On Sunday morning, the body of 85-year-old Pearl Arthaud
was discovered in her residence at the Buhler Sunshine Meadows
Retirement Community in Buhler, Reno County, Kansas. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

A Task Force has been created to investigate this homicide and several
other prior incidents involving attacks on elderly women, that have
occurred within retirement communities and private residences in various
locations in Reno County. These prior incidents may or may not be
connected to the murder of Pearl Arthaud.

The Task Force is comprised of the Buhler Police Department, South
Hutchinson Police Department, Hutchinson Police Department, Reno County
Sheriff's Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Reno County
District Attorney's Office. A KBI forensics team has been brought in to
process the crime scene in Buhler.

The best physical description that can be provided at this time is that
the suspect may be a white male. Witnesses are being re-interviewed in
an effort to provide more details.

The Task Force is warning the public to take the following precautions.

- Elderly women should be aware of their surroundings.

- Make sure your doors are locked and your home is secure.

- Install adequate door locks and frames.

- Leave the porch light or interior light on.

- People should be vigilant in checking on the welfare of elderly female
family members, friends and neighbors who live alone.

- If someone breaks into your home, immediately call 911, make noise
that others can hear and try to get away.

- If any suspicious person is observed in your neighborhood or around
your home, please contact 911 immediately.

- If anybody thinks they have information that may assist the Task Force
in this investigation you should contact Crime Stoppers of Reno County
at 620-694-2666 or the KBI Hotline at 1-800-222-TIPS.

While it is understandable that the public may desire more specific
information about this investigation, no further information is being
released at this time to protect the integrity of the investigation. All
future information and press releases will be issued out of the Office
of the Reno County District Attorney.