Man arrested for killing girlfriend at Kansas campground, sheriff's office says

SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. -- Authorities have arrested a 66-year-old man in connection with the death of his girlfriend at a Kansas campground on Friday, KAKE reported.

Sedgwick County Jail records show Robert Courchaine was booked Saturday for first-degree murder and aggravated battery. He was held on $1 million bond Monday morning.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office said Courchaine called 911 at around 10:45 p.m Friday. Courchaine said his girlfriend, 55-year-old Dorothy Finley, was deceased inside their residence, a camper at the Lake Afton campgrounds.

Sedgwick County Fire was the first to respond and confirmed that Finley was deceased at 10:54 p.m., according to a release. Life-saving measures were not attempted.

Deputies arrived on the scene at 11:07 p.m. and found Finley with multiple injuries to her head, "consistent with blunt force trauma." Courchaine was taken into custody at the scene.

A man camping at North Island told KAKE that park rangers have had previous issues with the couple and considered kicking them out. Another camper who frequents South Island said the couple was parked at the campgrounds for two or three months, arguing all the time, but he never expected it to escalate to murder.

A friend said she met Dorothy "Dede" Finley while living at the homeless shelter last year.

"We met here at the shelter almost a year ago. She was very kind, loving and she took me under her wing and made me as comfortable as one can be," the friend told KAKE's Sydney Ferguson. "Her dream was to get back to California and become a chef. We bonded like sisters. She didn't deserve what happened to her. Love you Dede fly high. I will never forget you."

Victims of domestic violence can reach out for help through the Wichita Family Crisis Center, which offers a 24/7 hotline at 316-276-SAFE.

You can contact the national domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or click here for more information.

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