On the morning of May 18, 2017, a cyclist found Michael Darby, 61, lying dead on the pavement of the Indian Creek Trail in Kansas City between Wornall and Holmes roads. Darby, a co-owner of Coach’s Bar & Grill, had been walking his two black Labradors, which were found near his body. He had been shot in what investigators called a random ambush about half a mile from his restaurant.

Detectives initially had few witnesses, but forensic analysis and similarities to other attacks on men using local trails led investigators to link this killing to a wider pattern. Police later arrested Fredrick Demond Scott and charged him in connection with multiple killings; authorities said DNA tied Scott to another murder scene. The case has experienced long legal delays tied to questions about Scott’s mental competency, and proceedings remain ongoing.

If anyone saw Darby on the Indian Creek Trail that morning or has information about activity on the trail around that time, please come forward.