Bryan Hendrickson, a 43-year-old White male from Edgerton, Kansas, was a man with a deep love for water and the outdoors. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he spent part of his childhood in Naples, Florida, where he developed an affinity for the coastal lifestyle that earned him the nickname "water baby." As an adult in Kansas, he found a sanctuary at the Lake of the Ozarks. He created his own personal oasis at his home in Edgerton, surrounding himself with lush greenery, trees, flowers, and a menagerie of beloved animals, including two cats, ducks, chickens, and rabbits.
In the early hours of June 20, 2023, that life was cut short. Around 12:15 a.m., emergency personnel were dispatched to the Pintail Point Campground at Hillsdale State Park near Paola, Kansas, following reports of both a shooting and a stabbing. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found Bryan Hendrickson suffering from a fatal gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the campground.
Also at the scene was 53-year-old Brian Meysenburg of Overland Park, who had sustained non-life-threatening stab wounds. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Following his release, Meysenburg was taken into custody by the Miami County Sheriff's Office in connection with Hendrickson's death.
Meysenburg was arrested and booked into the Miami County Jail. He was initially charged with second-degree murder, and his bond was set at $1 million. The investigation continued, and on December 12, 2023, the charge against Meysenburg was upgraded to first-degree murder.
In January 2024, an arraignment in the case was scheduled for February 6, 2024. As of January 2024, Meysenburg remained in custody with his case pending trial.
