HBO Docuseries 'A Killer Story' Examines Controversial Kansas Cold Case and Prosecutorial Misconduct
HBO's new docuseries, 'A Killer Story,' delves into the complex and controversial double-homicide case of Karen Harkness and Mike Sisco in Topeka, Kansas, from 2002. The series follows journalist Joe Sexton and director Matthew Galkin as they investigate the conviction of Dana Chandler, Sisco's ex-wife, which was later overturned due to prosecutorial misconduct. Chandler was initially convicted in 2012 based largely on the contentious relationship she had with Sisco, despite a lack of physical evidence. Her conviction was overturned in 2018 after the Kansas Supreme Court found that prosecutor Jacqie Spradling had lied during the trial about a non-existent protection order. Spradling was subsequently disbarred in 2022 for a 'serious pattern of grossly unethical misconduct.' The docuseries also highlights the efforts of amateur sleuths Eileen and Keen Umbehr, who dedicated years to proving Chandler's innocence, believing she was railroaded by the justice system and true-crime media.
