In the quiet community of Tescott, Kansas, the life of 35-year-old White male, Matthew Schoshke, was tragically cut short on August 12, 2017. A family member discovered Schoshke's body in the bathroom of his rural home, launching a multi-state investigation into his death. It was determined that he had been shot five times with his own handgun. In addition to the homicide, Schoshke's 2006 Ford F-150 pickup truck, wallet, cellphone, and his dog, Zeus, were all missing from the residence.
The investigation quickly led authorities to focus on a suspect who had been traveling across the country. Robert Colson, a 34-year-old man from Bucksport, Maine, was identified as the primary suspect after Schoshke's stolen truck was located in Los Angeles, California. Investigators believe Colson was on a cross-country bus trip from Maine to California when he missed a stop and began walking. For reasons that remain part of the tragic narrative, Colson ended up at Schoshke's home, where he laid in wait before fatally shooting the FedEx employee. After the murder, Colson fled in Schoshke's truck, taking the victim's belongings and his dog with him.
Colson's time as a fugitive came to an end on August 25, 2017. A warrant for first-degree murder was issued for his arrest, and authorities tracked him to an Amtrak train in Martinez, California. Before he could be apprehended, Colson was involved in another violent incident, allegedly stabbing a person on the train. In his attempt to escape, he was injured and subsequently hospitalized. Following his release from the hospital, Colson was extradited to Kansas to face charges for the murder of Matthew Schoshke.
In June 2018, an Ottawa County jury found Robert Colson guilty of first-degree felony murder, two counts of felony theft, and one count of burglary. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years. Colson later appealed his conviction, but the Kansas Supreme Court affirmed the district court's ruling in February 2021. The court found that there was sufficient evidence to support the convictions, concluding a painful chapter for the family and friends of Matthew Schoshke and the Tescott community.
