(KNZA)--A St. Joseph area man accused of stealing a SUV belonging to a man whose body was recovered from the Missouri River made his first appearance in Doniphan County courtroom Thursday.

40-year-old Christopher Colhour appeared on a charge of felony theft.  A pre-trial hearing was set for June 27th.

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department recovered the body of 64-year-old St. Joseph resident Daniel Purvis from the Missouri River, south of St. Joseph, last Saturday after it was spotted by a resident.

Authorities had been searching the Wolf River and other nearby bodies of water for Purvis since May 22nd.

Colhour was arrested May 22nd for the theft of a 2009 Chevy Traverse belonging to Purvis.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has identified Colhour as a suspect in Purvis’ disappearance and says further charges are pending.

 Colhour remains in the Doniphan County Jail without bond.