Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Charges have now been filed in the death of 38-year-old Amber L. Kostner, who was found dead in a ditch early Sunday.

In an initial court appearance, 41-year-old Anson R. Bernhardt of Wichita was officially charged with first degree premeditated murder.

A passing motorist in the 2100 block of West 55th Street South called 911 Sunday morning after seeing a body in a ditch not far from Campus High School. Investigators were able to quickly identify her as Kostner, and found blunt force trauma to various part of her body. Bernhardt was arrested later that evening

In a news conference earlier this week, authorities said Kostner and Bernhardt were romantically involved and had been living together since late spring.

In court Wednesday afternoon, a judge set his bond at $250,000 and scheduled a preliminary hearing for October 17.