Editor's Note: In April 2018, the Kansas Supreme Court reversed Dana Chandler's murder charges on the grounds of misconduct by prosecutors. In closing the debate, prosecutors claimed Mike Sisco had obtained a protection order against Chandler, and she violated it. There is no such command.
Cheng Chandler's new trial is scheduled to take place in August 2022.
(CBS) In the summer of 2011, Duncan, Oklahoma was 112 degrees, and I watched six law enforcement officers wearing bullet-mounted guns at 51-year-old Dana Chandler.
In broad daylight, they pulled her car to an Arby parking lot and arrested her bystanders who had been having lunch, taking photos and videos on their phones. It was a long time moment and occupied a joint collaboration between four agencies: Shawnee County District Attorney Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Topeka Police Department and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
We first realized the crime in 2008, when a year ago, a retired Lieutenant Commander Vernon Geberth, a retired New York City Police Department, wrote a report with the Bronx Homicide Task Force and attracted our respected homicide and forensic consultants. Despite outlining the case and identifying Dana Chandler as "and the only person with motives, means and opportunities to commit these murders", no charges were filed.
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Even more striking is that Dana Chandler's own children, Hailey and Dustin (17 and 15 at the time of the murder) were their mother's attitude to kill her father and fiancé. They were willing to stand up, saying, even if she was never publicly named a suspect. This is a big risk because they are afraid of their mother and she is known to appear on their door steps without warning.
Although the detective’s original reservation is that women who lived in Denver for eight hours might be responsible for the homicides, the victim’s family has long suspected Mike’s ex-wife, Dana Chandler. No one heard her when they found out she had a 27-hour window, and she bought two 5-gallon gas tanks the day before the murder, which became even more feasible. While conducting the research, we make sure to examine the alternative theory to make sure that no stone is not twisted.
We revisited all the family members and spoke to people who knew Mike and Dana, respectively, as husband and wife. We entered the crime scene, browsed Siscos' large divorce files, and read various psychological reports that have been completed. We headed to Colorado to check out Dana’s unrestrained Billy. Additionally, we made several attempts to talk to Dana herself, but she didn't agree to talk to us on or off the camera.
In 2009, a new district attorney, Chad Taylor took office in Shawnee County. I waited until he took office for about two weeks, and then I called him. Later he told me that his initial reaction was: "I did something called me for 48 hours." We arranged a face-to-face meeting so that I could talk about our interests and work on the case. He makes it possible for us to meet and interview with Chief Detective Richard Volle. I barely knew even before Taylor won the election, det. Volle met Taylor while running for the office, who mentioned the Chandler case, which he thought would be a solid case if anyone was willing to work. Taylor inherits nearly 4,000 cases in which his predecessor, Bob Hecht, refused to file a lawsuit. But in all of these cases, Taylor agreed that Chandler’s case should be given a second observation and again prioritized.
"48 Hours"' original report aired in October 2009. Taylor, Chief Deputy District Attorney Jacqie Spradling and his team have worked for two years. They faced an uphill battle because they had no forensic evidence to get Dana Chandler into the crime scene, even in Kansas. They sent previously untested samples for evaluation, tracking witnesses, and often blocking holes in the last decade.
Finally, in March 2012, the case was before a jury. There were about two weeks of testimony, including the defendant's own child, which was very exciting and difficult to watch. There was a lot of tension in the court, as many testimony were ruled unacceptable. It's a purely environmental case, and nowadays, juries like to look at DNA, fingerprints—the specifics they can point out before convicting someone.
The victim’s family was nervous and despite a lot of indirect evidence, it was uncertain how this would end. They don't have to wait long - just 83 minutes before we hear there is a verdict. Later, when we interviewed the jury, they told us that they actually made the decision within 15 minutes of deliberation and strongly wanted a verdict to be made immediately, so families don't have to wait another day.
The jury handed the form to the court clerk, who read: guilty of two counts of murder. The defendant Dana Chandler had little reaction. But the victim’s family swept over a lot of emotions – mainly comfort, but certainly not happiness – especially for those happening now where two parents lost their children.
Seeing the development of this moment, it is difficult not to be swept by emotions. It was a long wait for justice and a lot of work for all participants: for 10 years for two families who never stopped pushing for justice for loved ones, for the main detectives, now sergeants, who never stopped considering victims, and the prosecution team had the courage to bring the case to trial certainly wasn't a dunk.
There were congratulations around me, and many people came to me for the role I played in getting the attention I deserved. Mike's sister, Cathy Boots, told me that our coverage of the case was to "save life" for the family. She thinks "48 hours" hit a lot of buttons to fix it." Her husband, Mark Boots, agreed, adding: "Without the '48 hours team, we wouldn't be here today without support and help."
The final chapter arrives on August 20, 2012, and ironically it will be the 30th anniversary of Dana and Mike's wedding. Dana Chandler was sentenced to two life imprisonment. She must serve at least 50 years for the murder of Mike Sisco and the murder of Karen Harkness. She will be only 151 years old before she can ask for parole.
After working with professionals for five years, I must admit that I am very satisfied that the case has finally resolved. We devoted ourselves to these situations on "48 hours" - there was a lot of time, a lot of travel and videotapes. During very difficult times in their lives, these families have opened themselves and their homes to us and we won’t accept it easily.
It makes sense to finally see all their struggles over. Karen's father, Harold Worswick, has been old since he first met him. After being shot to death, he took the burden of finding Mike and Karen, and the unresolved murders were huge for him. He believes the event pushed his beloved wife Betty toward dementia. Sadly, she died just before the trial began. Harold now feels that he has fulfilled his promise of justice for his daughter and that he has been able to find some peace.
Karen's daughter Erin suffered damage from losing her best friend. She now has two adorable children, and the fact is that she cannot share this joy with her mother is beyond words. Mike's daughter Hailey is tortured every day because she has to live with the fact that he and her father are fighting when they die, and she never had the chance to apologize to him and rebuild this important relationship. Unfortunately, she had to live with her, and I believe, pushed her to take such extraordinary measures to ensure he gained the motivation for justice - even if it meant pursuing her own mother.
Mike's son Dustin said the trajectory of his life was completely different and he struggled to find his new path. We also suffered losses in "48 hours". I started introducing this story with journalist Harold Dow. In this case, he firmly believed and was keen to see it resolved. Sadly, he never saw it alive. He died in August 2010. We dedicated the show to him.