News Article

Posted on Thur, Mar. 17, 2005

Man 'of interest' is released from jail

By RUSS PULLEY

The Kansas City Star

Man ‘of interest' is released from jail By RUSS PULLEY The Kansas City Star A Jackson County judge reduced the bond of a Kansas City man held on drug charges after his house was searched in Summer Shipp's disappearance.

The 45-year-old man was released on bond Wednesday after the bond was reduced from $150,000 cash to $15,000 with a requirement that 10 percent be paid in cash.

Police said that he was not considered a suspect in the Shipp case but that he was among a group of people questioned.Independence police arrested the man last week, and Jackson County prosecutors charged him with a felony count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and a misdemeanor count of possessing drug paraphernalia.They allegedly found marijuana in the man's house in December while searching with his consent after they thought he was acting “suspicious” during interviews about Shipp's disappearance.

The man is the second “person of interest” in the Shipp case arrested by Independence police. Earlier, an Independence man was arrested on unrelated traffic warrants. He was freed in mid-January after his bond was reduced.

Shipp, of Kansas City, was 54 when she disappeared. She was last seen Dec. 8 while doing market research in Independence. A $100,000 reward has been offered for information that helps find her.

How to help People with information about the disappearance of Summer Shipp may send tips to:Friends of SummerP.O. Box 410821Kansas City, MO 64141-8021