Body Found in Kan. Missing Student Case

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. – Authorities searching for a missing college student have found a female body and a car belonging to the 19-year-old. But Arkansas City police were not saying whether the body discovered early Tuesday in southeast Cowley County was that of Jodi Sanderholm.

The body has been taken to the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center in Wichita for identification and autopsy, according to a news release.

The release said authorities were "preparing a charging document against a known suspect. The exact charges will be released at a later date."

Around noon, Sanderholm’s black Dodge Stratus was found at the bottom of the Cowley State Fishing Lake. Divers spent Tuesday searching at the 84-acre lake on U.S. 166 about 15 miles east of downtown Arkansas City.

Cowley County Sheriff Bob Odell said Monday that authorities were investigating a tip that a letter with Sanderholm’s name on it was found in a restroom at the lake, but "I haven’t gotten any confirmation on that."

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies were helping with the search.

Police said Sanderholm’s family did not want to speak to the media.

Her father, Brian, said earlier this week that his daughter planned to finish her pre-pharmacy studies at Cowley College in December and then move to Dallas, where her boyfriend, Colby Wilson, attends the University of Texas.

Sanderholm, Arkansas City, was last seen at a Subway restaurant in Arkansas City about 1 p.m. Friday.

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Information from: The Wichita Eagle, http://www.kansas.com