Family believes Independence man's death was murder

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Independence Police still aren't sure, but the family of a man found dead on a neighbor's lawn doesn't believe his death was an accident -- and neither does the man who found him.

"This was murder," said Michael Foster. "I think somebody clipped him and robbed him."

Foster says he found the body of 48-year-old Ron Mills when he was walking his dog around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday at 15th and Hardy in Independence, Mo. 

"It looked like somebody beat the hell out of him," Foster said describing injuries and bruises visible on Mills' eye and abdomen.

His cousin Jerry Mills is convinced somebody hurt Ron because of Ron's medical conditions. "There is no way he could have walked that far," he said, describing the blocks between Ron's home and the neighbor's yard where he was found.

Jerry also said a neighbor called police around 3:30 that morning to report somebody wandering the street, waving their arms.

"He was asking for help," Jerry said, also convinced of foul play by one of Ron's shoes found in a separate drive way at least fifty feet from his body. "It is like he was running from someone."

Independence Police are still investigating Ron's death.