On the evening of July 28, 2023, the life of Nathan Daniel Boggs, a 42-year-old Caucasian male, was cut short in rural Franklin County, Kansas. Deputies responded to a report of gunfire near Princeton at approximately 8:45 p.m. Upon their arrival at 1805 John Brown Road, they discovered Boggs suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate life-saving efforts of the first responders, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The incident prompted a comprehensive homicide investigation led by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. For six months, law enforcement officials worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. The investigation culminated on January 25, 2024, with the arrests of two suspects from Ottawa, Kansas. Timothy S. Corn, 41, was taken into custody at the Franklin County Courthouse, while Jessica D. Smith, 33, was arrested at a residence in Quenemo.
Both Corn and Smith were initially charged with first-degree murder and interference with law enforcement. They were subsequently booked into the Franklin County Jail. As the legal proceedings unfolded, the charges against Smith were amended. In August 2024, the first-degree murder charge against her was dropped after she provided evidence asserting that Corn was the sole shooter. Smith is expected to testify against him. Corn, who court documents allege "intentionally and with premeditation, killed Boggs," continues to face the charge of first-degree murder and awaits trial.
