Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach today announced that Steven Couch Jr., 54, of Salina, was sentenced to life in prison for murder.
In April 2024, a Saline County jury convicted Couch of first degree, premeditated murder of Carol Williams in New Cambria, Kansas, in February 2011. Couch was originally arrested and charged with murder soon after, but charges were later dropped. The Kansas Bureau Investigation (KBI) later re-opened the investigation after a material witness came forward. In August 2022, the Office of the Attorney General again filed charges against Couch for Williams’ murder.
After denying a series of post-trial motions, Judge Jacob Peterson sentenced Couch to serve life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
The case was investigated by the KBI, with the initial law enforcement by the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.