Salina man is a suspect in the homicide investigation of a body found in rural Saline County

A Salina man is facing potential murder charges after the body of a man was found in rural Saline County Tuesday.

Salina Police said Sept. 17 Manuel Medina-Castro and family members went to the Saline County Jail and reported a vehicle that Medina-Castro was borrowing from a family member appeared to have blood in it and a spent ammunition shell casing.

Police detectives responded to the 2500 block of Ambassador Drive and located the vehicle, seeing a substantial amount of what appeared to be blood inside the vehicle.

After obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle and the residence, officers found evidence that indicated a violent crime happened, a firearm recovered and the belief that someone had been seriously injured.

On the same day, Medina-Castro was booked into Saline County Jail in connection to criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, battery of a law enforcement officer and felony damage to property.

More:Man found dead in rural Saline County on Tuesday

Since Sept. 17, investigators with the Salina Police Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Saline County Sheriff's Office conducted a joint investigation to locate and identify a potential victim.

On Tuesday, information was developed that led law enforcement to the 3100 block of West Reynolds Road in rural Saline County and in searching the area, a deceased person was located.

The identification of the deceased person has yet to be confirmed along with autopsy results.

On Thursday, Salina police said it was requesting an additional charge for Medina-Castro for murder in the second degree.

Law enforcement said this continues to be an active investigation and asks anyone with information to the case to call Crimestoppers at 785-852-TIPS text SATIPS to 274637 or visiting new.tipsubmit.com/en/create-report/anonymous/salina.org with up to a $1,000 cash reward potentially available. Additionally, tipsters can contact the Saline County Sheriff's Office at 785-826-6500, the case number is 2021-16812.