Mom faces murder charge for killing infant with heat of hairdryer

Charges against Brigit L. Hippen, 18, have been upgraded to second-degree murder for the Feb. 23 death of her infant daughter.

She initially was charged with involuntary manslaughter and had pleaded innocent.

But Cheryl Allen, Reno County assistant district attorney said she felt that the murder charge was more appropriate considering the facts in the case.

| Bob Cronkleton

Olathe records two homicides in the space of a few days

Olathe usually records about two homicides per year, though occasionally the city has no homicides whatsoever, like in 2009 and 2004. Last month, there were two within the space of a few days. Joe Lambe checks in with an update on the cases and new charges being filed.

1 man found dead at Olathe motel

From Olathe PD: On Tuesday, June 29th at approximately 7:53 am, officers from the Olathe Police Department were dispatched to the Econolodge (209 E. Flaming rd.) in reference to a medical emergency. Upon arrival officers discovered a deceased 57-year-old male in one of the rooms. No additional information is available at this time. The victim's identity is being withheld pending notifications.

The Olathe Police Department's investigations unit is currently investigating this incident as a homicide. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Olathe Police Department at 913-971-7455 or the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

Mo. man accused of killing 4 relatives

The attorney for James Kahler -- a Columbia man accused of killing his estranged wife, his two teenage daughters and his wife's grandmother -- is trying to get the death-penalty case against Kahler dismissed, the Cap-Journal reports. The slayings took place last November in Burlingame, Kan., over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Kahler's attorney alleges that authorities seized documents that were under attorney-client privilege and, thus, should have been kept secret. The prosecutors, though, say the documents were part of the Kahlers' divorce case and weren't enough to justify dismissing the case.

File photo of the crime scene via AP

Wichita teen killed when shooters target wrong house

A 13-year-old boy was shot and killed in a retaliation shooting Sunday in Wichita, police tell the Eagle. Only the shooters apparently got the wrong house and slew a teenager who didn't have anything to do with their beef. From Stan Finger's report:

The two men outside didn't wait for the door to open before they began shooting, police said.

... "It could have been any child — any person," Lt. Todd Ojile said Monday. "It did not matter to them. The house was the target, and whoever happened to be there and get in the way was a secondary problem to them."

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Skippy Sanchez!

More about the Shawnee homicide checkpoint

Last night, Shawnee police had a checkpoint to hand out flyers in the Gerry Grovenburg murder. The 61-year-old Grovenburg, who was married with a grown son, was found dead behind the counter of his liquor store in May, and police are still looking for the person who killed him.

About 240 vehicles passed through the checkpoint last night, Capt. Rob Moser said. Investigators wanted to reach people who regularly drive through that neighborhood, in case they saw something the night of Grovenburg's slaying. They also happened to catch one drunk driver during the checkpoint. Shawnee police checked with the district attorney's office before scheduling the checkpoint, Moser said.

Here's a list of guidelines that, generally, police must meet when setting up a checkpoint, if you were curious. Checkpoints are used most commonly for DUI cases, though they've been operated for other reasons, like checking for drivers licenses. (Something that KCPD has been doing a lot lately.) I found a few cities that have done checkpoints like the one Shawnee had last night, though they're fairly rare.

Anyone with information about Grovenburg's homicide is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477) or the Shawnee police at 913-262-2150.

Shawnee plans checkpoint to get info about murder case

This is different ...

From Shawnee PD: On Wednesday, June 16, 2010 between 9:30-10:30 PM, the Shawnee Police Department will be conducting a checklane in the 7600 block of northbound Quivira Rd in an effort to solicit information which may be of assistance in the investigation of the homicide at Mr. G's liquor store.

The homicide occurred on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at approximately 10 PM. The goal of the checkpoint is to contact motorists who may have been in this area five weeks ago on this same day of the week, and at this same time of day. Time detainment and inconvenience to motorists will be kept to a minimum.

Reward increases in Valdivia murder

The mother of KCK murder victim John Valdivia has added $1,500 to his reward fund, Crime Stoppers reports. Valdivia, 26, was fatally shot on Feb. 14 in the 1700 block of Richmond Avenue. He's survived by a large family, including a fiancee and two sons. Valdivia, whose nickname was "Dogg," liked to box and enjoyed other sports. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

Kansas teen, 14, accused of murder

A Saline County boy, age 14, is facing a charge of first-degree murder in the shooting of a 9-year-old boy, the Salina Journal reports.

Teens convicted in JoCo homicide, shooting

Two young men from Overland Park have been found guilty in the death of Donte Robinson, a 21-year-old from Merriam, Joe Lambe reports. Avrin Chapman, 18, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter,  as well as attempted voluntary manslaughter. His brother, 17-year-old Devin, was convicted of attempted voluntary manslaughter.

The incident happened back in February 2009. A group of men walked toward the Chapmans' car, apparently to fight them. Avrin fired a gun -- to scare them off, he said, but one shot fatally wounded Robinson. The brothers then tried to chase down Robinson, which is when Devin fired on him and another man.

KCK releases homicide victim's name

KCK police have identified a young man who was killed Friday in the 600 block of Sandusky Avenue: Giovani Martinez-Carino, 18. He was about a week away from turning 19. Police say he was from Oakland, Calif. They're asking anyone with information about his case to call the department's Major Case Unit at 913-573-6020 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

Kan. convict hopes DNA will free him

Merrill Andrews, a man convicted of a 1977 murder in Wichita, is asking for new DNA tests to help clear his name, the Wichita Eagle reports. Almost all of the evidence has been destroyed, but police still have fingerprints taken from the crime scene where Nola Babb, a 91-year-old businesswoman, was killed. Andrews wants the prints tested for DNA, though authorities say any that is found will be very, very small.

KCK seeks vehicle in homicide case

From The Star: A young man whose body was found Friday by Kansas City, Kan., police was a homicide victim, police said Saturday. Authorities discovered the man while searching for a wanted person in a home in the 600 block of Sandusky Avenue. The victim’s name and age have not been released.

Police on Saturday asked for the public’s help in locating a gray or silver late-model, four-door vehicle, possibly a Buick, with California plates. Anyone with information is asked to call 913-573-6020 or 816-474-TIPS (4077).

Hearing set in Kan. shooting rampage

In Osage County, Kan., a preliminary hearing is scheduled in late June for James Kahler, who allegedly killed his estranged wife, her grandmother and his two teenage daughters back in November, after his wife filed for divorce.

Kahler's 11-year-old son -- who reportedly fled the shooting that day -- will be able to testify via closed-circuit TV, so that he won't have to see his dad, something that a social worker said could be harmful. Kahler used to be the director of Columbia's water and light department.

Who killed Gerry Grovenburg?

Gerry Grovenburg -- the owner of Mr. G's Liquor Store in Shawnee -- was planning to retire in the next year, his family tells Dawn Bormann. Instead, Grovenburg was found dead in his store last Wednesday night, and the Metro Squad is searching for his killer. Grovenburg, 61, was married for 38 years and had a son. He'd kept working despite suffering a stroke about seven years ago. He grew up in Prairie Village, was a National Guardsman and worked in hotel management in New Orleans for a few years.

Again, police want to question a man seen near the store that night near 76th and Quivira.

Police said the man was black, about 20 to 25 years old, 6 feet to 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed about 150 to 175 pounds.

Someone saw the man get into a small, red, two-door car with a woman, police said.

Sketch released in Shawnee homicide

Last week, the Metro Squad released this sketch in connection with the Gerry G. Grovenburg homicide in Shawnee. Grovenburg was found dead in his liquor store last Wednesday night near 76th and Quivira. Police say they want to question a man resembling this sketch. They say he's about 20 to 25 years old, about 6 feet to 6 feet 3 inches tall. They think he weighs about 150 to 175 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call 913-742-6090 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

KCK seeks help IDing remains

KCK police are trying to identify the remains of a woman found in a barrel last week in the 1700 block of North 51st Terrace. They've released a photograph of jewelry that was with the body. The woman was white and was anywhere from 20 to 40 years old. She stood about 5 feet 5, and had artificial fingernails, a brown wig and teeth that were in "fair" condition with some fillings. They believe the remains had been in the barrel anywhere from four to 15 years. Police ask those with information to call their major case unit at 913-573-6020 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

Bones in barrel belonged to woman who wore wig

Joe Lambe has the latest development in the investigation into the skeletal remains found in a 55-gallon barrel in Kansas City, Kan.

| Sara Shepherd

KCK names body found in burning car

From KCKPD:The victim from the homicide which occurred on Friday, April 30, 2010 in the 2200 Block of State Line Road has been identified. Juan M. Molinar, Hispanic male, DOB 07/03/1968, was a Kansas City, Kansas resident. The victim’s family has been notified.

The incident is being investigated jointly by the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department’s Major Case Unit and the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department. Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraging to please call 913-573-6020 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

Fishing tourney to raise reward money

Just another reminder: This weekend is the Jeff Rogers Memorial Bass Tournament. Rogers was shot and killed two years ago at his home in Kansas City, Kan. The tourney -- which is Saturday at Truman Lake -- will raise money for a reward to help solve the case. So far, nobody has been charged with Rogers' murder. More details about the tourney are available at this site.

25 years for killing pregnant girlfriend, unborn child

From Dawn Bormann: A Lansing man was sentenced Tuesday to nearly 25 years for the death of his pregnant girlfriend and her unborn child.

In April, Sedale Fox pleaded guilty in Leavenworth County District Court to two counts of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting. His girlfriend, Olivia Jackson, and her child were killed Jan. 22, 2008, in Lansing. The murder happened just days after an attempted bombing at Jackson’s home.

Even BTK thinks it's in bad taste

Collectors are eagerly buying "murderabilia" associated with Dennis Rader, Wichita's BTK killer, the Eagle reports. Sadly, there's a whole subculture out there devoted to this crap. In Rader's case, they're even selling dirt samples from his old home. An attorney for BTK victims says that Rader is actually reluctant to respond to letter-writers because so many want to sell his responses. There's no evidence that Rader is tied to any efforts to sell these items.

Which is an extraordinary feat, if you think about it. The murderabilia collectors have made Rader, a power-hungry coward who murdered 10 people, look classy in comparison.

Bass tourney to raise reward money

There's going to be a bass fishing tournament next weekend to honor a KCK murder victim, Jeff Rogers, and raise money for a reward in his case. It's scheduled for May 8 at Truman Lake. More detailed information, including an entry form, is available at this site. Rogers was killed April 9, 2008, in the 8400 block of Tauromee after a group of men broke into his home. Anybody with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

Body found inside burning vehicle

KCK police are investigating a dead body found inside a burning vehicle about 1:30 this morning in the 2200 block of State Line Road. (Firefighters were the ones who made the discovery, so both agencies are working on the case.) The police release lists this as a homicide investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 913-573-6020 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

Pittsburg teen accused of killing pal

In Pittsburg, Kan., police have arrested a 16-year-old who allegedly shot and killed his friend, age 17. Authorities say the 16-year-old had apparently stolen a handgun and removed the clip. Only the teens didn't realize one bullet was still in the chamber, and the one boy died while they were playing with the weapon, the police say.