In the quiet, rural landscape of Sedan, Kansas, the evening of February 17, 2019, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 46-year-old Joe Corman, a White male from the nearby town of Peru. A distress call was made to the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office at approximately 6:15 p.m., reporting a shooting at a residence on 863 Road 26. Deputies arrived at the scene to find Corman suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency medical services were dispatched and immediately began to treat his injuries. He was then rushed to Sedan City Hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Corman succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival. The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office quickly sought the assistance of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to aid in the homicide investigation, with special agents responding to the scene that same evening.
The investigation swiftly led authorities to a suspect. Within an hour of the initial call, at around 7:10 p.m., law enforcement officers located and arrested 43-year-old Travis W. Dickson at his home in Niotaze. Initially, Dickson was booked into the Chautauqua County Jail on suspicion of driving under the influence. However, the investigation progressed rapidly, and by the following day, a charge of first-degree murder was filed against him in connection with the fatal shooting of Joe Corman.
