Judge Rejects Video of DNA Testing in KS Murders
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge has rejected a request to video record DNA testing of biological evidence in a capital murder case, but said he might allow a defense expert to monitor the tests.
District Judge Jeff Goering said Friday he would make a final ruling in two weeks. He gave prosecutors until then to gather evidence to show why a defense expert should not be allowed into the lab.
The testing is related to the November shooting deaths of Melissa and Roger Bluml of Valley Center. Prosecutors say swabs from some items would be tested for DNA, but the swabs would be consumed in the process.
The Blumls' adopted son, his biological mother and two of his former high school classmates are charged in the case.
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Woman Walks Into KS Hospital with Knife in Head
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 43-year-old woman had to have a knife removed from the back of her head at a Wichita hospital after a late-night altercation.
The woman and a 49-year-old man told police that someone pointed a handgun at them late Friday at an unknown location.
They said the man pulled out a pocket knife to defend himself, but the suspect grabbed it and threw it at the woman.
Wichita Police Sergeant Ron Hunt said the knife became imbedded in the back of the woman's head. She walked into Via Christi Hospital with the knife still stuck in her head, and doctors were able to remove it.
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Man Found Dead in Street in Topeka Subdivision
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Shawnee County Sheriff's Office says it is working with the county coroner to determine the identity and cause of death of a man whose body was found lying on the street southeast of Topeka.
Emergency responders were called at 4:37 a.m. Saturday to a subdivision on a report there was a man in the street.
He was declared dead at the scene.
The sheriff's office didn't immediately release any information about the man, including how old he might be.
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Burglaries Increase at South-Central KS Elevators
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in south-central Kansas say they are seeing more burglaries at rural elevators, where thieves are mostly stealing tools and other equipment.
Dustin Cooke, an investigator with the Kingman County Sheriff's Office, says at least 15 burglaries reported in recent months at elevators from the Colorado border to Kingman County have involved the theft of tire changers.
Reno County Sheriff's Department Capt. Steve Lutz says no one has been arrested in any of the burglaries, and none of the stolen items have been recovered.
Authorities say they believe the thieves are stealing the items to resell, possibly to get money for drugs.
They are urging elevator operators to improve security and take other steps to make the thefts more difficult.