In the summer of 2015, the life of 27-year-old Caucasian male Jason Kendall came to a dramatic and violent end on a highway in Trego County, Kansas. His death on June 10, 2015, was the final act in a multi-state manhunt that began with the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Molly Helland, in Windsor, Vermont. Kendall was the sole suspect in Helland's shooting death, which occurred just days before his own demise.
The search for Kendall intensified after Helland, the 22-year-old mother of his
child, was found with gunshot wounds outside her parents' home. Authorities in Vermont identified Kendall as a person of interest and a warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of second-degree murder. His vehicle, a silver Honda Accord, was spotted fleeing the scene of the crime. The car was later reported in Massachusetts, where a man matching Kendall's description was seen stealing license plates.
The chase for Jason Kendall concluded in Kansas when Highway Patrol troopers identified his vehicle, now bearing the stolen Massachusetts plates, on Interstate 70. When they attempted to pull him over, Kendall fled, leading them on a high-speed pursuit that reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. The chase ended when law enforcement deployed stop sticks, causing the Honda to crash. As officers approached the disabled vehicle, they found Kendall inside, deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. An autopsy later confirmed his identity. As Kendall was the only individual involved, there were no arrests made in connection with his death.
