BY JUDD WEIL and NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Reno County jury on Thursday found 37-year-old Kyle Hardwick guilty in the August 2021 deaths of 56-year-old Marion “Ed” Bates and 58-year-old Phillip Anstine both of Hutchinson.
Hardwick was convicted of two counts of intentional and premeditated murder in the first degree and one count of theft of property or services, valued at $1,500 to $25,000, along with one count of theft of property or services of a firearm with a value less than $25,000 and a count of solicitation of perjury; testify to material fact in felony proceeding.
On Sept. 1 of 2021, police arrested Hardwick in Maize after he was listed as a person of interest when authorities discovered the bodies of Bates and Anstine on a property in eastern Reno County.
The state called upon over 45 witnesses to testify in the case, as well as presented over 110 pieces of evidence.
Sentencing is set in the case for April 7. Hardwick remains in jail without bond.