Northeast News

On May 23, 2026, the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) was notified by the Independence Police Department (IPD) regarding a missing persons case that they were investigating from May 13, 2026 (IPD #26-30152) that took them to a residence in the 3500 block of Smart Ave. in Kansas City MO.  During the course of the investigation, which included the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), evidence led detectives to a residence where an adult male victim was located, deceased, inside, in the basement of the residence.

The victim has since been positively identified as Brown, Jonathan (W/M 03/01/1981), who was the missing person listed in Independence’s report.  The Jackson County Medical Examiner has now ruled this case a homicide.  The case is currently still under investigation and detectives are making headway in identifying a person of interest. 

If anyone was in this area of Smart and Askew avenues and heard or saw anything, or has any information, and has not yet talked to police, they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

Photos of the investigation taken on May 26, 2026

by Dorri Partain