Authorities confirm identity of Mitchell woman found dead near Chamberlain

Authorities have confirmed that a Mitchell woman was found dead as part of an ongoing homicide investigation.

The deceased woman is Crystal Ann Schulz, 26. She was found dead Thursday in a shed on a farmstead in rural Chamberlain, according to a joint news release issued Friday morning by South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and Brule County State's Attorney David Natvig.

The news release says Kent Gene Davidson, 36, of Mitchell, is "in custody on a parole violation, absconding/escape from October 2012."

"The investigation into the Brule County homicide is ongoing and additional charges are anticipated," the news release adds.

A search for Davidson began in rural Brule County and ended in Sioux Falls, the statement says, and many agencies assisted in additional locations. The statement says "Davidson is presumed innocent until such time as proven guilty."

Authorities released nothing further Friday morning, but Facebook pages contain information about Schulz and Davidson and say the two were engaged.

Facebook user Marsha Schulz, of Chester, posted a message Wednesday in which she said her niece, Crystal Schulz, had been missing since Monday when she was last seen in Chamberlain. Marsha Schulz asked people to call Mitchell police, 911 or Crystal Schulz's mother with information about Crystal Schulz's whereabouts.

Marsha Schulz also posted a link to Crystal Schulz's Facebook page. That page identifies Crystal Schulz as a 26-year-old Mitchell High School graduate and Mitchell resident. It also lists Crystal Schulz as being engaged to Davidson.

A Dec. 2 post on Crystal Schulz's page says this: "he asked and i said YES..... i love you kent Davidson."

Just after 5 p.m. Thursday, the state Attorney General's Office issued a news release calling for the public's help in locating Davidson for questioning in a Brule County homicide investigation. No further details of the homicide were provided.

During the search for Davidson, a new post appeared on Marsha Schulz's Facebook page that said, in part, "Crystal's body has been found."

Later Thursday night, according to various Sioux Falls media reports, Sioux Falls police engaged in a two-hour standoff with Davidson before he surrendered and was arrested.

Davidson's Facebook page lists him as engaged to Crystal Schulz and lists connections to Dickinson High School and Beach High School, both in North Dakota, and says he has worked in Bismarck and studied at Bismark State College.

Agencies that assisted in Davidson's arrest were the Brule County Sheriff’s Office, Chamberlain Police Department, Huron Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office, Mitchell Police Department, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, Winner Police

Department and the Division of Criminal Investigation.

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