Duncan Woman Awaits Extradition To Kansas In Decade-Old Murders

Dana Hertneky, News 9

DUNCAN, Oklahoma -- The case was cold for nine years, but Monday, police in Duncan arrested a woman they say was responsible for a double murder in Topeka, Kansas.

Prosecutors won't say what the break was in the case that led to the arrest.

But in late June Kansas investigators contacted Stephens county authorities and asked them to find Dana Chandler.

In July, 2002 Karen Harkness and Michael Sisco were found shot to death in their Topeka home.

"My mom was an amazing woman, she didn't have enemies," Harkness's daughter Erin Sutton told CBS's 48 hours in 2009.

"He was really my hero," said his son Dustin.

When 48 hours interviewed Mike's two children they went on record saying they knew who killed their father: their own mother.

"I was absolutely positive," said Dustin.

"I asked her if she killed my dad, be straight up with me," said Haley.

And Monday, at the Duncan Arby's, it was Dana Chandler, Sisco's ex-wife who police arrested.

Police pulled Chandler over for a traffic stop then law enforcement swarmed in.

Chandler was taken to the Stephens county jail and Kansas prosecutors announced the end of a nine year mystery.

"We have been able to take this cold case, resurrect it, file it, and the suspect Dana Chandler was arrested this morning in Duncan Oklahoma at 10:30," said Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylor.

Law enforcement then moved their efforts to searching the home where Chandler was staying.

They say she moved into a camper behind her sister's house four or five months ago.

Debbie Anderson lives right across the street.

"(I am) really surprised, really surprised," said Anderson. "Just taken back, somebody across the street living over there. You never know."

But Chandler's children did and now prosecutors say they hope this arrest finally makes them feel safe.

Chandler is now in jail awaiting extradition to Kansas.

Once in Kansas, prosecutors will charge Chandler with two counts of premeditated first degree murder.

The case gained national attention in October 2009 when it was featured on the CBS program "48 Hours Mystery."