In May of 2019, the life of 35-year-old Matthew Calkins was tragically cut short in a gruesome series of events that unfolded in a Kansas City, Missouri, basement. A graduate of the Kansas School for the Deaf, Calkins was described by his mother as a kind individual who would stand up for others. He had recently celebrated his birthday and was last seen by his family after a celebratory dinner.
The investigation into his disappearance took a grim turn on May 5, 2019, when firefighters
were called to a house fire in the Northland neighborhood of Kansas City. After extinguishing a blaze in the basement, they discovered human remains that were burned beyond recognition. DNA testing later confirmed the remains belonged to Matthew Calkins. Before the fire, neighbors had reported hearing gunshots, which prompted the initial police response to the residence.
The occupant of the house, Colton Stock, was soon identified as a suspect. The investigation revealed a disturbing sequence of events. Authorities determined that Calkins had been shot twice sometime between May 3 and May 5. His body was then dismembered with an electric saw before being set on fire. The discovery of only Calkins's torso at the scene led to a harrowing search for his other remains, which were never located. A search of the home uncovered a revolver with Stock's DNA on the trigger and grip. A bullet recovered from Calkins's body was matched to this weapon.
Colton Stock was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, abandonment of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence. During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence of the violent nature of the crime, including surveillance footage of Stock purchasing the saw used in the dismemberment. The defense argued that Stock had acted in self-defense, claiming Calkins had broken into his home. In a surprising verdict in November 2022, a Clay County jury acquitted Stock of the first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges.
Despite the acquittal on the murder charge, the jury found Colton Stock guilty of abandoning a corpse and tampering with physical evidence. In February 2023, he was sentenced to a total of eight years in prison for these convictions, with the judge ordering the four-year sentences for each count to be served consecutively. Calkins's family expressed their devastation and belief that justice had not been fully served, maintaining that Stock was responsible for his death. The case left the community in shock and a family heartbroken over the brutal loss of their loved one.
