Authorities have identified two women found dead during a missing persons investigation that stretched from eastern Kansas into Colorado, while investigators have also linked the homicide case to a man already being held on unrelated charges.
Kiowa County Coroner Jimmy Brown identified the victims as 44-year-old Linda Estrada and 39-year-old Amy Ford, both from the Emporia, Kansas, area.
The women were found dead south of Eads, Colorado, on September 20, 2023, after a multi-day search involving several law enforcement agencies.
Victims Found South Of Eads
According to Brown, the bodies were located in the area of County Road 40 and Road H, south of Eads. The location is in the Sweetwater area, near what is commonly known as the landfill road.
Brown said both women were pronounced dead on September 20 at 4:15 p.m. However, the exact date and time of death had not yet been determined.
Officials said toxicology results were not available at the time of the coroner’s statement. The cause of death was also being withheld because of the ongoing criminal investigation.
Missing Persons Case Began In Kansas
The investigation began on September 11, 2023, after a family member reported Estrada missing to police in Emporia, Kansas. Ford was reported missing shortly afterward.
Investigators later learned that both women had been in Colorado earlier in the month. Authorities used cellphone data and security video to help track their movements through Colorado, eventually focusing search efforts in eastern Colorado and western Kansas.
Law enforcement teams spent several days searching with K-9 units, aircraft, drones and ground crews before the women’s bodies were discovered on September 20.
Criminal Investigation Underway
The Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation are handling the active criminal investigation.
In a joint statement, authorities said the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office had assisted a Kansas law enforcement agency during the missing persons investigation before human remains were discovered.
Because the case remains active, officials have released limited information. Brown said complete coroner reports would not be available for some time and confirmed that next of kin had been notified.
Arrest Warrant Issued For Suspect
On September 27, authorities identified a suspect in connection with the deaths of Estrada and Ford.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said an arrest warrant had been issued for 36-year-old Phillip Lieurance, of Emporia, Kansas. Officials said Lieurance was being held in Emporia on unrelated charges at the time the warrant was announced.
Because the investigation remains active, the CBI did not release further details about the evidence connecting Lieurance to the case.
Suspect Held On Separate Case
Before being named in connection with the homicide investigation, Lieurance had reportedly been jailed after a separate incident near the Emporia toll plaza on September 10.
According to reports citing the Kansas Highway Patrol, Lieurance was accused of intentionally striking another vehicle several times with his SUV. The vehicles later crashed and became disabled northeast of the toll gate.
Several people from the other vehicle were taken to Newman Regional Health for observation. Lieurance was also taken to the hospital before being booked into the Lyon County Detention Center.
The deaths of Linda Estrada and Amy Ford remain under investigation by the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Authorities have identified Phillip Lieurance as a suspect and said there is no known threat to the public connected to the case. Further details are expected as the investigation continues.