Rick Urdiales, Kansas City area science fiction fan, passed away Sunday, October 14, 2007.

A resident of Kansas City, Missouri, he taught English and writing at Blue River Metropolitan Community College. Writing as Richard Urdiales, his short story "The Gas Man" was a third quarter finalist in the Writers of the Future contest in 1988.

Rick was found lying on the ground in Kansas City, Kansas, with a laceration on his head, and not breathing. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The District Attorney's Office charged 21 year old Daniel C. Hoyle with first degree murder in connection with the death and he is being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on $500,000 bond.

A memorial service was held at the Blue River Community College campus on October 19, and a second memorial memorial service was held at the Duane E. Harvey Funeral Home in Kansas City, MIssouri on the following Tuesday.

Donation to benefit the family are being accepted by the Blue River CC Office of Campus Life and Leadership.

Updated October 26, 2007