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Jealous teen's 'plan to kill' adoptive parents with birth mom's blessing exposed by detective with close ties

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Jealous teen's 'plan to kill' adoptive parents with birth mom's blessing exposed by detective with close ties

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Detective Gregory Pollock didn’t want to tell his wife that their pals, Roger and Melissa Bluml, had been shot in the head outside their Kansas home.

“I was at home when I got the phone call and immediately recognized their address,” Pollock told Fox News Digital. “I was sitting there with my wife, and I didn’t want to tell her anything because I wanted to go out onto the scene first. But let me tell you, it was overwhelming. I knew this would be a tough case.”

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The 2013 execution-style murders were explored on Oxygen’s true-crime series, “A Plan to Kill.” It examines the true tales of disturbed killers who spend weeks, months or even years plotting the demise of their victims. 

MOTHER AND SON GRIFTERS WHO WERE ‘LIKE A COUPLE’ MURDERED WEALTHY SOCIALITE OVER NYC TOWNHOUSE: ‘EVIL ENERGY’

The true-crime series “A Plan to Kill,” examines the true tales of disturbed killers who spend weeks, months or even years plotting the demise of their victims. (Oxygen)

The show features new interviews with investigators who worked on the cases, as well as the loved ones of those slain.

“This is a case that did not go to trial, so there are still bits and pieces that the community doesn’t know about,” said Pollock. “There was work done by law enforcement that people had no idea had taken place. There were actions committed by the suspects that people weren’t aware of. I felt it was a good time to talk about what happened.”

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The Blumls were described as a “loving couple” who yearned to be parents. That dream came true when they adopted brothers Anthony “Tony” and Christopher “Chris” Bluml as young children.

When Melissa and Roger Bluml were shot, police began focusing on their adopted son, Anthony “Tony” Bluml. (Kansas Department of Corrections)

“Roger and Melissa were pillars of the community,” Pollock explained. “They had a lot of compassion for each other, and they were fun to be around.

“I have known Roger for several years. He loved to tell jokes and stories. He was the kind of guy whose laugh you could hear from across the room. And Melissa had a heart of gold. She would help out wherever help was needed. These were two great people who watched our families grow.”

As Tony and Chris grew older, they appeared to be thriving with the Blumls. In high school, they excelled at wrestling and football.

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Roger and Melissa Bluml were shot inside their car. (Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office)

“We were there when they first got adopted,” said Pollock. “I still remember to this day the conversation they had with Roger and Melissa. They were excited about the fact that there was food on the table and that they were going to eat all the time. As the boys got older, there was respect for Roger and Melissa. They played sports and understood the rules of the household. They seemed to be doing well.”

That all changed during Tony’s senior year when he got involved with “the wrong crowd of friends,” said Pollock. According to Oxygen, Tony was caught smoking marijuana and fought with his parents. 

The 18-year-old, who, according to court documents, was exhibiting “violent behavior,” was eventually kicked out of the house. The Ark Valley News reported he supported himself by working at fast-food restaurants, staying with friends and selling marijuana.

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According to reports, Tony Bluml reconnected with his biological mother, Kisha Schaberg, on Facebook. (Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office)

He then decided to reconnect with his birth mother, Kisha Schaberg, on Facebook. Court documents revealed that Tony and his friend, Braden Smith, traveled to California to stay with Schaberg. According to reports, the trio often spent their days “in a drug-induced haze.”

When the group ran out of money, they moved back to Wichita, Kansas, according to court documents. 

On the way, Schaberg reportedly said several times that the Blumls should be killed so that she, Tony and Chris could be reunited as a family. It is believed that Schaberg was upset that Chris wanted “nothing to do with her.” She blamed the Blumls for supposedly turning her son against her.

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Police learned that Tony Bluml was the last known person to see his adoptive parents alive. (Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office)

“I think Kisha is a skilled manipulator, a master manipulator,” said Pollock. “I think she was able to manipulate not only Tony but anyone else that became involved. A lot of very skilled manipulation techniques were used by her, and she was successful. She got all the young men to believe in whatever she sold them… She’s pure evil.”

Tony, who, according to the episode, desired his mother’s approval, often complained to Schaberg about the Blumls and how strict they were. He described resenting them for kicking him out of their home while his younger brother was seemingly doted on.

Court documents revealed that by the time they arrived in Kansas, they had already devised a plan to kill the Blumls. But Smith, who reportedly got cold feet, allegedly recruited his pal Andrew Ellington to take his place. 

Braden Smith was a known friend of Tony Bluml from school. (Kansas Department of Corrections)

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Smith claimed it was Tony who picked a date – Nov. 15, 2013. That evening, Chris would be away at a wrestling match. The plan was for Tony to go out to dinner with the Blumls and get them out of the house. When they returned, the Blumls would be killed, appearing like a burglary gone wrong. 

According to reports, Tony believed that upon their deaths, he would receive a substantial inheritance and could finally be with his biological mother for good.

“Throughout all of 2013, we talked to Melissa and Roger about all the problems they were having with Tony,” said Pollock. “They were looking for help and solutions. We even talked about different things that they could try. Right down to the last week… they believed he was too much of a threat because of the drugs he was bringing to the house.”

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According to Oxygen, when police questioned Braden Smith, he broke down. He claimed that the plan to murder Melissa and Roger Bluml started when they met up with Tony Bluml’s biological mother in California. (Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office)

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“Melissa stopped by to talk to us about Tony being in town,” Pollock continued. “She was still leery of what was going to happen after they met. But he wanted to meet them and go to dinner. He also needed a copy of his birth certificate. We talked to her that evening for about an hour, both me and my wife. Melissa said she’d let us know how the dinner turned out.”

On the evening of Nov. 15, Tony went out to eat with the Blumls. Meanwhile, Schaberg and Ellington entered the house. They opened up the dresser drawers and removed small items, hoping to make it look like a robbery.

Court documents revealed that Tony texted Ellington and told him that the Blumls had dropped him off at his hotel and were on their way back. When the Blumls arrived, Schaberg shot the couple from the passenger side of their vehicle. Schaberg gave Ellington Melissa’s purse and cellphone to dispose of them.

Braden Smith claimed he got cold feet and backed out. Instead, his friend Andrew Ellington (pictured here) was recruited to help with the murders. (Kansas Department of Corrections)

Chris, 16, returned home just after 9 p.m. and discovered the bodies. Melissa died the following day. She was 53. Roger passed away five weeks later at age 48.

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“Through our investigation, we believed that Kisha wanted to reunite her family,” said Pollock. “The only conclusion that she reached was killing Roger and Melissa so that the boys could be all hers again. That’s what she believed. That’s what she told us… That was her motivation.”

“There was a lot of planning the suspects did to try to disguise and hide from law enforcement,” said Pollock. “But in the end, all their planning failed, and we were able to see right through it. In fact, it helped us to uncover a lot… and bring the case to the point where nobody wanted to go to trial because they knew what the outcome was going to be if they went to trial.”

Gregory Pollock was friends with Roger and Melissa Bluml. (Oxygen)

According to Oxygen, police got a tip from a man who identified himself as a schoolmate of Tony’s.

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“He had received a text message a couple of days before the Blumls were shot, by a friend of his, another 18-year-old named Braden Smith, saying he needed a gun for a job,” said Amy Renee Leiker, a reporter for the Wichita Eagle.

Investigators identified Schaberg, Smith, Ellington and Tony as suspects. While Schaberg denied any involvement in the slayings, the boys admitted to their roles and provided information that led to evidence.

Roger and Melissa Bluml. (Oxygen)

In 2015, Schaberg and Tony pleaded no contest to aggravated robbery and capital murder charges to avoid the death penalty. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

Ellington was sentenced to life in prison but has eligibility for parole after 25 years, said Oxygen. Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 24.5 years in prison.

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“Roger and Melissa did everything they could to set the boys up for success,” said Pollock. “That was always the thing they wanted – to make sure that their lives were going to be better than anything that they currently had. They wanted the boys to be successful and contribute to society.”

“… if you were to look up the word ‘evil,’ I think you would find Kisha’s picture in that description,” he said. “… She’s where she belongs right now.”

“A Plan to Kill” airs Sundays at 7 p.m. on Oxygen.



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Illinois

Takeaways: Michigan basketball ends Illinois streak, wins Big Ten

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Takeaways: Michigan basketball ends Illinois streak, wins Big Ten


Michigan basketball entered Friday having lost nine straight games to Illinois. With the sole regular-season matchup coming in Champaign against the KenPom No. 4 Illini, it was going to be a tall task for the Wolverines to end that streak.

The game matched up the nation’s No. 2 defense against the No. 1 offense, and in front of a raucous Orange Krush, the maize and blue took a little while to get into an offensive rhythm. Because the No. 5 offense is no slouch, especially against the No. 31 defense. What’s more, Morez Johnson Jr. returned to Champaign after spending his first year with Illinois.

However, the Illini certainly showed how much Michigan appears to be their rival, and really played a physical brand of basketball. After Illinois got a five-point lead, the Wolverines bounced back and got a six-point lead. Illinois had a slight advantage in the first half on the boards, but the Wolverines had a field goal advantage. Both teams were relatively even on turnovers.

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Ultimately, Michigan ended up taking a seven-point lead into the locker room at halftime, but backup point guard LJ Cason appeared to have hurt his knee on the final score of the half.

The second half started with a Michigan layup and an Illinois 3. The next round of scoring went exactly the same way. But then Yaxel Lendeborg hit a 3 to stop the asymmetry. They traded baskets, but then after a few Illinois turnovers, the Wolverines pushed the lead to 10.

Cason returned to the game after the under-16 media timeout, providing (temporary) good news for the maize and blue (he would leave the game again shortly). But the Wolverines missed a few shots, and Illinois took advantage, getting a shot from the field by Mirkovic before Wagler hit a 3 to cut the lead to five, prompting a Michigan timeout with 13:09 remaining.

Illinois cut Michigan’s lead back down to six, but Yaxel Lendeborg stretched it back to nine with a layup-and-one. Then Aday Mara started taking over.

Mara was unguardable, scoring floaters, dunks, and putbacks. His quick 7 points put the Wolverines up to a game-high of 14 with 9:13 remaining. The Illini answered to end the nearly three-minute field goal drought, ending Michigan’s 7-0 scoring run. But the Wolverine defense held, and Trey McKenney finally hit his first (of three) 3-point attempts to push the lead to 15, and he hit again on the next trip, pushing the lead to 18 with 7:34 left in the game. It was a 13-2 scoring run for the maize and blue.

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After an Illinois timeout, they missed again, and Will Tschetter got in on the contagious, 3-pointer action, pushing the lead to 21. Cadeau finally broke the makes from deep, and Wagler hit to cut the lead back to 18 with 5:41 remaining.

Illinois couldn’t mount a comeback, and Michigan won, 84-70. Here are our five takeaways.

Homecoming for Morez Johnson Jr.

An Illinois native who spent his first year with the Illini, the Orange Krush did as much as it could to make it uncomfortable for the outgoing transfer. However, it wasn’t the case, as Johnson was often the best player on the floor.

He was the only Michigan basketball player in double digits at halftime, with 13 points, five rebounds, and a steal, and he was something of an energizer bunny out on the floor for the Wolverines. There were no qualms for Johnson returning to his old stomping ground, as he played one of his best games in a maize and blue uniform.

Johnson was quiet in the second half, but the damage was done, and it makes his former teammate’s pregame comments more prescient:

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What could have been.

Johnson finished with a double-double, scoring 19 points and netting 11 rebounds.

Michigan’s offense outplays Illinois’ offense

As noted, the Illini entered the game with the No. 1 overall offense, while the Wolverines were No. 5. Yet, when the rubber hit the road, it was the maize and blue who had the superior offensive attack, managing to shoot 52.5% overall and 60% in the second half. Illinois managed 41.3% and 43.3% respectively.

The Michigan defense forced Illinois to go through a series of uncomfortable stretches in the second half, with multiple three-minute droughts from the floor. And Illinois, which is accustomed to getting to the foul line, couldn’t seem to draw many fouls until relatively late in the game. Even when the Illini forced three Wolverine turnovers late, they couldn’t seem to take advantage.

Ultimately, Michigan was dominant on both ends of the floor.

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Bench, fastbreak, and points in the paint

The Wolverines dominated all three categories, finishing the game with 20 bench points, 10 fastbreak points, and 42 points in the paint. We already discussed Johnson and his homecoming, but we cannot leave out Aday Mara, who was just such a mismatch for Michigan vs. the Illini. As noted, Mara really flexed late in the game, taking it over. He was the catalyst for most of these stats.

Meanwhile, Illinois only had 7 bench points, 1 fastbreak point, and was just behind Michigan with 32 points in the paint.

The streak was emphatically broken

As we said in the open, the Illini had beaten the Wolverines nine straight times. Even the Fab Five couldn’t beat Illinois in Champaign, as the maize and blue have historically struggled at State Farm Arena. Though it took some time for the Wolverines to flex, flex they did, and this was as emphatic of a win as Michigan had all season.

The final score may have been just a 14-point gulf, but honestly, the game wasn’t really that close (and it hadn’t been for most of the final 10 minutes). This was a huge win for the Wolverines, one that’s been years in the making. If not decades.

With the win over Illinois, Michigan has won the outright Big Ten regular-season title.

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No. 1 overall seed back in the realm of possibility

It may come down to the Big Ten Tournament now that Michigan has lost the head-to-head with Duke. And the Blue Devils’ 54-point win over Notre Dame pushed them into the No. 1 NET ranking, stealing it away from the maize and blue. But with a win over the No. 4 NET-ranked Illini, the Wolverines have the second-best win in college basketball (behind Duke, of course). They also have wins over No. 5 Gonzaga, No. 7 Purdue, No. 11 MSU, No. 12 Nebraska, and will face No. 26 Iowa on the road next week.

There’s a strong case for the maize and blue to have the No. 1 overall seed given the levels of domination over most all of the aforementioned teams.



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Indiana

Highlights: Beech Grove at Whiteland; February 27, 2026

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Highlights: Beech Grove at Whiteland; February 27, 2026


WHITELAND, Ind. (WISH) — “The Zone” featured highlights from eight high school boys basketball games from across central Indiana on Friday.

Watch highlights of Beech Grove at Whiteland above.

Final Score: Whiteland 89 Beech Grove 61

“The Zone” airs each Friday at 11:08 p.m. Click here to watch ‘The Zone’ for basketball highlights on February 27, 2026.

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Iowa

Iowa Boys High School Basketball Substate Finals Locked In For 4A

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Iowa Boys High School Basketball Substate Finals Locked In For 4A


The fourth and final bunch of Iowa high school boys basketball substate championship games are now set after the second round of Class 4A games were completed on Friday, February 27.

Substate championships in Iowa’s largest classification will take place on Tuesday, March 3, with the higher seed serving as host in all eight games. Winners advance to Des Moines, Iowa and the Casey’s Center to compete in the Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys State Tournament beginning March 9.

Three-time defending 4A state champion Valley was eliminated by Ankeny, 72-36. The Tigers, who lost all five starters from a year ago, won just one game prior to earning a victory in the opening round of postseason play.

Cedar Falls, who has held the No. 1 spot in 4A throughout the season, scored a dominating 78-45 decision vs. Iowa City High to move on.

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Colin Rice, a Nebraska commit for Fred Hoiberg, scored a single-game school-record 50 points as Waukee Northwest topped Iowa City Liberty, 101-58.

Council Bluffs Lincoln, Ames, North Scott, Dowling Catholic, Dubuque Senior, Johnston, Linn-Mar, Muscatine, Norwalk, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Des Moines Roosevelt, Urbandale and Waukee all joined them in the next round after winning games at home.

The 1A and 2A substate finals will take place on Saturday, February 28 while the 3A games go down on Monday, March 2.

Here are the Iowa boys high school basketball Class 4A substate finals for Wednesday, March 3.

Wednesday, March 3

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Class 4A



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