Ex-Wife Charged In 2002 Sisco, Harkness Killings

[blueclown]

Source: WIBW

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Family members of Karen Harkness and Michael Sisco called Monday "a good day."

It's the day they learned authorities had made an arrest in the couple's July 7, 2002 murder.

Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor issued a news release Monday to announce the arrest of 51-year old Dana Chandler on two counts of first degree murder. Chandler is Sisco's ex-wife. Chandler was taken into custody in Duncan, Oklahoma by a task force of Topeka Police officers and agents with the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation and Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Taylor was in Duncan to witness the arrest. He said Chandler appeared sullen and unresponsive during the encounter.

Harkness and Sisco were shot multiple time while they slept in their southwest Topeka home. In October 2009, the CBS show "48 Hours Mystery" profiled the case. During the episode, Chandler and Sisco's daughter, Hailey Sisco, said she believed her mother was responsible for the killings.

Taylor declined to say what new information finally lead them to arrest and charge Chandler. He said further details would be revealed during a preliminary hearing


Read more: http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/Oklahoma_Woman_Arrested_In_Connection_With_2002_Topeka_Double_Homicide_126119138.html

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I was actually just watching this episode of 48 Hours on Investigation Discovery, and I googled Dana Chandler's name, and what do you know, today she was arrested on first-degree murder charges. The case against her will be very circumstantial, but I'll be interested in seeing what this new evidence is that let to her arrest and charges. This will be a very interesting case to watch.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Just a horrible story

I've followed it from the beginning. I think there are about 5 murders in Topeka every year. This was a HUGE case. Can't believe it took so long to charge the ex wife.

[MuseRider]

2. Finally.

I know some of the family and this has to be a relief to them. Karen's first husband was a friend of mine for many years. I have not seen him in quite some time.

In 2002, the year they were murdered, there were 8 homicides. The year before there were 22. It goes up and down but the crime rate in Topeka is pretty high. In 2003 the murder statistics show that the murder rate in Topeka was 1.71 times the national average.

[Kelvin Mace]

3. Just to clarify a point

The case against her will be very circumstantial,

This is always said as if such evidence is inferior to eye-witness testimony.

"Circumstantial evidence" is any testimony, exhibit, or evidence that infers guilt on the part of the defendant, this includes things like all forensic evidence (DNA, blood splatter, hair, semen, fingerprints, etc), and testimony about the actions, attitude, behavior, and/or statements of the accused. Bank records, insurance policies, diaries, emails, web browser caches, phone records, and much more can also be introduced as "circumstantial evidence" which helps establish, means, motive and opportunity.

The record of my handgun purchase, the ballistics test matching my handgun to the bullet in the victim, the browser cache showing that someone on a computer in my house visited a site about "assassination methods" with a firearm, the email sent from my email account expressing my hatred of the victim, the presence of blood, and other tissue matched via DNA testing on my clothes, the tests which show my gun has been recently fired and that residue on mt hands indicates that I have discharged a firearm; all of this is circumstantial evidence. Yet, if you were sitting on a jury, you would have an easy time reaching a verdict, even in the absence of "direct evidence".

Direct evidence, usually eye-witness testimony of the crime, is considered more "valid", yet it is usually the least reliable, especially in cases where the accused is a stranger to the witness.

In many cases, circumstantial evidence is far more compelling that direct evidence.

[udbcrzy2]

4. Hopefully they will get a conviction and a lengthy sentence n/t