Names released in Burlingame shooting
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Originally published 09:26 a.m., November 29, 2009
Updated 05:23 p.m., November 29, 2009
James "Kraig" Kahler, 46, recently of Columbia, Mo., is being held by the Osage County Sheriff's Department on charges that he killed his ex-wife and two of his children.
Officers searched about 13 hours for Kahler, after they found one person dead and three critically injured at a home just south of Burlingame Saturday evening. Burlingame is in Osage County, about 35 miles northeast of Emporia.
Kahler is being held on one count of capital murder for the alleged premeditated killing of Karen Kahler, 44; Emily Kahler, 18; and Lauren Kahler, 16, according to information from Ashley Anstaett, spokeswoman for the Kansas Attorney General's office.
Two of the victims died after they were taken to Stormont-Vail HealthCare in Topeka. One was reported in critical condition earlier today.
Anstaett said Kahler also is being held on one count of attempted first-degree murder of Dorothy Wight and one count of aggravated burglary at Wight's home.
The overnight search for Kahler ended in his arrest about 7:30 a.m. today around the intersection of 112th and Auburn Road. Shawnee County Sheriff's deputies made the arrest, according to a report on the Topeka Capital-Journal Web site this morning.
Kahler had been charged earlier this year in Columbia, Mo., with third-degree domestic assault, according to a recent report in the Columbia Business Times.
The story, published Sept. 8, stated that Kahler had resigned as the city of Columbia's water and light director.
City Manager Bill Watkins said in the story that he had asked for and accepted Kahler's resignation.
"I have no doubts about Kraig's professional integrity and intelligence," Watkins was quoted as saying, "but he is experiencing some difficult family issues at this time. In my opinion, this has affected his focus on the department in a way that is not likely to change in the near future."
Kahler had brought his family from Weatherford, Texas, in July 2008 to run the utilities department, according to Columbia city documents.
In March, he and his wife had a confrontation over her decision to file for divorce. He was charged with third-degree domestic assault, and a Circuit Court trial on the misdemeanor charge was scheduled to take place on Oct. 21.
The city's report on Kahler stated that he and his wife were parents of three children.
The Burlingame shooting caused Osage County officers to block off the area around the site of the shooting and to ask residents to remain inside their homes on Saturday.
According to the Capital-Journal report this morning, a 10-year-old managed to get away from the house and call for help.
The search for Kahler involved deputies from Shawnee and Osage counties, Auburn and Topeka police, K-9 units and Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter and patrol officers.
The Osage County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation ask that people with information about the incident call Osage County Crimestoppers (877) OSCRIME or (800) KSCRIME.
Formal charges against Kahler are expected Monday morning, when he makes his first appearance in Osage County District Court at 11 a.m.
Comments
Post a comment
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. Our goal with this feature is to encourage thoughtful discussions about the news stories. Using the comment feature to make random attacks on people is not acceptable. Emporiagazette.com neither endorses nor guarantees the accuracy of any user contribution. Responsibility for what is posted or contributed to this site is the sole responsibility of each user. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
(Requires free registration.)