Missing Wichita man's body found near Hesston

BY HURST LAVIANA
The Wichita Eagle

Harvey County authorities on Thursday found the body of a Wichita man who disappeared more than five days earlier under mysterious circumstances.

Wichita police were told shortly after 5 p.m. that the body of Marcus Booker, 30, had been found in his car on a county road northwest of Hesston.

Police spokesman Gordon Bassham said homicide detectives who went to the scene reported that foul play was not suspected.
The cause of death was not disclosed.

Booker's family said he was being treated for lupus, and in recent days had been experiencing significant pain in his hands and feet.
Lupus is a disease that causes a body's immune system to attack its tissues.

Before he disappeared Saturday, Booker sent his wife, Jessica Booker, a text message that said his pain was growing unbearable, and that he loved her and their two children.

He had attended his son's Biddy Basketball game a few hours before sending the text message.
Concerns over the disappearance prompted police on Wednesday to issue a plea for the public's help in finding Booker and the car he was driving.

Police first became concerned Saturday when they found blood on Booker's grandmother's grave in Kechi. Relatives said he was a frequent visitor to the gravesite at 6501 N. Hillside.

There was also blood on Booker's cell phone when it was found Monday in a Harvey County field north of Newton.

Wichita police and the Harvey County Sheriff's Office are continuing their investigation, and police said they planned to release more information on the case today.

Among Booker's survivors are a 5-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.