May 06, 2026

Sheriff: Kansas man may have drowned trying to rescue a calf

Posted May 06, 2026 9:30 AM
File photo courtesy Augusta Department of Public Safety
File photo courtesy Augusta Department of Public Safety

COWLEY COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the death of a man whose body was recovered Tuesday in rural Cowley County.

Just before 3a.m. Tuesday, Cowley County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a reported missing person in the area of a watershed east of  Silverdale on 151st Road, according to Sheriff Dave Faletti.

The missing individual, identified as John Kanelakos of rural Arkansas City, Kansas, was reported  after a property owner was checking the location and discovered Kanelakos’ truck still running.

Deputies responded and began searching the area, locating a pair of boots near the water’s  edge but there was no immediate sign of Kanelakos.

The Arkansas City Fire Department responded to the area and deployed boats in the water.  Additional resources, including canine units, horses and a dive team from the Augusta  Department of Public Safety, were deployed to aid in the search.

At approximately 10:30 a.m., members of the dive team located Kanelakos deceased in the  water. Preliminary investigation indicates that Kanelakos may have entered the water in an  attempt to rescue a calf. The investigation is on-going and an autopsy will be conducted