KANSAS CITY, MO — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is leading a death investigation after school personnel found a man dead on property connected to Elk Valley USD #283. Agents and crime scene investigators were sent to Longton on Tuesday, Sept. 22, after the Elk County Sheriff’s Office asked for help.
Authorities identified the man as Jason Barrager, 50, of Independence, Missouri. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said he was found by school staff around 2 p.m., and investigators later determined he had been alone on school property at about 3 a.m. and did not leave the area.
School employees made the discovery and called law enforcement
KBI said personnel at the district found the deceased man on Tuesday afternoon and quickly alerted local authorities. That discovery triggered a coordinated response from the sheriff’s office and state investigators.
Longton is a small southeast Kansas community in Elk County, and the case has drawn attention because it unfolded on school property. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has not described exactly where on the property the body was located, but it said the man was discovered by school personnel while they were on site.
The timing reported by investigators suggests the man had been there for hours before anyone found him. KBI said he was alone on the property around 3 a.m. and remained there through the morning until staff found him.
Investigators say there were no obvious injuries
At this stage, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said the man did not have obvious injuries. Even so, the agency said an autopsy will be performed to help determine what happened.
Officials have not released a cause of death, and they have not said whether any medical episode, accident, or other factor may have been involved. The investigation remains open while agents continue gathering facts.
KBI’s description of the case so far does not point to immediate signs of violence. That does not end the inquiry, however, because investigators still need the autopsy and any additional evidence to better understand the sequence of events.
Authorities say there is no current threat to students or the public
Investigators also said there are no indications of foul play at this time. In addition, they said there is no evidence suggesting students or the public are at risk because of the incident.
That reassurance came as the case continued to move forward with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation taking the lead. The sheriff’s office asked for state assistance on Tuesday, and KBI agents and crime scene investigators responded to Longton to help process the scene.
Even with no immediate public safety concerns, the case remains a death investigation, not a closed matter. Authorities have not announced any arrests or identified any suspects.
Jason Barrager was identified as the man found on campus
The deceased man was identified as Jason Barrager, 50, of Independence, Missouri. That identification came from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation as the inquiry moved ahead.
Officials have not said why Barrager was on school property or whether he had any connection to the district. They also have not released additional personal details beyond his age and hometown.
Because the body was discovered on school grounds, the incident has prompted concern, but investigators have repeatedly said there is no current evidence of danger to students or the wider community. The focus now is on determining how Barrager died and what led to his presence there overnight.
Autopsy and follow-up work will guide the next steps
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said an autopsy will be done, which is expected to help answer whether the death was natural, accidental, or involved another cause. Until then, officials are treating the case as an active investigation.
KBI said the inquiry is still ongoing. That means agents may continue interviews, review scene evidence, and wait for medical findings before reaching conclusions.
For now, the known facts are limited to the discovery on Tuesday afternoon, the overnight timeline investigators described, and the identification of the man found on the property. Authorities have not said when more information may be released.
