Michigan men charged nearly two years after body found in Van Buren County field

VAN BUREN COUNTY, Michigan — Nearly two years after a body was discovered in a Van Buren County field, two West Michigan men have been charged.

Bryan Wimbley, 29, of Hartford, and Zachary Trainor, 22, of Watervliet, were charged with first-degree murder in the death of Lashaun Keith, 33, of Kalamazoo, Michigan State Police said Tuesday.

Trainor was also charged with removing a body without the consent of a coroner, officials said.

All charges against Wimbley and Trainor stem from an investigation that began on November 3, 2022.

According to Van Buren County officials, a pair of hunters searching an area near the Kal Haven Trail found Keith’s body lying alone in the middle of a mowed field.

At the time, investigators believed that one or more people had brought Keith’s body to the field in Geneva Township after killing him elsewhere.

Investigators later determined that Keith had been killed in Kalamazoo County before his body was transferred, state police said.

The Kalamazoo County District Attorney’s Office then reviewed a thorough investigation, final report and forensic evidence.

This led to the arrests of Wimbley and Trainor on June 18 and Saturday, respectively, Michigan State Police Lt. DuWayne Robinson confirmed to News Channel 3.

According to Kalamazoo County court records, Wimbley is due back in court on Wednesday for a probable cause hearing, followed by a preliminary examination on July 3.

Trainor is scheduled to appear for a probable cause hearing on July 5, followed by his preliminary hearing on July 11, records show.

Bail was denied for both of them.