Authorities say there is 'no indication of foul play' in the death of '1923' actor Cole Brings Plenty, and Kansas police are pledging to 'increase trust with our Native American community members.'
ew.com
'No indication of foul play' in death of 1923 actor Cole Brings Plenty, authorities say
"This is a tragic case for everyone involved," adds Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart, who is also pledging to "work harder to increase trust with our Native American community members."
By
Shania Russell
Published on April 10, 2024 06:01PM EDT
Authorities investigating
the death of Cole Brings Plenty at 27 have announced that "there is no indication of foul play" after the
1923 actor went missing in Kansas last week,
was sought by police in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident, and was found dead in a wooded area near an unoccupied vehicle.
In
a press release Wednesday, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office said, "Detectives, crime scene investigators, and the Medical Examiner's Office have been working diligently with the Lawrence Police Department and the Brings Plenty family. There is no indication of foul play in the death of Cole Brings Plenty."
In
a separate statement, Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart said, "This is a tragic case for everyone involved. Your Police Department worked very hard to investigate the incidents and worked very hard to find Cole. None of us could have imagined this outcome. I learned through this series of events that our Police Department must work harder to increase trust with our Native American community members."
Cole Brings Plenty on '1923'.
EMERSON MILLER/PARAMOUNT+
He continued: "Through meeting with Cole's family members and members of our Native American community, I clearly see that we are not where we need to be in partnering with a community that is very important to Lawrence's history and to its current culture. This sad series of events has been shared around the world. It's my hope that future bridges we build and partnerships we form between our Native American community and our police department will create a relationship that will not only increase trust and understanding but will also be a model for other communities."
EW has reached out to a representative for the Brings Plenty family for comment.
Brings Plenty was known for playing sheep herder Pete Plenty Clouds on two episodes of the
Yellowstone spinoff
1923, and his other TV credits included
The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger and
Into the Wild Frontier.
Last week, the Lawrence Police Department
announced that it had "submitted an affidavit to the District Attorney for the arrest of Cole Brings Plenty after an incident Sunday morning at an apartment in Lawrence. We've identified him as the suspect, have probable cause for his arrest, and issued an alert to area agencies."
The department said that officers initially responded to reports of a woman screaming for help, but the suspect fled before they arrived at the scene. Because the matter involved an allegation of domestic violence, authorities did not provide further details so as to protect the alleged victim.
Cole Brings Plenty.
FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY
Brings Plenty's family members, including his uncle Moses Brings Plenty — a fellow actor who plays Mo on
Yellowstone — also reported Cole as a missing person and
used social media to put out a call for help finding him.
Last Friday, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office
said in a news release that Brings Plenty's body had been found, and his death was being investigated.
In a statement provided to EW at the time, Brings Plenty's father, Joe Brings Plenty Sr., said, "We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for the prayers and positive thoughts you sent for Cole. We would also like to thank everyone who came to walk beside us as we searched for my son and provided the resources we needed to expand our search areas. I learned this week how many people knew the goodness in Cole's heart and loved him."
He added, "During this incredibly difficult time, we ask for privacy as we process our grief and figure out how we move forward. Please know we appreciate you and appreciate your understanding."
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