DARCY GRAY, reporter

Darcy has been a journalist at The Hutchinson News for eight years, including six years as a reporter and two years as a copy editor/page designer. She’s covered fires, fatal accidents, homicides, hostage crises and criminal trials that have lasted two weeks or more. She once was chased by a German Shepherd while on the job and offers this advice: just walk away slowly. Contact Darcy at 1-800-766-3311, ext. 322, or email dgray@hutchnews.com. Tips can be kept confidential if requested.

First day of allegiance? - I wasn’t surprised to see the Pledge of Allegiance being recited Thursday morning at Wiley Elementary School in Hutchinson, but I was surprised at some of the comments readers posted on our Facebook page. Photographer Tim Goessman and I visited Wiley early Thursday to see the first day of school. Not long after we returned, … Continue reading →
A quick note - Just wanted to let everyone know our crime reporter, Darcy Gray, had her baby last week! She had a healthy baby girl. Congrats, Darcy! As some of you probably know, Darcy was covering the Seacat trial last week (she actually had her baby fewer than 24 hours after they read the verdict). While she’s taking … Continue reading →
KS Crime & Punishment: Tip on grisly murder unfounded - One of my editors asked me to look into a tip we received this morning. The caller said a body was found in the middle of the road east of Bazine in Ness County, and the person’s throat and wrists had been slashed. The Ness County Sheriff’s Office confirmed for me, however, that the information … Continue reading →
Reaction to Dog the Bounty Hunter coming to Hutchinson - Dozens of people are lining up as I type this to get a glimpse of “The Dog.” Duane “Dog” Chapman, aka Dog the Bounty Hunter, is in Hutchinson today visiting Barb’s Bail Bonds for his new TV show, “Dog and Beth: On the Hunt,” which is airing on CMT. Word spread like wildfire on Facebook, … Continue reading →
KC&P: New type of press release - I’ve received news releases through various types of mediums over the years, and yes, there are still some law enforcement agencies in rural Kansas that only use a fax machine to send news releases. This morning, Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir emailed me an audio news release — something I’ve never received before from a … Continue reading →
KC&P: Boston’s compliance amid manhunt admirable - “Boston is probably the only major city that if you f*** with them, they will shut down the whole city…stop everything.. and find you.” This tweet from @_Happy_Gilmore on Twitter has been shared nearly 30,000 times today. I’ve never quoted a parody Twitter account before, but it’s apparently a statement thousands of people agree with … Continue reading →
KC&P: Attorneys’ stipulations streamline McPherson County murder trial - Attorneys in McPherson County have made significant efforts to speed up what could’ve been an extremely lengthy trial for 20-year-old Alton Franklin, a former McPherson College football player charged with second-degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Tabor College football player Brandon Brown. Prior to the start of trial Monday, McPherson County Attorney David Page … Continue reading →
KC&P: Murder case venue questioned - Will a murder case be moved out of Reno County? That’s a question that’s still lingering in the case of 50-year-old Hutchinson resident Billy Joe Craig Jr., who is charged in the June 2011 shooting death of Jennifer Heckel. Craig’s attorneys have argued he can’t get a fair trial here, due to extensive pretrial publicity … Continue reading →
KS Crime & Punishment: Save yourself some grief. Do a background check. - I’ve written about it before, I’m doing it again, and I won’t be surprised when the issue resurfaces in the future. Background checks. Or, the lack thereof. If you’re an employer or just a parent looking for a good babysitter, there are ways to check a person’s background that are free or relatively inexpensive. Find … Continue reading →
KS Crime & Punishment: Let’s get this party started - It’s the inaugural post of Kansas Crime & Punishment, so I feel compelled to offer a brief introduction. In covering the crime beat for The Hutchinson News for nearly five years, I’ve observed funny, quirky or even crazy things happening behind the scenes that don’t always make the newspaper or fit with whatever story I’m … Continue reading →