Former Kansas couple charged in connection with 2010 killing of Wichita college student

A former Kansas couple were charged in Sedgwick County District Court on Wednesday in connection with the death of a 19-year-old college student in 2010, court records show.

Kristopher and Candace Valadez, both 32, were arrested last month in Simpsonville, South Carolina. The couple used to live in Wichita, according to a news release from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

Kristopher Valadez was charged with second-degree murder. Candace Valadez faces one charge of aiding a felon, court records show.

The charges stem from the slaying of 19-year-old German Clerici, whose body was found in Butler County more than 12 years ago. Clerici was a student at Cowley College at the time.

Clerici was reported missing by his mother on Feb. 1, 2010 after she had not heard from him for a few days. His body was found days later in a culvert in Butler County with a gunshot wound, the news release said.

In 2021, Butler County Sheriff Monty Hughey said he had investigators take another look at Clerici’s case after “information was discovered that prompted investigators to conduct follow-up interviews un-covering even more information along with new evidence,” the release read.

The couple’s next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Aug. 22. Their bonds are set at $250,000 and $100,000 respectively, according to court records.