Fourth victim dies

Local News

December 2, 2009

Kansas grandmother succumbs to injuries suffered in shootings

Anonymous The Weatherford Democrat Wed Dec 02, 2009, 10:15 AM CST

Staff and Wire Reports

An elderly northeast Kansas woman has died from injuries in a weekend shooting that also claimed her granddaughter and two great-granddaughters.

Kansas’ attorney general announced on Wednesday the death of 89-year-old Dorothy Wight of Osage County.

James Kraig Kahler, 46, a former Columbia, Mo., city official already is charged with capital murder in the deaths of his his 44-year-old estranged wife, Karen, and their daughters, 18-year-old Emily and 16-year-old Lauren.

Kahler is the former head of Weatherford’s municipal utility department.

Spokeswoman Ashley Anstaett said Wight died Tuesday at a Topeka hospital but the attorney general’s office delayed the announcement until family members were notified.

The shootings Saturday occurred in Wight’s home outside Burlingame.

Authorities say the Kahler’s 10-year-old son, Sean, also was at the home but was not physically injured.

Kahler appeared in an Osage County court Monday where a judge set his bail at $10 million. He was assigned a death penalty defense team, according to published reports.

He had been scheduled to appear in a Columbia, Mo. court Wednesday on a domestic assault charge. He was accused of assaulting his wife in March. That altercation led to his dismissal as director of Columbia’s Water and Light Department.

He had also been accused of slashing the tires on his wife’s car and cutting utility lines to her home.

She had reportedly filed for divorce in January. The pair had recently fought over chiild custody and financial issues, according to reports.

Kahler left his Weatherford post to accept the job in Columbia in June 2008.

Text Only

Local News

Wildlife volunteers needed
Like any other mother, Donna Robinson has pictures of her “babies” on her phone.
“Let me show you,” she said eagerly. “I’ve got lots of pictures of the kids.”
She scrolls through the photos — there’s one of a squirrel with milk on its mouth after a feeding. Oh, there’s a cute one of two tiny possums looking over her shoulder as she feeds another “baby.” Aww, there’s the group of four raccoons named after the Beatles: Ringo, Paul, George and John.
Ok. She’s not your “ordinary” mom.

February 6, 2012 2 Photos
Water woes on floodplain in Weatherford
When Wendy Walling purchased her home in the Briarwood subdivision off of Sante Fe Drive in the mid-1990s, her son could easily jump from one side of the small creek behind the home to the other.
“My son was in fourth grade (when we moved in) and he could actually jump across the creek,” Walling said.
By 2007, however, Walling said the width of the creek had begun to expand.
“(The creek) can hold water now and before it never could,” Walling said.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
DPS: Motorcyclists didn't see slowing truck
February 6, 2012
Kidnapper gets 99 years
February 6, 2012
Judge tosses plea in horse deaths
February 6, 2012
Weatherford junior to perform with All-State choir
When she was a little girl, Cassandra Kirby used to climb up next to her grandmother’s big fireplace and sing songs during the holiday get-togethers.
While she has a reserved and polite personality, recalling these memories makes a big smile break out onto Kirby’s face.
Get her talking about songs and suddenly she’s effusive and happy.

February 5, 2012 1 Photo
Rock solid gymnasts
February 3, 2012 2 Photos
WCS gala slated for Feb. 11 at Clear Fork
February 3, 2012
CASA of Parker County seeking new volunteers
February 3, 2012
Millsap lends helping hand to one of its own
February 3, 2012
More Local News Headlines

The Komen Foundation recently cut ties (before announcing they would reinstate them) with Planned Parenthood and stopped funding breast cancer screenings — was that a good thing?

Local News

Search Results