Dana Chandler publicly speaks for the first time ahead of third murder trial

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Dana Chandler briefly spoke with 27 News outside the Shawnee County Courthouse after a July 10 pre-trial court appearance.

Chandler is facing a third trial for the 2002 murder of her former husband, Michael Sisco, and his fiancée, Karen Harkness in their Topeka home.

"I think that I'd be wise I think," Chandler said, "you know, not to make any comments at this time."

Why has the case not been resolved?

First arrested in 2011, Chandler was initially convicted of both murders in 2012 and sentenced to life in prison.

That conviction was overturned in 2018 after it was discovered the prosecuting attorney, Jacquie Spradling, lied to the jury during the trial. Spradling was the Shawnee County Chief Deputy District Attorney at the time of the trial. She was disbarred in May of 2022.

Chandler's 2022 retrial resulted in a hung jury. She was released on bond that October for the first time since the 2011 arrest.

What's next?

Judge Cheryl Rios is presiding and set a status update hearing for Nov. 14 at 2:30 p.m.

Chandler's defense team says they are consulting a state medical examiner to potentially serve as an expert witness. Rios says the examiner will be given the opportunity to testify Jan. 9, 2025 if the defense chooses.

Rios granted a request by the defense for a change-of-venue, changing the trial location to Pottawattamie county. It is set to begin Feb. 2025.

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