI has said the investigation remains ongoing, per ksn.com's reporting, and officials have stated there is no evidence suggesting students or the public were ever at risk.
