Connect with us

Kansas

Woman’s trial for 2 Kansas deaths ends with hung jury

Published

on

Woman’s trial for 2 Kansas deaths ends with hung jury


TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas jury introduced Thursday that it couldn’t attain a verdict within the trial of a lady accused of killing her ex-husband and his girlfriend 20 years in the past.

Jurors deliberated for about 35 hours over six days in Dana Chandler’s trial. Chandler, now 62, was charged with two counts of first-degree homicide within the taking pictures deaths of 47-year-old Mike Sisco and 53-year-old Karen Harkness in July 2002, in Topeka.

The jury foreman advised Shawnee County District Courtroom Decide Cheryl Rios that jurors weren’t in a position to attain a unanimous verdict within the case, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.

Advertisement

Thursday’s proceedings lasted just a few moments. A standing listening to to find out the subsequent step within the long-running case was set for Sept. 29.

Chandler’s daughter Hailey Sisco, who testified that she believes her mom killed her father, cried whereas being hugged by prosecutor Charles Kitt.

Advertisement

Protection lawyer Tom Tub hugged Chandler, who will stay in custody till the standing listening to.

Juror Ben Alford advised the Capital-Journal that the ultimate vote was 7-5 to convict Chandler. He mentioned votes taken all through the prolonged deliberations have been at all times shut.

Prosecutors alleged Chandler killed the couple as a result of she was jealous of their relationship after her acrimonious divorce from Sisco. Chandler at all times maintained her innocence, saying she was in Colorado when the victims have been killed.

Advertisement

Throughout closing arguments Aug. 25, prosecutor Kitt acknowledged there was little bodily proof linking Chandler to the crime. However he mentioned obsessive conduct towards Sisco mixed with circumstantial proof ought to persuade jurors that she killed the couple.

“This isn’t a case that science can resolve,” he mentioned. “This case is about jealousy of Mike Sisco. Jealousy that Mike Sisco was in a position to transfer on together with his life. Jealousy concerning the new relationship that Mike Sisco had discovered.”

Investigators mentioned Chandler spied on Sisco and Harkness, entered Sisco’s house with out permission and tried to reconcile with him simply weeks earlier than the murders. Cellphone information reveals Chandler referred to as Sisco and Harkness almost 700 instances within the seven months earlier than their deaths.

Tub argued that regulation enforcement missed the chance to analyze different suspects as a result of they targeted solely on her. He underlined the restricted bodily proof discovered on the scene and questioned the best way it was dealt with by investigators and forensic scientists.

Advertisement

“What number of situations did we see the place proof was not adopted up on, not collected or not examined?” Tub requested the jury.

He continued: “We see time and time once more, the police ignored proof. They didn’t comply with proof — they adopted their bias.”

Prosecutors surprised court docket observers final week earlier than closing arguments once they referred to as a lady, Terri Anderson, who mentioned she noticed Chandler leaving Harkness’ house on the evening the couple was killed — the primary time within the two-decade-old case that anybody had positioned Chandler on the scene.

Anderson, who lived throughout the road, testified that she referred to as 911 after listening to gunshots that evening, and that she talked to investigators the subsequent day. Nevertheless, she mentioned she had not talked to police or investigators within the final 20 years, and protection attorneys famous that no police information exist to substantiate that she referred to as police or that she talked to investigators.

Advertisement

On Thursday, protection attorneys referred to as witnesses who undermined Anderson’s story. Topeka Police Det. Lance Inexperienced mentioned Anderson’s testimony that Chandler was on the scene shortly earlier than midnight on July 6, 2002, conflicts with different testimony that Sisco and Harkness have been at a on line casino till not less than 1:30 a.m. July 7.

Chandler was initially charged with the killings after a decade of investigation, and in 2012 was discovered responsible of two counts of homicide. She was sentenced to 2 consecutive life sentences with no probability of parole for 50 years.

The Kansas Supreme Courtroom overturned Chandler’s conviction i n 2018, citing misconduct by prosecutor Jacqie Spradling, who was later disbarred.

The second trial was delayed as Chandler and her attorneys filed quite a few motions looking for to exclude proof, a change of venue and dismissal of the case. The trial started Aug. 5.

Advertisement

In line with court docket information, investigators mentioned nothing was taken from the victims’ house. The gun was by no means recovered and no fingerprints have been discovered on empty shell casings on the scene. Hairs later taken from Chandler didn’t match hair and fiber samples on the scene, and no proof of the crime was present in her automobile.

Nevertheless, some members of the family suspected Chandler, who they mentioned was upset and indignant after Sisco initiated their divorce in 1997 and was given full custody of their kids.

Chandler was residing in Denver, Colorado, when the couple died. She advised investigators she was driving and mountain climbing in Colorado when the murders occurred, however tales about her particular routes have been inconsistent, with gaps in her bank card receipts and cellphone use, in line with court docket information.

Prosecutors alleged Chandler drove from Denver to Topeka, killed the couple and returned house.

The investigation went chilly till 2009. After CBS’ “48 Hours” aired an episode concerning the unsolved killings, then-Shawnee County District Lawyer Chad Taylor appointed a workforce to analyze chilly instances, together with Chandler’s.

Advertisement

Chandler, who had moved to Duncan, Oklahoma, to dwell along with her sister, was arrested in 2011 and charged with two counts of premeditated first-degree homicide.



Source link

Kansas

Obituary for Kenneth Lee Nightengale at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma

Published

on

Obituary for Kenneth Lee Nightengale at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma


Kenneth Lee Nightengale came into this world on March 4, 1937, to the home of Vernon and Leah Nichols Nightengale in Kiowa County, Greensburg, Kansas. He peacefully slipped away at Bethel Home in Montezuma on May 12, 2025, with a clear testimony just reaching the age of eighty- eight years.



Source link

Continue Reading

Kansas

Kansas State men’s golf clinging to final NCAA regional qualifying spot for nationals

Published

on

Kansas State men’s golf clinging to final NCAA regional qualifying spot for nationals


play

The Kansas State men’s golf team remains on track to qualify for its first NCAA Championship, but with zero margin for error.

With a score of 4-over-par 292 Tuesday the Wildcats held onto fifth place in the NCAA Bremerton Regional at Gold Mountain Golf Course in Bremerton, Washington. The tournament concludes Wednesday with the top five teams advancing to nationals May 23-28 in Carlsbad, California.

Advertisement

The 10th-seeded Wildcats, who were tied for fourth after one round, have just a one-shot cushion over sixth-place Charlotte with South Florida and Utah lurking two back at 8-under. Kansas is in 10th place at 16-over, 10 shots below the qualifying line.

K-State senior Cooper Schultz, the co-leader with Florida’s Luke Poulter at 4-under Monday, dropped into a three-way tie for sixth with an even-par 72 in the second round. Florida’s Matthew Kress tops the leaderboard heading into Wednesday’s final round at 10-under, one shot ahead of Poulter.

Advertisement

No. 2 seed Florida is comfortably in the team lead at 25-under, followed by top seed Arizona State in second at minus-16, South Carolina at 2-under and Colorado at 1-under.

Senior Kobe Valociek turned in K-State’s best round of the day at 1-under 71, moving up 11 spots into 21st place. Ian McCrary, who shot even par on Monday, dropped to 35th overall with a second-round 76, while Nicklaus Mason is tied for 48th at 7-under after a 3-over 75 on Tuesday.

K-State will go head-to-head in a group with Colorado and Charlotte in the final round on Wednesday behind leaders Florida, Arizona State and South Carolina, which tees off first at 8 a.m. Pacific (10 a.m. central).

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @arnegreen.                          

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Kansas

3 Ways the Kansas City Chiefs Have Improved this Offseason

Published

on

3 Ways the Kansas City Chiefs Have Improved this Offseason


The Kansas City Chiefs have been the kings of the mountain in the NFL for the last several years. However, they were dethroned in an embarrassing fashion by the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, leading to questions about how much longer they will remain as annual big-game contenders with the rest of the league getting better around them.

Kansas City did what it usually does when it starts seeing critiques: it answered the call and made some impressive improvements to its roster during the offseason, especially through the draft, where it handled three of its biggest needs.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the three ways the Chiefs improved their roster this offseason.

One of the biggest priorities for the Chiefs this offseason was finding their franchise’s left tackle. It had been a couple of years since Orlando Brown left the team and it has been a makeshift role since. With the lack of high-end talents available in free agency, general manager Brett Veach needed to hone in on the offensive tackle class with one player in mind, Ohio State’s Josh Simmons.

Advertisement

When healthy, Simmons was arguably the best tackle in the draft and could’ve been the No. 4 overall selection had it not been for the torn patellar tendon. Instead, he fell to the last pick of the first round, to the excitement of the Chiefs. Simmons has a chance to come in a be the missing piece on the blindside they have been needing for two years and establish himself as the long-term cornerstone at left tackle.

Simmons was the big piece of this. While it is somewhat concerning they did not drafting a guard to compete for the starting left guard spot, it seems as though the Chiefs have the utmost confidence in second-year player Kingsley Suamataia. Furthermore, Trey Smith is back on the franchise tag as the two parties look to secure an extension for one of the leagues best guards.

Long story short, the Chiefs’ offensive line is better than last year and it should certainly hold its own against some of the league’s best defensive fronts. Protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes and giving him chances to make plays is a priority that, so far, should be deemed a success.

With the addition of Simmons, the Chiefs had an overall strong draft class. They were able to address their needs in the trenches at left tackle, interior defensive line, and edge rusher. Omarr Norman-Lott and Ashton Gillotte should find roles on the team fairly quickly this season and are slated as long-term pieces.

Depth-wise, talent was added at linebacker, cornerback, running back, and wide receiver. Wide receiver Jalen Royals and running back Brashard Smith could find themselves in bigger roles by the end of the season. Linebacker Jeffrey Bassa should see the field on passing downs, while cornerback Nohl Williams is a future starter at cornerback opposite of Trent McDuffie if he can improve his consistency.

Advertisement

Be sure to follow us on X (Twitter) @KCChiefsOnSI and @Domminchella to never miss another breaking news story again.

Click here to let us know your thoughts when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending