10/3/2008
ERIN MATHEWS
Former teammates from a murdered Salina man’s high school football team contributed enough to pay for most of the expenses of his funeral, which will be today in San Bernardino, Calif.
Ernest J. Jones Jr., and Taryn K. Dechant, both 22, were found shot to death Sept. 26 in their apartment at 611 S. Second. A memorial service for Dechant was Friday in Ness City.
Dechant’s two children, ages 5 and 2, were taken out of the apartment unharmed. Salina police continue to investigate the double homicide and are currently seeking a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun believed to have been the murder weapon.
Mike Clark, who was one of Jones’ football coaches at Eisenhower High School in Rialto, Calif., said Jones’ former Eisenhower football teammates contributed $11,000 toward funeral expenses, with most of that money coming from Denver Broncos offensive tackle Ryan Clady. Clady could not be reached Friday for comment.


Read more of reporter Erin Mathews' story in Saturday's Salina Journal.