What happened to Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness?
Sisco and Harkness were planning to host their parents for a cookout at their Topeka home on the afternoon of July 7, 2002.
The two couples arrived at around the same time, Mike’s mom Carol Sisco recalled on NBC News’ Dateline last year. When no one answered the front door, she said, they went around back and saw a sliding door was partially open.
Harkness’ father, Harold Worswick, described to CBS News finding the bodies of his 53-year-old daughter and her 47-year-old fiancé in their bedroom.
Both had been shot multiple times, since-retired Topeka Police detective Richard Volle, who led the investigation in 2002, said on Dateline. The murder weapon was never found, but investigators determined a 9mm semiautomatic pistol was used in the slayings.
Topeka police said at the time there was no forced entry and it didn’t appear to be a robbery gone wrong, as Harkness was still wearing jewelry and there was cash in the house that the couple had just won during a night out at the Sac & Fox Casino.
Weeks, then months, went by without a break in the investigation and the case turned cold.