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“My Mother’s Murder Trials”: 48 Hours Investigates the Dana Chandler Case on July 11 2026

Ryan Gill

48 Hours returns with a special two-part event, “My Mother’s Murder Trial,” airing Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Reported by correspondent Jim Axelrod, the documentary examines one of Kansas’ longest-running murder prosecutions, following the investigation, trials and appeals surrounding Dana Chandler, who was accused of murdering her former husband, Mike Sisco, and his fiancée, Karen Harkness, in 2002.

The special is told through both the legal record and the deeply personal perspective of Chandler’s daughter, Hailey Seel, who spent years confronting the possibility that her own mother may have been responsible for the deaths. Through extensive courtroom footage, interviews with investigators, attorneys, family members and Chandler herself, 48 Hours chronicles a case that remained unresolved for nearly a decade before evolving into three separate murder trials, a reversed conviction, a hung jury and a final guilty verdict more than twenty years after the killings.

The Murders That Shocked Topeka

On July 7, 2002, police responded to the home of Karen Harkness in southwest Topeka, Kansas, where they discovered Harkness, 53, and her partner Mike Sisco, 47, dead in bed. Both had been shot multiple times with a 9mm handgun in what investigators quickly determined was a targeted double homicide.

The killings stunned both families and the local community. There were no signs of a robbery or random attack, leading detectives to focus almost immediately on individuals who had personal connections to the victims. Although the murder weapon was never recovered and there was little physical evidence linking a suspect to the crime scene, investigators believed the circumstances pointed toward someone with a motive rooted in the victims’ personal lives.

Dana Chandler Becomes the Primary Suspect

Attention soon turned to Dana Chandler, Sisco’s ex-wife. Their divorce had been marked by years of conflict, including bitter custody disputes involving their two children. According to investigators and family members, Chandler continued to contact Sisco frequently after the divorce, and relatives described a relationship defined by ongoing hostility.

Prosecutors later argued that Chandler became consumed by jealousy and anger after losing control over her former husband’s life. They alleged that resentment over Sisco’s relationship with Karen Harkness, combined with years of legal battles, provided the motive for murder. Chandler consistently denied every allegation, maintaining that she had nothing to do with the killings and insisting she was not even in Kansas when they occurred.

A Case Built Without Physical Evidence

Unlike many modern homicide prosecutions, the Chandler case relied almost entirely on circumstantial evidence. Detectives never recovered the 9mm firearm used in the murders, and investigators found no DNA, fingerprints, hair or other forensic evidence placing Chandler inside Harkness’ residence.

Instead, prosecutors relied on years of documented interactions between Chandler and Sisco, testimony regarding her behavior before the murders, travel records and witness accounts. They argued that while no single piece of evidence proved guilt, the cumulative evidence demonstrated planning, motive and opportunity.

Defense attorneys repeatedly emphasized the absence of direct forensic evidence throughout every trial. They argued that prosecutors had failed to establish Chandler’s presence in Kansas on the day of the murders and contended that the state’s theory rested on speculation rather than proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Nearly a Decade Before Charges Were Filed

Although Chandler became an early suspect, prosecutors initially declined to file charges. At the time, Shawnee County District Attorney Robert Hecht concluded there was insufficient evidence to move forward despite continued pressure from the victims’ families.

The delay proved difficult for everyone connected to the case. Family members remained convinced justice had not been served and continued gathering information independently while urging authorities to revisit the investigation. For almost nine years, the murders remained officially unsolved even as Chandler remained under suspicion.

The turning point came after Chad Taylor became Shawnee County District Attorney. After reviewing the investigation, Taylor decided prosecutors had enough evidence to present the case to a jury. Chandler was arrested in 2011 and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

The First Trial and Conviction

Chandler’s first murder trial concluded in 2012 with a guilty verdict on both counts. Jurors accepted the prosecution’s argument that Chandler’s longstanding obsession with her former husband ultimately led to the killings.

She received two life sentences following the conviction, appearing to bring one of Kansas’ longest-running homicide investigations to a close. For the victims’ families, the verdict represented long-awaited accountability after nearly a decade of uncertainty.

The conviction, however, would not stand.

Prosecutorial Misconduct Leads to a New Trial

In 2018, the Kansas Supreme Court overturned Chandler’s convictions after finding significant prosecutorial misconduct during the original trial. The court ruled that prosecutor Jacqie Spradling made misleading statements to the jury, including at least one statement the court described as fabricated.

The court criticized the conduct as deceptive and concluded Chandler had not received a fair trial. Spradling was later disbarred over her conduct in the case. Despite reversing the convictions, the Supreme Court also ruled there remained sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to convict Chandler, meaning prosecutors retained the option of trying the case again.

Responsibility for that decision fell to Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay, who elected to pursue a second prosecution.

A Hung Jury Extends the Legal Battle

Chandler’s second trial began in 2022. Once again, prosecutors acknowledged they lacked direct physical evidence but argued that motive, witness testimony and Chandler’s conduct before and after the murders established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Defense attorney Tom Bath challenged every aspect of the state’s case, stressing that no forensic evidence connected Chandler to the crime scene or even placed her in Kansas when the murders occurred. The defense maintained that prosecutors were attempting to secure a conviction through suspicion rather than proof.

After six days of deliberations, jurors informed the court they were hopelessly deadlocked. The panel reportedly split 7-5 in favor of conviction, resulting in a mistrial. Following the hung jury, Chandler’s bond was reduced and, after spending more than thirteen years incarcerated, she was released under GPS monitoring while awaiting another trial.

The court also granted a defense request to move the third trial outside Shawnee County, relocating proceedings to neighboring Pottawatomie County.

An Extraordinary Third Trial

When Chandler’s third trial opened in February 2025, the proceedings took an unexpected turn. On the morning opening statements were scheduled to begin, Chandler dismissed her attorneys and chose to represent herself.

The decision transformed the trial into one of the most unusual murder proceedings in recent Kansas history. Acting as her own lawyer, Chandler questioned witnesses, challenged prosecutors and personally delivered much of her own defense before the jury.

One of the most emotionally difficult moments came when Chandler cross-examined her own children, Hailey Seel and Dustin Sisco, both of whom testified for the prosecution. Both siblings stated they believed their mother had murdered their father and Karen Harkness, testimony they had also given during earlier proceedings.

Chandler later spent approximately 20 hours on the witness stand over seven days. Throughout her testimony she maintained her innocence, insisting she had never owned a 9mm handgun, was not present in Kansas during the murders and had been wrongfully accused for more than two decades.

Deputy District Attorney Charles Kitt argued Chandler’s obsessive behavior toward her former husband demonstrated both motive and intent, telling jurors she killed Sisco because she could no longer control his life after their divorce.

Guilty Verdict After More Than Twenty Years

Following nearly four hours of deliberations, jurors convicted Chandler of two counts of first-degree murder.

The verdict concluded one of Kansas’ most complex criminal prosecutions, bringing a legal battle spanning more than twenty years to an end. For prosecutors, it validated their longstanding argument that the circumstantial evidence established Chandler’s guilt despite the absence of physical forensic evidence.

For the victims’ families, the conviction represented the conclusion of decades spent reliving the murders through investigations, hearings and three separate jury trials.

Sentencing and Continuing Appeals

In June 2025, Chandler was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. Judge Cheryl Rios ordered that she would not become eligible for parole for 50 years, with credit given for approximately thirteen years already served in custody.

During sentencing, Hailey Seel delivered a victim impact statement describing the emotional toll of spending much of her life questioning her own mother’s involvement in the murders. She urged Chandler to confess and express remorse if she was responsible but recommended the maximum sentence if Chandler continued denying any role in the killings.

Chandler again proclaimed her innocence before sentencing was imposed, telling the court she had never been in Topeka on the day of the murders and calling the proceedings a grave injustice. Following sentencing, Chandler began pursuing post-conviction motions and appeals challenging her latest conviction.

A Daughter’s Search for the Truth

Beyond the legal history, My Mother’s Murder Trial focuses on the extraordinary emotional burden carried by Hailey Seel. As investigators increasingly centered on Dana Chandler, Seel found herself caught between loyalty to her mother and mounting evidence presented over years of investigations and trials.

Her journey forms the emotional foundation of the documentary, illustrating how unresolved homicide cases affect surviving family members long after headlines fade. Rather than focusing solely on courtroom strategy, the special explores the consequences of decades spent waiting for answers while navigating fractured family relationships.

Following the final conviction, Seel expressed relief that the legal process had finally concluded but also voiced concern that public attention had become focused primarily on Dana Chandler rather than the lives of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. She said she hoped the victims and their families would once again become the central focus after more than two decades dominated by legal proceedings.

Through extensive trial footage, archival reporting and exclusive interviews, 48 Hours presents a comprehensive examination of a case that tested the criminal justice system across three separate trials while revealing the lasting human consequences of one of Kansas’ most controversial double murder prosecutions.

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