Cherokee County murder suspect captured in California, his mother is still at large

(From the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office)

On April 30, 2017, the deceased body of a man was discovered alongside a rural Cherokee County road.

Sheriff’s Investigators identified the victim as 64-year-old James McFarland, a homeless man from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“As the case evolved, detectives quickly identified Ty Bohlander and his mother Diane Bohlander, as suspects, leading to First Degree Murder charges being filed against both of them and arrest warrants being issued,” according to Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves.

During the search for the Bohlander’s, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Investigators obtained information leading them to believe they traveled to Aurora Colorado, Cheyenne Wyoming, and eventually to Southern California after killing McFarland.

“Our detectives have been working closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshal’s Office, among other law enforcement partners, in an effort to locate and apprehend the suspects,” continued Sheriff Groves.

“Those efforts paid off when Ty Bohlander, was located and placed under arrest last week by the Santa Monica Police Department in California. He is currently being held in a Los Angeles Correctional Facility, where he is awaiting extradition back to Cherokee County.”

“At this time, we are coordinating with California authorities to extradite the suspect back to Kansas to answer for the allegations made against him. As for his mother, Diane, we believe her to still to be in the Santa Monica area and law enforcement there continue to search for her,” concluded Sheriff Groves.