By TIM UNRUH

Salina Journal

PORTIS -- Charges filed Monday in the March 25 murder of Jeffrey "Scott" Noel, 55, brought relief to this very rural community.

"It was an answer to prayer. I'll tell ya that," said Junior Caldwell, Portis, Noel's father-in-law.

"We're kind of relaxing again. Everybody's feeling better now that they've arrested somebody," said Elinor Fink. Her home, about three miles from the Noels, was burglarized on the same day as the murder.

Kenneth Eugene Wilson, 44, Salina, who is currently in the Ellsworth Correctional Facility, faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, burglary of a residence and felony possession of a firearm.

His first appearance in Osborne County District Court is 1:30 p.m. today.

Caldwell said he would not attend the court hearing today, but he figures the family will attend the murder trial, if it comes to that.

Fink, 78, expects to be called as a witness at trial. She said the third charge, residential burglary, was for the burglary of her home and that the Osborne County Sheriff's Office informed her the burglary is connected with the murder.

The Osborne County Sheriff's Office referred comment to the Kansas Attorney General's Office, which is acting as prosecutor. Spokeswoman Ashley Anstaett said there was no new information to release.

"It is all part of the same case. It came out in the news," Fink said.

A "mixed bag of stuff" -- including jewelry, knickknacks and $400 in cash -- was taken from her home, Fink said. Some of the items have been recovered.

"It wasn't so much what he took as what a mess he made," Fink said.

Caldwell said his daughter, Carol Noel, who is Scott Noel's widow, "is trying to keep this off of her mind," but the case is back in the news.

"I feel sorry for my daughter and the kids, to have to go through with all of this again, but that's part of life, I guess," Caldwell said. "She seems to get along pretty good. I know it's a tough deal."

Scott Noel was found shot to death at 4 p.m. March 25. Authorities believed that the murder occurred between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Fink said she left her home at 11 a.m. and was back by 12:45 p.m. that day. Her house wasn't locked.

"They just ... walked in. They had to operate pretty fast to make the timing come out," Fink said.

Noel's cell phone and $50 in cash were taken from his home two miles southeast of Portis, and he was shot with his own gun, according to a press release from the attorney general's office.

Caldwell and Fink figure more than one person was involved.

"Scott was a pretty good-sized guy. I don't think one guy coulda done it," Caldwell said.

Farmers are strong people, Fink said.

"It seems to me he had to be really powerful to take one man like that. That's why I think there was more than one," she said.

With a murderer on the loose, Caldwell said things haven't been the same around Portis.

"It's changed everybody's way of living. Everybody locks their house when they go outdoors. A lot of people slept with guns beside their beds," said Caldwell, 87.

"I just don't trust very many people driving in my yard any more," he said.

Besides fearing for his family's safety, Caldwell said he is mourning the loss of Noel.

"I told the pastor that I didn't lose a son-in-law, I lost one of my best friends," Caldwell said.

They farmed together and raised cattle until Caldwell retired.

"I saw him every day," Caldwell said.

He said the murder prompted a prayer service on the 25th of every month since March at Grace Brethren Church in Portis. A woman who answered the phone at the church Tuesday said the Rev. Dave Sarver declined comment.

"The church has been full. People come from Smith Center, Osborne and all over," Caldwell said. "It's been a concern for this whole area."

n Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by e-mail at tunruh@salina.com.

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