Sep 23, 2026

Man found dead on Kansas school property had a history of crime

Posted Sep 23, 2026 9:00 PM
Photo KBI
Photo KBI

ELK COUNTY – Law enforcement investigating after the body of a man was found on school property in southeast Kansas have positively identified. According to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the man was Jason Barrager ,50, of Independence, Kansas. 

Just after 2:30p.m. Tuesday, the Elk County Sheriff’s Office requested Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) assistance after the body, later identified as Barrager, was discovered deceased on Elk Valley USD #283 school property.

Barrager photo Kansas Department of Corrections
Barrager photo Kansas Department of Corrections

KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to Longton, Kansas to conduct a death investigation. 

School personnel discovered the body on Tuesday afternoon, around 2 p.m. and immediately notified local law enforcement. The investigation determined Barrager was alone on school property at around 3 a.m., and did not leave the area.

 Barrager did not have obvious injuries to his body. An autopsy will be performed.  He was released from  prison this summer after serving over two. years for a drug conviction in Montgomery County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

At this time there are no indications of foul play in Barrager's death, or evidence suggesting that students or the public are at risk related to this incident.