GREENVILLE COUNTY, South Carolina—Law enforcement authorities investigating the death of a Kansas man whose body was found in a culvert in 2010 have two suspects in custody.
In February of 2010, 19-year-old German Clerici's mother reported him missing after she had not heard from him since late January, according to a statement from the Butler County Sheriff's office. Clerici's car was also missing.
Several days later, investigators found Clerici shot to death in a culvert east of Augusta. Four months later, deputies found his car in the 3000 Block of East 21st North in Wichita.
In 2021, Butler County Sheriff Monty Hughey had investigators take a fresh look at the case. They discovered information that prompted investigators to conduct follow-up interviews and learned more information and new evidence in the case.
In July, investigators from the Butler County Sheriff's officials traveled to South Carolina. With the assistance of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office and Wichita police, deputies arrested 32-year-old Kristopher Valadez and 32-year-old Candace Valadez.
Both are former Wichita residents and are expected to be extradited to Sedgwick County to face charges in Clerici's murder.