Katrina Annette Cheely, a 15-year-old Caucasian female, was tragically murdered in Wichita, Kansas, on November 16, 1984. Her disappearance initially raised concerns, but it was not until February 28, 1985, that her body was discovered by a man collecting aluminum cans. She was found face down in a culvert on 151st Street West, marking the end of a months-long search for the missing teenager.
Authorities classified Katrina's case as a homicide and soon focused their investigation on
Martin Dean Priest, a man with a troubling criminal history. Priest, a friend of Katrina's mother, had reportedly driven the 15-year-old Caucasian female to school on the day she vanished. Despite suspicions surrounding him, authorities initially lacked sufficient evidence to charge him with her murder. However, new evidence later surfaced, leading to his indictment for first-degree murder and aggravated robbery.
Priest had already been convicted of second-degree murder in 1980 for the death of a 13-year-old girl in Lamar, Missouri. Although sentenced to 25 years in prison, he was released after an appeals court overturned the decision. Upon returning to Wichita, Priest was implicated in the Christmas 1984 slayings of William Mayhugh, 25, and Freida Bayliff, 33. While he was acquitted in Bayliff's death, he was convicted in Mayhugh's murder and sentenced to life in prison in December 1985.
Despite the charges brought against Priest in Katrina's case, he was ultimately acquitted of her murder. By that time, he was already serving a life sentence for Mayhugh's killing. Priest remains incarcerated at Lansing Correctional Facility, where he continues to serve his sentence.
Katrina's murder left a lasting impact on her community. For 26 years, her grave remained unmarked due to financial constraints faced by her family. It was only through the efforts of her junior high school friend, Dawn Turner Moler, that funds were raised to install a proper headstone. A graveside memorial service was held on November 16, 2010, marking the anniversary of her disappearance. The event brought together Katrina's classmates and community members, with her family participating remotely.
Though Katrina's case remains officially unsolved, her memory continues to be honored by those who knew and loved her.
