Keith Morrison and Andrea Canning sit down to talk about Andrea’s episode, “Deadly Obsession.” In 2002, Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness were found murdered in Karen’s Topeka, Kansas, home. As the investigation into their deaths unfolded, a suspect emerged with close ties to one of the victims and a history of obsessive behavior. Andrea and Keith discuss the trail of circumstantial evidence that led to an arrest, followed by three trials. And they discuss the wisdom of a defendant choosing to represent themself at trial. Plus, they answer viewer and listener questions from social media. Have a question for Talking Dateline? Leave it for us in a DM on social media @DatelineNBC or in a voicemail at (212) 413-5252 for a chance to be featured on a future episode!Listen to the full episode of “Deadly Obsession” on Apple: https://apple.co/43Mj1h6Listen to the full episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6HMXYws6aYPTcCU8W6xVog
Chapter 1: What is the 'Deadly Obsession' episode about?
Hello, I'm Keith Morrison, and I'm here with the one and only Andrea Canning.
I like that.
And we are talking Dateline. Today's episode is called Deadly Obsession. This was back in 2002 when Mike Sisko and Karen Harkness were found murdered in Karen's home in Topeka, Kansas. The investigation uncovered a suspect with a motive for murder, but it would take the determination of Mike's daughter and three trials before the killer was brought to justice.
If you haven't heard the episode yet, it's the one right below this one on our list of podcasts. So go there and listen to it or watch it if you wish. Stream it on Peacock.com. And then come back here. And when you come back, Andrea has a clip to share, among other things, from her interview with the jury foreperson from Dana's second trial in 2022.
He's got some interesting things to say about what went on inside the deliberation room. Often a surprise. And it was this time, too. Later, we'll be back to answer some of your questions from social media. So stick around for that. In the meantime. Hello, Andrea. Hello, Keith. This was an interesting story that took a long, long time to clear. My heaven.
Yeah, it did. I mean, you know, we don't get that very often, three trials.
Two is frequent, but three, hardly ever.
Yeah, that's really when the DA is bold and they're like, we're not giving up.
Yeah, sure.
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Chapter 2: How does the investigation of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness' murder unfold?
Yeah, I mean, if you're looking for fingerprints or a witness or DNA or that she sort of even vaguely confessed or something... It just didn't have any of those things. You know, no one saw her in Topeka. There was one gas station clerk who thinks they said 70 percent sure it was her halfway between Denver and Topeka.
It seems to me that 70 percent is another word for reasonable doubt. But, you know, who am I to say?
I mean, I think that was the crux of this, right? For the defense was reasonable doubt.
How far away did she live from Topeka? Remind me now.
Eight hours.
An eight-hour drive away from Topeka, Kansas.
Yeah.
So the allegation is that she drove there and back in the course of, what, 24, 25, 27 hours, something like that?
Yeah, it was quick. Her alibi was that she was in Rocky Mountain National Park. So it was eight hours. They think that she drove the straight shot from Denver to Topeka. And then I don't think we got into this— In very much detail, but they think afterwards she went into Nebraska, I believe it was, and then like came around in a weird way to go home.
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Chapter 3: Why were there three trials in the case?
Rage.
When you realize that you're split, is that kind of like, guys, I think we're done?
We did the vote. At this point, kept our card for the last one. And it was, all right, so this is your vote. If we're going to call it, you need to explain your position and why you chose it.
So wait, was everyone not anonymous anymore?
On this last day, no.
Oh, okay.
Interesting. And this was, if we're going to call it, then we should at least know why each of us, you know, obviously if you're all in a room together, there's only 12 of you, it's pretty easy to figure out who's guilty, not guilty.
Did that help at all, hearing everyone finally, you know, openly give their decision?
It helped close everything, like, as far as come to a conclusion that we can't move forward. The amount of discussion would bring us there.
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Chapter 4: What challenges did the prosecution face with circumstantial evidence?
Yeah.
Juries, we know this, juries like motives, but you don't need a motive.
Yeah, they're not required, as you know.
I think in this case, it was motive plus circumstantial evidence. You know, motive driving the whole thing. And then she really, gosh, she hit that home run for them in that third trial, you know, with going to motive because she showed how kind of out there they were. she can be. Yeah, she did not do herself any favors by representing herself. And, you know, it's a cautionary tale.
I think most defendants should absolutely not be playing the role of lawyer.
Oh, you bet. And she was so arrogant that she did it and clearly didn't recognize that she was sinking her own boat as she sailed along. Yeah. Let's talk for a moment now about Haley, if we can, Andrea. Yeah. The central character, really, in your story, besides the character of the mother who we discern toward the end of the show. But now I get it.
I mean, having watched the whole program and having seen her mother in court, okay, I see why maybe she would testify against this woman. However— There was a long period of time during which she was sort of campaigning for a case here. And that's so unusual. It is. How did she deal with that on a personal level?
Because she was, it's like for Haley, she didn't have that resolution. Hmm. It was like she was always hanging in the balance. Like, what is going on? Did my mom do this? Didn't my mom do this? I need to know. Because you can just imagine that living like that every day, like that groundhog day of uncertainty and, you know, lack of resolution.
And at one point, so Haley moves to Colorado just for a fresh start, you know, with her boyfriend. And Dana shows up and has somehow found her address. Yeah. And she was kind of freaked out by that. Why is she here? And, you know, I think that was part of what propelled her to say, like, I need to do something here. You know, my mom's reaching out to me.
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