By Rose Gruenbacher

WESTMORELAND — Dana Chandler received two life sentences on Tuesday with no parole eligibility for 25 years, in yet another drawn-out court proceeding.

Shawnee County judge Cheryl Rios ordered Chandler’s terms be served consecutively, meaning parole eligibility actually won’t come until Chandler serves 50 years. Her prior incarceration of about 10 years, resulting from her initial conviction of the crimes, will be credited to the new sentence.

Chandler was convicted by a jury March 7 for the murders of ex-husband Michael Sisco and his fiancée Karen Harkness. Chandler shot and killed the couple in Harkness’ home in July 2002.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more Pottawatomie County news.

The post Chandler to serve two lifetime terms after Westmoreland sentencing appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Rose Gruenbacher

A man charged with first-degree murder is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment, after a preliminary examination concluded Friday in Riley County District Court.

Hunter Logan Smith, 24, will be arraigned for counts of murder and criminal threat. Smith was arrested on November 11, after Riley County Police officers responded to a reported stabbing on November 5 at 3001 Arbor Dr. Following the incident, Parker Tumlinson, 24, of Mountain Home, AR was taken to Ascension Via Christi and then flown to Stormont Vail in Topeka, where he died from his injuries. Smith also stabbed himself, and was treated for his injuries at Ascension Via Christi.

As stated in an affidavit by Riley County Police Department Detective Daniel Todd acquired by the Mercury, witness Jessica Hubbs, 35, said Smith and Tumlinson were in a “three-way romantic relationship” with Dakota Foster, 26, who lived with Hubbs and Smith at the Arbor Drive address. Hubbs said Tumlinson was visiting from Arkansas at the time of the incident.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more local news.

The post Manhattan man set for arraignment in murder case appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Rose Gruenbacher

WESTMORELAND — Former coworkers of a woman charged with murdering her ex-husband and his fiancee said she was difficult to work with, according to court testimony Wednesday.

Former Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent Raymond Lundeen on Wednesday said he visited the place Dana Chandler used to work after he was brought on to investigate the 2002 killings of Michael Sisco and Karen Harkness.

Chandler is charged with killing Sisco and Harkness in Topeka, but she’s in court in Pottawatomie County with local jurors after a Shawnee County District Court judge granted a change of venue for her third trial. Chandler, who is representing herself after firing her defense attorneys before opening statements, was convicted in 2012, but an appeals court overturned it in 2018, and her second trial ended in a hung jury in 2022.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more local news.

The post Chandler continues examination of former KBI agents appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Rose Gruenbacher

WESTMORELAND — Former coworkers of a woman charged with murdering her ex-husband and his fiancee said she was difficult to work with, according to court testimony Wednesday.

Former Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent Raymond Lundeen on Wednesday said he visited the place Dana Chandler used to work after he was brought on to investigate the 2002 killings of Michael Sisco and Karen Harkness.

Chandler is charged with killing Sisco and Harkness in Topeka, but she’s in court in Pottawatomie County with local jurors after a Shawnee County District Court judge granted a change of venue for her third trial. Chandler, who is representing herself after firing her defense attorneys before opening statements, was convicted in 2012, but an appeals court overturned it in 2018, and her second trial ended in a hung jury in 2022.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more local news.

The post Chandler continues examination of former KBI agents appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Rose Gruenbacher

WESTMORELAND — The adult children of a woman accused of killing her ex-husband and his fiancee in 2002 testified Thursday to their interactions with their mother before and after the murders.

Dana Chandler is charged with murdering Michael Sisco and Karen Harkness in July 2002 in Topeka, but she’s in court in Pottawatomie County with local jurors after a Shawnee County District Court judge granted a change of venue for her third trial. Chandler, who is representing herself after firing her defense attorneys before opening statements, was convicted in 2012, but the Kansas Supreme Court overturned it in 2018, and her second trial ended in a hung jury in 2022.

Michael Sisco’s sister, Cathy Boots, and brother-in-law, Mark Boots, also testified Thursday along with Dustin Sisco and Hailey Seel, the children Chandler and Michael Sisco had together.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more local news.

The post Chandler’s children testify in high-profile double murder trial appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Rose Gruenbacher

WESTMORELAND — Testimony from material witnesses continued Tuesday in Pottawatomie County for a trial of a woman accused of murdering her ex-husband and his fiancée in Topeka in 2002.

Dana Chandler was originally convicted in 2012 of the murder of Michael Sisco and Karen Harkness, but her convictions were overturned in 2018, and her second trial ended in a hung jury in 2022.

She is now representing herself and being tried for a third time.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more local news.

The post Trial continues for 2002 double murder appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

A murder trial garnering national attention continued Friday in Westmoreland after pausing Tuesday when the defendant’s sisters were involved in a fatal car crash.

Dana Chandler is charged with murdering her ex-husband and his fiancée in 2002 in Topeka. This will be the third time Chandler has been tried for the alleged crimes. She was convicted in 2012, her convictions were overturned in 2018, and her second trial ended in a hung jury in 2022.

A Shawnee County District Court judge granted a change of venue for the third trial, which is in Pottawatomie County with local jurors.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more Pott County news.

The post Opening statements begin in high-profile double-murder trial moved to Pott County appeared first on News Radio KMAN.