My Mother's Murder Trials Part 2

Summary

48 Hours: "My Mother's Murder Trials Part 2" – Detailed Summary

Episode Release Date: June 3, 2025
Host/Producer: CBS News

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1. Introduction and Case Background

The episode delves into the harrowing case of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness, who were brutally murdered in their Kansas home on July 7, 2002. Haley Seal, the daughter of Mike Sisco, has long harbored suspicions that her own mother, Dana Chandler, was responsible for the murders. This two-part series meticulously examines the evidence, testimonies, and the tumultuous legal journey that followed.

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2. Haley Seal’s Quest for Justice

Haley Seal recounts the personal anguish and determination driving her quest for the truth. At the age of 17, witnessing her father's and Karen's murders left her devastated and propelled her into activism against her mother's alleged crimes.

• Haley Seal (00:55): “My dad and his fiancée Karen were shot and killed in their beds. I was 17 and my brother was 15. And there was just shock.”

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3. The Trials Against Dana Chandler

a. The Second Trial: A Divided Verdict

In the summer of 2022, Dana Chandler faced her second trial for the murders. Despite the lack of concrete evidence—no DNA, fingerprints, or weapon linking her to the crime—the prosecution relied heavily on behavioral evidence and recordings of Dana’s hostile interactions with the victims.

• Detective Volley (05:13): “No DNA, no fingerprints, no confession, no weapon. It's just an add up.”

• Charles Kitt (05:20): “Prosecutors presented evidence they say showed that obsession, including records of more than 600 phone calls Dana made to Karen and Mike in the six months before the murders.”

Haley Seal’s recordings of her mother revealed disturbing admissions and behaviors that further fueled suspicions.

• Haley Seal (06:27): “She would call my mom horrible names.”

During the trial, while some jurors were swayed by the behavioral evidence, the absence of physical proof led to a hung jury.

• Charles Kitt (20:29): “We did what we could with what we had. Ben Alford and Carrie Kimes were two members of the jury who voted to find Chandler not guilty.”

b. Release on Bond and Continued Fear

Following the deadlock, Dana Chandler was released on bond with stringent conditions, including GPS monitoring. This release exacerbated Haley’s fears for her and her children’s safety.

• Haley Seal (23:11): “I'm scared to death that she's going to hurt me or she's going to affect my kids in some way.”

Dana’s subsequent actions, such as intimidating Facebook posts, intensified Haley’s concerns.

• Haley Seal (23:46): “It was chilling and it was disturbing. I feel like it was a direct message to me.”

c. The Third Trial: Dana Represents Herself

In February 2025, Dana Chandler opted to represent herself in her third trial, abandoning her defense attorneys. This decision marked a pivotal moment in the case, shifting the courtroom dynamics significantly.

• Charles Kitt (25:31): “Charles Kitt was back retrying the case, joined by prosecutor Dan Dunbar. Judge Cheryl Rios again presided.”

Dana’s self-representation led to unorthodox courtroom strategies, including making herself the main witness.

• Dana Chandler (25:50): “My name is Dana Chandler.”

Throughout the trial, Dana attempted to undermine the prosecution’s case by highlighting inconsistencies in her testimonies and attacking the reliability of Haley's recordings.

• Haley Seal (38:12): “Ever think about killing him? No, But I did.”

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4. Evidence and Testimonies

a. Behavioral Evidence and Recordings

The prosecution's case hinged on Dana’s obsessive behavior towards Mike and Karen, including over 600 harassing phone calls and derogatory communications.

• Haley Seal (09:11): “She told me that she knew nobody was in the house and that she went into Mike's home through the window.”

b. Inconsistencies in Alibis

Dana’s conflicting alibis—claiming to be in Colorado while police believed she could have traveled to Kansas—were scrutinized. Witnesses provided testimonies that both supported and contradicted her whereabouts during the time of the murders.

• Detective Volley (35:21): “She was 7 out of 10 that it was you.”

c. Physical Evidence Gaps

Despite extensive investigations, no physical evidence linked Dana to the crime scene. Fingerprints, DNA, and fibers from Dana were absent at the murders, a point vehemently emphasized by Dana’s defense team.

• Haley Seal (17:31): “I did not find any hairs that were consistent with the known samples coming from Ms. Chandler.”

d. Unusual Bullets

The prosecution introduced unusual bullets manufactured by Israel Military Industries, suggesting premeditation, though Dana’s defense challenged their relevance and connection to Dana.

• Mike Sisco (16:36): “In Israel Military Industries. That's the manufacturer.”

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5. Verdict and Aftermath

After 18 days of intense testimony and deliberation, the jury reached a verdict.

• Judge (41:18): “We, the jury, find Dana Chandler guilty of murder in the first degree as charged in count one, verdict form.”

While seven jurors convicted Dana, five voted for acquittal, highlighting the lingering doubts due to the lack of physical evidence.

a. Reactions to the Verdict

Haley Seal expressed profound sorrow and devastation, grappling with the loss of both her father and, now, her mother.

• Haley Seal (41:41): “It is so much worse that my mom is the one behind these murders because we lost my dad and Karen.”

Dana’s supporters, like Darrell Burton from Miracle of Innocence, remained unconvinced by the verdict, advocating for her innocence based on the evidentiary shortcomings.

• Darrell Burton (41:56): “I don't believe that they have proved this case beyond a reasonable doubt.”

b. Ongoing Legal Battles

Dana Chandler filed motions for an appeal, seeking to overturn the conviction and asserting her innocence. The case remains a contentious and emotionally charged topic within the community.

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6. Personal Reflections and Broader Implications

Haley Seal reflects on the personal toll the prolonged legal battle has taken on her life, her relationship with her siblings, and her mental well-being.

• Haley Seal (43:05): “I was trying to tell my daughter about who my dad is. And I said he was a really fun, supportive, encouraging guy who believed in me and my brother. And Karen was so kind, so accepting. I miss him a lot.”

The episode underscores the complexities of the justice system, especially in cases rife with emotional and familial entanglements, and highlights the enduring quest for truth and closure amidst profound personal loss.

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7. Conclusion

"My Mother's Murder Trials Part 2" offers a gripping exploration of a deeply personal and legally intricate case. Through compelling narratives, firsthand testimonies, and critical examinations of evidence, the episode paints a vivid portrait of a family's struggle for justice against the backdrop of a contentious courtroom saga.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Haley Seal (00:55): “My dad and his fiancée Karen were shot and killed in their beds. I was 17 and my brother was 15. And there was just shock.”

• Detective Volley (05:13): “No DNA, no fingerprints, no confession, no weapon. It's just an add up.”

• Haley Seal (06:27): “She would call my mom horrible names.”

• Charles Kitt (20:29): “We did what we could with what we had. Ben Alford and Carrie Kimes were two members of the jury who voted to find Chandler not guilty.”

• Haley Seal (38:12): “Ever think about killing him? No, But I did.”

• Judge (41:18): “We, the jury, find Dana Chandler guilty of murder in the first degree as charged in count one, verdict form.”

• Darrell Burton (41:56): “I don't believe that they have proved this case beyond a reasonable doubt.”

• Haley Seal (43:05): “I was trying to tell my daughter about who my dad is. And I said he was a really fun, supportive, encouraging guy who believed in me and my brother. And Karen was so kind, so accepting. I miss him a lot.”

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Note: This summary selectively omits promotional content and non-essential dialogues to focus on the core narrative and critical elements of the case.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Now streaming. When people go missing, I get hired.

[Haley Seal]

To help find them.

[Narrator]

When lives are on the line.

[Haley Seal]

Colter, please find my daughter.

[Narrator]

He is the man for the job. I'm gonna do everything you can. Don't miss a moment.

[Haley Seal]

Coulter's in trouble. I can feel it.

[Narrator]

Of TV's number one show. These people are dangerous.

[Dana Chandler]

I'm doing this alone.

[Mike Sisco]

No, no, no.

[Charles Kitt]

Every Batman gotta have their router culture.

[Narrator]

Justin Hartley stars. I made a promise. I would never stop looking in Tracker all episodes now streaming on Paramount and returning CBS fall.

[Charles Kitt]

This summer, Pluto TV is exploding with thousands of free movies. Stream hits like Good Burger, Four Brothers, the Wood, Paid in Full and Beverly Hills Cop. All for free. It's summer of Cinema on Pluto TV. Stream now pay never.

[Dana Chandler]

They were found Sunday afternoon, July 7th.

[Haley Seal]

My dad and his fiance Karen were shot and killed in their beds. I was 17 and my brother was 15. And there was just shock.

[Detective Volley]

The killer made it downstairs. Shot Karen Harkness multiple times. Shot Mike Sisco multiple times. Whoever it was that did this hated these people.

[Haley Seal]

The only person that hated them was my mom, Dana.

[Charles Kitt]

What should people understand about the fact that you, Dana Chandler's daughter, thinks Dana Chandler killed your father?

[Haley Seal]

I do have a mind of my own, and I'm not biased in this situation. I don't want it to be her. I want the truth to come out. I wanted to help the police, so I started to record my conversations with her. I think that the only way I can really move on with a relationship with you is if we can get it. You know, if you can just tell me yourself that you did it.

[Mike Sisco]

Well, number one, I didn't do it. And number one. Number two, I don't know what happened.

[Charles Kitt]

Haley, did you know anything about the.

[Detective Volley]

Death of Michael and Karen?

[Mike Sisco]

I have no idea what happened.

[Haley Seal]

I hit a point where I didn't know if justice would ever be served.

[Detective Volley]

Both teams out of the car.

[Haley Seal]

I needed justice for my dad and for Karen. We, the jury, find the defendant guilty.

[Charles Kitt]

Of the crime of murder in the first degree.

[Haley Seal]

I feel better in the sense that my dad's killer is paying for their actions. I don't feel better that my mom is capable of killing my dad. And then the Kansas Supreme Court comes and says, this is prosecutorial misconduct. We're going to go ahead and overturn her conviction. You have a new trial.

[Mike Sisco]

My liberty, my freedom is hanging in the balance.

[Haley Seal]

If she could bring out something to prove she didn't do it, that's for her and her own freedom. But she can't. And she hasn't.

[Mike Sisco]

I did not kill Mike Sisco.

[Haley Seal]

She would not hesitate to get revenge on me.

[Mike Sisco]

I did not kill Karen Harkness.

[Haley Seal]

I know the truth.

[Mike Sisco]

I am an innocent woman.

[Haley Seal]

The truth is that she murdered them. She scares me.

[Charles Kitt]

Your mom scares you?

[Haley Seal]

Yeah. I wanted to understand what happened, why, and actually know the truth of what happened.

[Charles Kitt]

For two decades, Haley Seal has been waiting for justice in the murders of her father Mike Sisco and his girlfriend Karen Harkness.

[Haley Seal]

This hasn't been resolved.

[Charles Kitt]

In 2002, multiple bullets struck 53 year old Karen and 47 year old Mike as they lay in bed in Karen's Kansas home. Authorities believed it was a crime of passion as the rest of the house seemed undisturbed, with money and jewelry left behind. And Haley believed it was her mother, Dana Chandler, who was responsible.

[Haley Seal]

The truth is that she was in Karen's house on July 7 in the middle of the night with a gun and she shot them both multiple times. And she murdered them. I hate that that's the truth. But it is the truth.

[Darrell Burton]

I've never seen a case like this even.

[Charles Kitt]

Darrell Burton is co founder of Miracle of Innocence, an organization that paid for Dana Chandler's lawyers and supports individuals it believes are wrongfully convicted.

[Darrell Burton]

No DNA, no fingerprints, no confession, no weapon. It's just an add up.

[Charles Kitt]

In the summer of 2022, Dana Chandler was on trial for the second time for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. As in her first trial, the defense focused on all that was lacking in the case against Chandler.

[Narrator]

There is no evidence that she was in the Harkness residence, no evidence she was in Topeka. There's no evidence she was in the state of Kansas.

[Charles Kitt]

Defense attorney Tom Bath insisted Dana Chandler was in Colorado at the time of the murders, more than 500 miles away, and faulted investigators for zeroing in on her.

[Narrator]

Everything they looked at, everything they examined excluded Dana.

[Charles Kitt]

The lack of physical evidence was acknowledged by Shawnee County Deputy District Attorney Charles Kitt.

[Dana Chandler]

Science is not going to solve this case. This case is not based on DNA.

[Charles Kitt]

Instead, the state focused on evidence such as Dana's hatred of her ex husband and his girlfriend.

[Dana Chandler]

This case is based on jealousy, rage and obsession.

[Charles Kitt]

Prosecutors presented evidence they say showed that obsession, including records of more than 600 phone calls Dana made to Karen and Mike in the six months before the murders. And they introduced witnesses who said Mike and Karen told them some of those calls were menacing Karen's co worker Kim Warrender.

[Haley Seal]

And she said she had been up all night receiving phone calls. From Dana.

[Dana Chandler]

She told you she was afraid, Very afraid.

[Charles Kitt]

Erin Sutton also testified that her mother, Karen Harkness, was scared of Dana. She spoke about messages she said she heard that Dana left on her mother's phone.

[Haley Seal]

She would call my mom horrible names.

[Dana Chandler]

And, like, what kind of names would she call her?

[Haley Seal]

She would call her a whore.

[Charles Kitt]

In addition to testimony about calls Dana Chandler made, there was also attention paid to when there was no call activity on her phone, specifically during 27 hours the weekend of the murders. Authorities believe Dana Chandler's phone was turned off so it could not be traced as she traveled to Kansas. But the defense suggested it could have just been spotty cell phone service in Colorado. Prosecutors told the jury about a purchase Dana made the day before the murders, but failed to mention to investigators. Kit asked Richard Volley, the lead detective on the case, about the purchase.

[Dana Chandler]

Can you tell us what that is?

[Detective Volley]

This is an AutoZone receipt. It shows the first two purchases were five dollar or five gallon gas cans.

[Charles Kitt]

Authorities wondered why Dana didn't tell them about the gas cans and why she would need gas cans unless she was planning a trip, perhaps to Kansas, and did not want to stop for gas along the way. And there was the issue of Dana Chandler's alibi, according to Detective Volley, a changing, unconfirmable one. One witness testified that Dana said she was in the mountains in Colorado at the time of the murders. But Detective Volley testified Chandler told him she was at home in her Denver apartment.

[Detective Volley]

She said she'd stayed at her house, had no guests or phone calls, and that she turned in about 9 o' clock.

[Charles Kitt]

A friend of Dana's testified about something authorities thought might have been a dry run for the murders. She said about a month before the killings, Dana called and told her about a trip she made to Mike's home.

[Haley Seal]

She told me that she knew nobody was in the house and that she went into Mike's home through the window. After that, she did go to his girlfriend's house and sat outside her house waiting for them to come home, but they didn't show up.

[Dana Chandler]

Did she tell you what she did when she got into Mike's house?

[Haley Seal]

She wanted to see what it looked like on the inside.

[Charles Kitt]

But Dana's attorney questioned the reliability of her testimony, pointing out she may have gotten some dates wrong regarding calls with Dana.

[Haley Seal]

It must not have been a Monday.

[Narrator]

But 20 years ago. You said it was a Monday, right?

[Mike Sisco]

Sure.

[Charles Kitt]

Testimony about Chandler's behavior also came from Kathy Boots, Mike's sister. She described an incident several years before the murders that she. She said she witnessed while staying at Mike's house.

[Haley Seal]

We went to bed that night and I woke up in the early morning hours to a noise out in the backyard. And we had left the back porch lights on. And I looked out through the blinds and Dana was jumping on the trampoline out back.

[Charles Kitt]

And Mike's brother in law, Mark Boots, recounted a disturbing conversation he said he had with Mike nine days before the murders.

[Detective Volley]

Mike told me that the patterns of harassment had increased and that he feared.

[Charles Kitt]

For he and Karen's lives. Mike and Dana's daughter Hayley was going to be in the uncomfortable position of testifying against her mother.

[Dana Chandler]

And who is Dana Chandler to you?

[Haley Seal]

She's my mom.

[Narrator]

What is dedication?

[Charles Kitt]

The thing that drives me every day as a dad is Dariana. We call him day date for short. Every day he's hungry for something, whether.

[Detective Volley]

It'S attention, affection, knowledge.

[Charles Kitt]

And there's this huge responsibility in making sure that when he's no longer under my wing that he's a good person. I want him to be able to sit back one day and go, we worked together.

[Detective Volley]

We did a good job.

[Narrator]

That's daddication. Find out [e-mail] brought to you by the U.S. department of Health and Human Services and the Ad Council. Now streaming. When people go missing, I get hired to help find them. When lives are on the line.

[Haley Seal]

Colter, please find my daughter.

[Narrator]

He is the the man for the job. I'm gonna do everything you can. Don't miss a moment.

[Haley Seal]

Culture's in trouble. I can feel it.

[Narrator]

Of TV's number one show. These people are dangerous.

[Dana Chandler]

I'm doing this alone. No.

[Mike Sisco]

No.

[Charles Kitt]

Every Batman gotta have their Robin Coulter.

[Narrator]

Justin Hartley stars. I made a promise I would never stop looking in. Tracker all episodes now streaming on Paramount plus and returning C.

[Haley Seal]

I was absolutely still nervous and scared being up there. It causes conflict.

[Charles Kitt]

As Haley Seal reflected back on testifying against her mother, Dana Chandler, she recalled the stress she was under. As a prosecution witness. Haley was asked to describe some of her mother's behavior. Behavior Haley said she found obsessive.

[Dana Chandler]

Was there a time where you were asked to spy on your dad?

[Haley Seal]

Yeah.

[Charles Kitt]

Haley recounted an incident after her parents split up when she said Dana drove her and her brother to Mike's home and they all sat in the car to watch the house.

[Haley Seal]

She said, come on, we need to watch your dad. You can be my little helpers. She had me go with her to the house after so long and she wanted to look in the windows.

[Dana Chandler]

Did she look in the windows?

[Haley Seal]

Yeah, we both looked in the windows. And she said, did you see that? Did you see that? And I said, no, I didn't see anything.

[Charles Kitt]

It was episodes like that which led Haley early on to think her mother could be responsible for the murders.

[Haley Seal]

I always suspected she had something to do with it because of the history of her harassment, stalking, hatred, talking bad about them to us all the time.

[Charles Kitt]

Hailey testified about some of the ways her mother expressed that dislike of her father, like the demeaning ways Dana referred to him in emails and online chats, including ones where Dana referred to Mike as it sent when Haley was 14 years old.

[Dana Chandler]

Did she call him manipulative and deceiving?

[Haley Seal]

Yes.

[Dana Chandler]

And then calls him a rapist?

[Mike Sisco]

Yeah.

[Dana Chandler]

And just a couple lines down. I hate his guts.

[Mike Sisco]

Yeah.

[Dana Chandler]

Are those things that you want to type to you?

[Mike Sisco]

Yes.

[Haley Seal]

Nobody can say that you were in Colorado that weekend.

[Charles Kitt]

Also played in court were those conversations Haley secretly recorded with her mom as she tried to learn more about Dana's possible involvement in the murders. In all the conversations you had with her over the days, weeks, months, even years after this happened, she never told you something that made you think, well, at least my mom didn't do it?

[Haley Seal]

No. Every time I talked to her, I felt more and more confident that she definitely had something to do with it.

[Charles Kitt]

And perhaps most telling to Haley was a conversation played in court where Dana said she had thought about killing Mike.

[Haley Seal]

Never think about killing him? No. But I did.

[Charles Kitt]

In one of those discussions, Haley asked her mother about why she bought those two gas cans, which authorities thought could have been used to help drive round trip from Denver to Topeka without stopping in Kansas for fuel. Dana, who'd been a problem drinker, explained she bought them for someone else, a woman she met at aa.

[Haley Seal]

She asked people money, and we don't give people money at aa. I think I'll go buy you some gas.

[Charles Kitt]

The prosecutor asked Tally if she was able to learn anything more about that woman from Dana.

[Dana Chandler]

She wouldn't tell you who that person was?

[Haley Seal]

No, she didn't.

[Charles Kitt]

But Dana's defense team argued those recorded conversations proved nothing about the murders. And regarding the two gas cans, it maintained that the 10 extra gallons the cans could hold would not have been enough for Dana to drive round trip from Denver to Topeka without still needing to stop for fuel. The defense accused authorities of tunnel vision, including not looking more thoroughly at other suspects. And her lawyer said Dana Chandler never owned a 9 millimeter gun, the type of weapon used in the murders, which was never found. What was found were unusual bullets made.

[Haley Seal]

In Israel Israel Military Industries. That's the manufacturer.

[Charles Kitt]

Dana's attorney questioned a firearm examiner who had worked with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation about those bullets.

[Narrator]

Is that a bullet you would ammunition you typically see?

[Haley Seal]

Actually, we had not seen that before and so it was a little bit unusual to us.

[Charles Kitt]

The prosecution, though, explained there were places one could buy those bullets.

[Dana Chandler]

Could that ammo have been brought into Kansas and sold at a gun show?

[Haley Seal]

Yes, sir.

[Dana Chandler]

Could have been exchanged by individuals?

[Haley Seal]

Yes, sir.

[Charles Kitt]

There were other parts of the investigation that the defense argued supported its. There was forensic work it said eliminated Dana Chandler. Unidentified fingerprints found at the house did not match Chandler. None of Dana's DNA was found at the murder scene, nor were any fibers found from her clothing or any of her hair.

[Haley Seal]

I did not find any hairs that were consistent with the known samples coming from Ms. Chandler.

[Narrator]

In 20 years, the state had no evidence, no evidence whatsoever that placed Dana Chandler in Karen Harkness home in the city of Topeka or in the state of Kansas.

[Charles Kitt]

After three weeks of testimony, that lack of physical evidence would be the defense's theme in its closing argument.

[Narrator]

Each and every time they tested something, it excluded Dana.

[Dana Chandler]

From the beginning, I told you, this case is about obsession, jealousy, rage.

[Charles Kitt]

The state focused on Dana's behavior, her calls, emails, and her own family's testimony against her.

[Dana Chandler]

The defendant clearly hated Karen and my words from her own mouth and her own fingers typing those messages.

[Narrator]

A lot of evidence about Dana's bad behavior. That's true. That's not evidence. They have not proven this case beyond a reasonable doubt.

[Charles Kitt]

On August 25, 2022, the case went to the jury and Haley was waiting for a verdict.

[Haley Seal]

I really tried to trust the process as I knew I didn't have any control over it. So it was going to be what it was going to be.

[Charles Kitt]

But the wait to find out what the verdict would be was a long.

[Haley Seal]

I can only describe it as evil.

[Narrator]

Follow and listen to Train to Kill, the Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard on the Free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mike Sisco]

When you retire to the jury room, you will first select one of your members as presiding juror. The person selected will preside over the.

[Charles Kitt]

Case in the second trial of Dana Chandler for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness went to the jury on August 25, 2022. That day came and went, as did several more.

[Mike Sisco]

Members of the jury. Would you like to recess for the day?

[Dana Chandler]

Yes, we would like.

[Haley Seal]

After about four days, I started to get nervous and think, wow, this actually could not come back in a guilty verdict. And I started to think about that possibility. And so I prayed and I just trusted that if she did get away with this, that life would have to go on. Right.

[Mike Sisco]

Members of the gallery, I would ask that you just please refrain from any outbursts.

[Charles Kitt]

After six days of deliberating, Dana Chandler would learn her fate.

[Mike Sisco]

I understand that the jury is unable to reach a unanimous verdict at this time. Is that correct?

[Dana Chandler]

That is correct.

[Charles Kitt]

The jury informed the judge they were deadlocked.

[Mike Sisco]

You're hung at this time, is that correct?

[Charles Kitt]

There were seven votes to convict and five to acquit. We did what we could with what we had. Ben Alford and Carrie Kimes were two members of the jury who voted to find Chandler not guilty.

[Haley Seal]

I never saw actual evidence that Dana Chandler was ever in the Harkness home. I can't send somebody to spend the rest of their life in prison if.

[Mike Sisco]

You can't even prove she left Colorado that weekend.

[Dana Chandler]

Science is not going to solve this case.

[Charles Kitt]

Everything that was tested for DNA proved inconclusive, and that's pretty remarkable. But for juror Randy Edwards, the state's depiction of Dana Chandler's behavior was persuasive evidence.

[Narrator]

She was beyond upset.

[Charles Kitt]

She was obsessed. He also found those conversations Haley recorded with her mother to be convincing and voted to convict.

[Haley Seal]

Ever think about killing him? No, but I did.

[Dana Chandler]

When I was able to comprehend that.

[Charles Kitt]

Dana said that she had thought of killing Mike. That was probably the piece that pushed me beyond any question of reasonable doubt anymore.

[Narrator]

There was a split verdict, but the majority of the jury was in favor of a conviction, and that was meaningful.

[Charles Kitt]

DAA Mike Cage decided to retry Dana Chandler.

[Mike Sisco]

The next issue that we have before the court is a motion to modify bond.

[Charles Kitt]

Her lawyers convinced the court to reduce her bond, which allowed her to be released with supervision as she awaited the next trial.

[Mike Sisco]

The court is going to direct that she have GPS monitoring.

[Dana Chandler]

Welcome home.

[Mike Sisco]

Welcome home, Dana.

[Charles Kitt]

After spending more than a decade incarcerated, Dana Chandler celebrated her freedom with Darryl Burton. And miracle of innocence.

[Darrell Burton]

Anybody who's getting out of prison, after you've been in prison for any length of time, it is. It's a joyous occasion. You're happy that someone's been released, and you also feel like, well, maybe it's a good chance that, you know, we can, you know, mount to defense, you know, and get her totally acquitted.

[Charles Kitt]

As a condition of her release, Dana was not allowed to contact her children. Still, Haley worried about her safety. She is married to Chris Seal, her high school boyfriend, and is a mother of Three.

[Haley Seal]

I'm scared to death that she's going to hurt me or she's going to affect my kids in some way.

[Charles Kitt]

Haley's fear only grew when Dana made this post to her Facebook page. Chandler complained about her treatment at trial, calling it a kangaroo court. And in the background, she showed images of Hailey's children. Hailey says Dana somehow learned which church she attended and downloaded a live stream of a service to create the photos.

[Haley Seal]

It was chilling and it was disturbing. I feel like it was a direct message to me.

[Charles Kitt]

And what was the message?

[Haley Seal]

Intimidation. I don't care about your boundaries.

[Charles Kitt]

Her belief that her mother committed the murders remains unwavering and she says, disturbing.

[Haley Seal]

She's my mom. But if you're my mom, why would you do that to my dad? For your kids sake? Maybe. Maybe that would be a reason not to do it. Being a mother now, I have a new perspective. It becomes even more unreal now.

[Charles Kitt]

Also unreal to Haley. Thoughts of a third trial. What are your expectations for yet again another trial?

[Haley Seal]

This time I am not as confident.

[Charles Kitt]

For trial number three. Jurors would be from Potawatomi County, Kansas. The defense requested a change of venue and the judge agreed, citing excessive media coverage. It would take place in Westmoreland, a smaller, more rural area 60 miles away from the last setting in Topeka.

[Dana Chandler]

July 7, 2002 was going to be a good day. Mike Sisco. Karen Harkness had been in a relationship for a few years.

[Charles Kitt]

The trial got underway with opening statements on February 7, 2025.

[Dana Chandler]

One name just kept coming up. Dana Chandler.

[Charles Kitt]

Charles Kitt was back retrying the case, joined by prosecutor Dan Dunbar. Judge Cheryl Rios again presided. And in a last minute change on the morning of opening statements, Dana Chandler dismissed her defense attorneys.

[Mike Sisco]

My name is Dana Chandler.

[Charles Kitt]

And Dana Chandler decided the best person to represent her was herself.

[Mike Sisco]

I am innocent. I did not kill Mike and Karen.

[Narrator]

Listen and follow 48hours postmortem.

[Charles Kitt]

Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Narrator]

Now Streaming. Hi again, TV's quirkiest crime solver.

[Haley Seal]

I'm Elspeth Tasiomi. I work with the police.

[Narrator]

It's on the case.

[Haley Seal]

I like my outlandish theories. With a heavy dose of evidence and.

[Narrator]

Ready to go toe to toe with a cavalcade of guest stars.

[Haley Seal]

Are you saying that this is now a murder investigation? It's starting to look that way.

[Narrator]

Don't miss a moment of the critically acclaimed hit Elsbeth. All episodes now streaming on Paramount and return CBS fall.

[Haley Seal]

That sounds like fun.

[Narrator]

Obviously, murder's not fun.

[Charles Kitt]

Risk is the show where people tell true stories they never thought they'd dare to share. A podcast all about human connection and radical honesty. All through June for Pride Month, Risk will be featuring the stories of LGBTQ folks from all walks of life. You'll laugh, cry, and maybe even end up feeling a little bit better. Go get Risk on the Odysee app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mike Sisco]

I think this case is a character assassination.

[Charles Kitt]

In February 2025, Dana Chandler was on trial for the third time for the murders of Mike Sisko and Karen Harkness. But this time, she was representing herself.

[Narrator]

She was exercising her constitutional right. It was an unknown. It was certainly unexpected.

[Charles Kitt]

One thing that was the same as in the previous trials. Haley Seal testifying.

[Dana Chandler]

Good afternoon.

[Haley Seal]

Hi.

[Dana Chandler]

Can you please tell the jury your name?

[Haley Seal]

Haley Seal.

[Charles Kitt]

Haley was asked again by the prosecution about her mother's inappropriate behavior.

[Dana Chandler]

What sort of things would she say about Karen?

[Mike Sisco]

She.

[Haley Seal]

Called her a home wrecker, a slut. Very bad names.

[Charles Kitt]

Prosecutors were also interested in an incident when Dana Chandler drove Haley and her brother to drop them off at Karen's house.

[Haley Seal]

We waited there for a really long time in the car. Then my dad and Karen got there and my mom got out and yelled at them and just was very angry with my dad.

[Dana Chandler]

Hayley, I don't have any further questions.

[Charles Kitt]

Thank you. When it was time to be cross examined, Haley knew it would now be her mother doing the questioning.

[Mike Sisco]

Hello, missile.

[Haley Seal]

I really went up there with, like, my game face on. You know, I knew it was war. I knew it wasn't going to be a nice, a cordial, a thoughtful, you're the victim. This was your dad, and I'm so sorry place that she'd be coming from.

[Charles Kitt]

Dana Chandler challenged Haley about her description of that drop off at Karen's. Chandler said it was Haley's father, Mike, who was behaving badly, not her.

[Mike Sisco]

When your dad and Karen drove up, your dad stormed over to the car.

[Haley Seal]

Oh, no, no, he did not.

[Mike Sisco]

And he started banging on the window.

[Haley Seal]

What? No, no, he did not. I was inside that car and my dad absolutely did not bang on the windows.

[Mike Sisco]

And I didn't get out of. I never got out of the car.

[Haley Seal]

You were the first one out of the car. I was just in disbelief because I knew she just made that up because it never happened and he never did that. But I didn't get concerned. I just said no, you know, I'm glad you asked so I could straighten this out. That never happened. And then it comes down to who's believable And I wasn't worried about that.

[Charles Kitt]

As another way to seemingly explain some of her past behaviors, Chandler brought up that she used to have a drinking problem.

[Mike Sisco]

And I did tell you that I realized that I had a problem with alcohol.

[Haley Seal]

You did tell me you had a problem with alcohol.

[Charles Kitt]

Something Dana said she stopped by 1999, three years before the murders.

[Mike Sisco]

I told you I was going to three AA meetings a day, trying to get well. True.

[Haley Seal]

I knew you were trying to get well. Yes.

[Charles Kitt]

The state questioned, though, if becoming sober changed Chandler's behavior. When she came back clean and sober, did that change how she treated you?

[Haley Seal]

No.

[Charles Kitt]

Did it change how she talked about your dad?

[Haley Seal]

No.

[Dana Chandler]

Did it change how she talked about Karen?

[Haley Seal]

No. Do you solemnly swear the testimony you're.

[Dana Chandler]

Advocating in this case.

[Charles Kitt]

Dana Chandler not only thought she was the best person to represent herself, but when it was time to put on her defense, she decided she would be her own main witness.

[Mike Sisco]

But I feel like that I need to kind of tell my story to kind of put things in perspective.

[Charles Kitt]

She testified over seven days.

[Mike Sisco]

You have not seen evidence that I was in Topeka, Kansas, on July 7th.

[Charles Kitt]

Of 2002, speaking for about 20 hours.

[Mike Sisco]

I'd kind of like to review a little where I left off.

[Darrell Burton]

There was times when she would take so long to try to get her point across.

[Charles Kitt]

Dana Chandler's supporter, Darrell Burton, was considered concerned when she put herself on the stand.

[Darrell Burton]

And sometimes it seemed as though she was just rambling, you know, and that was just unfortunate. She may have known. She probably knew where she was trying to go, but she'd get lost.

[Mike Sisco]

But I continued drinking.

[Charles Kitt]

She again addressed issues such as her drinking and inappropriate conversations with Haley.

[Mike Sisco]

I was writing emails, drinking the blackout. I'd get up the next morning and not even remember those emails. I had a serious problem. And normal things I said about Karen spreading her legs. I mean, seriously, Haley was 14 years old. I am just so ashamed and embarrassed about that. And I hated that Haley, that I put Haley through that.

[Charles Kitt]

And Chandler, in her own testimony, addressed again that incident when she waited outside Karen's house to drop off Haley and Dustin with the couple. She said it was done out of necessity.

[Mike Sisco]

I yelled through the window I could not afford to feed Haley and Dustin and that I needed to leave them with him.

[Charles Kitt]

Chandler contrasted those times to when she stopped drinking, showing videos of her spending time outdoors with Hayley and Dustin.

[Mike Sisco]

This video was taken about nine months. And to my recovery.

[Charles Kitt]

Dana also disputed making frequent harassing calls to Karen and Mike, saying when she called, there was a Reason I was.

[Mike Sisco]

Calling to speak with my children, Haley and Dustin.

[Charles Kitt]

As to her having disagreements with Karen Harkness, she testified there were none.

[Mike Sisco]

I never, never had any confrontations with Karen Harkness at all.

[Charles Kitt]

Chandler also pointed out what she said was sloppiness in the police investigation. When Chandler questioned lead detective Richard Volley, she asked about whether police were too focused on her and should have been looking more thoroughly at other possible suspects.

[Mike Sisco]

Did you or did you not receive any leads for other suspects besides me?

[Detective Volley]

Early on in the investigation, there were several other people that were looked at as possible leads. So it's a matter of checking people off to dismissing people that couldn't have done it. When we can't dismiss them, we keep focusing on them like we did with you.

[Charles Kitt]

Chandler, though, said there was an area where she felt law enforcement thoroughly investigated whether she bought a 9 millimeter gun like the one used in the murders and they came up empty handed.

[Mike Sisco]

I've never owned, purchased or possessed a 9 millimeter firearm.

[Charles Kitt]

And throughout her defense, Dana Chandler was adamant that at the time of the murders she was in Colorado and no one could place her in Karen's house or even in Kansas. It seemed like a simple question Dana Chandler was asking Detective Voling, did you.

[Mike Sisco]

Ever develop any information that I was in to pedia, Kansas on July 6th or 7th of 2002?

[Charles Kitt]

But in answering that question, Volley said there was a woman named Patti Williams who may have spotted Chandler in the state of Kansas around the time of the murders.

[Mike Sisco]

What do you know about Patty Williams?

[Detective Volley]

She was a clerk at a convenience store in Waukena, Kansas.

[Charles Kitt]

The gas station convenience store in Waikini where Williams worked was nearly halfway between Denver and Topeka. It had been visited by an investigator. So searching for locations where someone may have spotted Chandler around the time of the murders there, the investigator showed Williams this photo of Dana.

[Detective Volley]

She was 7 out of 10 that it was you.

[Charles Kitt]

According to Volley, the clerk was 70% sure she had seen Dana Chandler and described some distinguishing features.

[Detective Volley]

She has said that she had gray near the hairline around.

[Charles Kitt]

Chandler, though told the jury she did not have gray hair back then. By the time of the trials, Williams had died and could not be questioned again. Chandler also expressed concern that the investigator only showed a single photo of her initially instead of an array of photos including different people. Something Volley did do when he went to the gas station about two weeks later.

[Detective Volley]

Later, we later went out with a what we call six pack photo. It's six photographs of people that look very similar. And amongst those photos was Ms. Chandler.

[Charles Kitt]

Foley said Patty Williams immediately picked out Chandler and again was 70% sure she saw her there. But Volley acknowledged using an array initially would have been better. There was still, for law enforcement, the issue regarding Dana Chandler's alibi. Remember, Volley said Dana told him she was home in her Denver apartment the night of the murders. But she told others, including an acquaintance, Jeff Bailey, she slept in her car in the Colorado mountains that night.

[Mike Sisco]

I was confused.

[Charles Kitt]

Dana Chandler told the jury she had been confused when she spoke with Volley. But prosecutor Kit was not accepting that explanation.

[Dana Chandler]

So what you told Detective Oie is not consistent with what you told Jeff Bailey, is it?

[Mike Sisco]

As far as my trip to Ms.

[Dana Chandler]

Chandler, it's not consistent.

[Mike Sisco]

Okay. Yeah, I would agree with that. I would. That's true.

[Dana Chandler]

Have you seen her document?

[Charles Kitt]

Once again, those secret recordings Haley made with her mother were played in court.

[Haley Seal]

Ever think about killing him? No, But I did.

[Charles Kitt]

But this time, Kit questioned Dana herself about its authenticity.

[Dana Chandler]

Was that your voice saying, did you ever think about killing him? I did.

[Mike Sisco]

It sounds like it is.

[Charles Kitt]

When it was time for the final witness, Dana Chandler decided it should be Dana Chandler. She knew the jury heard witnesses testify about her parenting and past behavior. Chandler explained if she was a less than attentive mother, it was because of her drinking and a lack of money, not a lack of love.

[Mike Sisco]

I absolutely did want to have a relationship with my children. You know, I think the financial, the substance abuse combination, it just wouldn't feasible. That's all I have. Thank you.

[Dana Chandler]

During this time that you couldn't afford to feed your children, you were buying booze, correct?

[Mike Sisco]

I was.

[Dana Chandler]

You buying enough alcohol to get blackout drunk?

[Mike Sisco]

I was.

[Dana Chandler]

Okay. Thank you for the question.

[Charles Kitt]

And with that, after 18 days of testimony, prosecutor Charles Kitt and Dana Chandler presented their closing arguments.

[Dana Chandler]

Why are Mike and Karen dead? And the evidence shows one simple answer. Control.

[Haley Seal]

I think KITT nailed it when he said it was about control.

[Charles Kitt]

The state described Chandler losing control of Mike as he planned his future with Karen and the rage that followed.

[Dana Chandler]

And that's what led to the defendant traveling to Topeka, Kansas, on July 6 and murdering them on July 7.

[Charles Kitt]

Kit spoke about Chandler's depiction of events, not lining up with the testimony of others.

[Dana Chandler]

It's the defendant versus everyone. You can believe the defendant's testimony, or you can believe everybody else that you heard from in this case.

[Charles Kitt]

In Dana Chandler's closing, she used a scam to make her point that prosecutors whom she called her accusers did not have enough evidence to tip it in their favor.

[Mike Sisco]

The accusers Must tip the scale here. I'm innocent. I have my infirmities and I have my shortcomings. But I do stand here before you all today and proclaim that I am an innocent woman.

[Charles Kitt]

She acknowledged the life she led was not perfect, but said that doesn't make her a murderer.

[Mike Sisco]

The state has woefully failed to meet its burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I killed Mike Sisko or Karen Harkness.

[Charles Kitt]

About four hours later, the jury delivered its verdict.

[Haley Seal]

We, the jury, find Dana Chandler guilty of murder in the first degree as.

[Mike Sisco]

Charged in count one, verdict form.

[Charles Kitt]

Guilty of the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. After hearing the verdict, Dana Chandler turned away. And while it was the verdict Haley hoped for, the end result is nothing she ever wanted.

[Haley Seal]

It is so much worse that my mom is the one behind these murders because we lost my dad and Karen. But then, through all this, now we've lost our mom. I really wish it was someone else.

[Darrell Burton]

I don't believe that they have proved this case beyond a reasonable doubt.

[Charles Kitt]

Chandler's supporter, Darrell Burton, remains undeterred. He still believes she is innocent.

[Darrell Burton]

The evidence just doesn't, you know, prove that she's guilty of anything.

[Charles Kitt]

Dana Chandler is filing motions for an appeal. 48 Hours reached out to Chandler again for this episode, but did not receive a response.

[Narrator]

I am very confident in this verdict.

[Charles Kitt]

District Attorney Mike Cage is certain the jury convicted the right person.

[Narrator]

I have every confidence in my prosecutors in how they handled this case.

[Haley Seal]

The focus of this case has gone almost completely to Dana Chandler and that the victims has really been lost, which is really Sad.

[Charles Kitt]

More than 20 years have passed since Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness were murdered. And Haley wants to make sure the lives lost are not forgotten.

[Haley Seal]

I was trying to tell my daughter about who my dad is. And I said he was a really fun, supportive, encouraging guy who believed in me and my brother. And Karen was so kind, so accepting. I miss him a lot.

[Narrator]

Now streaming when people go missing, I get hired to help find them. When lives are on the line.

[Haley Seal]

Colter, please find my daughter.

[Narrator]

He is the man for the job. I'm doing everything you can. Don't miss a moment.

[Haley Seal]

Colter's in trouble. I can feel it.

[Narrator]

Of TV's number one show. These people are dangerous.

[Dana Chandler]

I'm doing this alone. No, no, no.

[Charles Kitt]

Every Batman gotta have their Robin Colter.

[Narrator]

Justin Hartley stars I made a promise I would never stop looking in Tracker all episodes now streaming on Paramount plus and returning CBS fall Get ready to laugh until it hurts you're gonna love this. Novocaine is now streaming on Paramount Plus.

[Haley Seal]

I got this condition. I don't feel pain.

[Narrator]

You're a superhero. No.

[Dana Chandler]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

It's an adrenaline rush of fun.

[Mike Sisco]

This is the best.

[Narrator]

And a bloody good time.

[Haley Seal]

Almost got the best part.

[Narrator]

It's the first great action comedy of the year.

[Mike Sisco]

Let the magic happen.

[Detective Volley]

That's good.

[Charles Kitt]

Looking forward to it.

[Narrator]

Novocain. Rated R. Now streaming on Paramount plus.