By Matt Unruh ~ Great Bend Post

Joseph Rykeil, of Great Bend pleaded to Involuntary Manslaughter in the July 4th death of 15-year-old Jessica Shearer of Garden City. Doug Matthews is the Barton County Attorney.

Shearer had reportedly ran away from the Barton County Youth Home three days prior to her body being found in a home on July 4th where Rykeil was renting a room in Great Bend.

It was reported that prescription drugs from the homeowners were found in Rykiel’s room when Shearer’s body was found.