In the late hours of March 17, 2018, a sequence of events unfolded that tragically cut short the life of 28-year-old Paulus T. Fermin. A male, Fermin was discovered inside a wrecked SUV in Gladstone, Missouri, suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency services transported him to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries and passed away the following day.
The initial discovery was made by Gladstone police who were responding to what appeared to be a single-vehicle accident.
The investigation into Fermin's death quickly shifted from a traffic incident to a homicide. Detectives with the Kansas City Metro Squad took the lead in the case. Their investigation led them to a suspect, Franklin G. Liles. Evidence gathered in the early stages of the investigation suggested a dispute between Liles and Fermin preceded the fatal shooting. The disagreement was reportedly over a backpack that Liles believed Fermin had stolen.
Following their investigation, the Clay County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed charges against Franklin G. Liles. He was charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with the death of Paulus Fermin. While details of the arrest and the charges brought against the suspect were made public, the final disposition of this case, including any potential trial, conviction, or sentencing of Franklin G. Liles, is not available in the examined online sources.
