Inside the Topeka Double Murder Case: Dana Chandler’s Three-Trial Journey
Wertynews.com – Originally published on May 31, 2025, this report was last updated on July 11, 2026. Dana Chandler, a Kansas woman, has endured over two decades of legal battles to prove her innocence in the 2002 killings of her ex-husband, Mike Sisco, and his partner, Karen Harkness. After three trials, she was ultimately convicted. Watch the documentary “My Mother’s Murder Trials”, Parts 1 and 2, for deeper insight.
The Night of the Crime
The events unfolded on July 7, 2002, when Sisco and Harkness were found dead in the basement of Harkness’ home in Topeka. Hailey Seel, their daughter, recounted the moment she learned of the tragedy: “I immediately saw a bunch of tape around the house and police… My grandma was sitting there and told me they had been shot.” The discovery left her emotionally shattered.
“It’s hard to swallow and it’s hard to believe. It’s insane,” Hailey Seel said, tears streaming down her face, as she spoke to 48 Hours contributor Jim Axelrod.
Surveillance footage from the night before shows the couple leaving a casino approximately an hour from Topeka around 1:30 a.m. They then stopped for coffee, which became the final recorded sighting of Harkness alive. Harold Worswick, Harkness’ father, described their upbeat demeanor: “They were extremely happy, you could just see that.”
The Search for Answers
Worswick, who passed away in 2025, recalled the day after their outing. He had planned a family gathering at Harkness’ house, expecting the couple to announce their engagement. Unable to find anyone inside, he entered through an open sliding door and found Karen already deceased. “Oh, Christ,” he said, “I knew she was dead.” He then discovered Mike Sisco’s body in the bedroom.
“I just located my daughter and she’s downstairs and she’s dead,” Worswick told the 911 operator, his voice trembling with disbelief.
Det. Richard Volle, the lead investigator at the time, confirmed the discovery: “I got a radio call just after two o’clock on July 7th, 2002. It was a report of two dead bodies in a basement.” The victims had been shot multiple times—Harkness, 53, received five bullets, including in her back and buttocks; Sisco, 47, was hit with between five and seven shots. The rest of the house showed no signs of struggle, and investigators found cash, a Rolex watch, and jewelry, ruling out robbery.
A Family’s Grief
Sisco and Harkness, both divorced and dating for about four years, were well-liked in their community. Sisco worked as a welding company salesperson, while Harkness was in the hospitality industry. Their children, Chad and Erin Harkness, were in their early 20s, and Sisco had custody of Hailey, 17, and Dustin, 15.
“My dad was really my life growing up… He was my hero,” Dustin Sisco reflected.
Hailey’s relationship with her father was more complicated. “I wasn’t happy with my dad. I wasn’t happy with my mom. I wasn’t happy at my school,” she admitted. Her difficult teenage years led her to move in with her boyfriend, Chris, after her father gave her an ultimatum: “Either you follow my rules or you move out.”
“My mom was an amazing woman… She didn’t have enemies,” Erin Sutton said, expressing her lingering grief.
As the trial progressed, the focus shifted to the emotional dynamics of the case. Detective Volle emphasized the personal nature of the crime: “What we’re left with is an emotional killing. It’s an emotional execution.” For Hailey and her family, the search for truth and justice has persisted through years of uncertainty.
