On May 5, 2026, at approximately 2:46 a.m., Cowley County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a reported missing person in the area of a watershed east of Silverdale on 151st Road. The missing individual, identified as John Kanelakos of rural Arkansas City was reported after a property owner was checking the location and discovered the man’s truck still running. Deputies responded and began searching the area, locating a pair of boots near the water’s edge but there was no immediate sign of Kanelakos. At approximately 10:30 a.m., members of the dive team located Kanelakos deceased in the water. Preliminary investigation indicates that Kanelakos may have entered the water in an attempt to rescue a calf. The investigation is on-going and an autopsy will be conducted.
