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Man accused of killing Kan. student testifies


2/12/2010




EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) -- A man accused of killing a Kansas college student who led a secret life as an Internet porn model testified Friday that he was scared when he found her body in his motel room and fled because he figured authorities would blame him.

Israel Mireles, 26, is charged with capital murder, rape and aggravated sodomy in the November 2007 death of Emily Sander. The disappearance of the 18-year-old Butler Community College made national headlines after it was revealed she was also known as the Internet model Zoey Zane.

Mireles' public defender said in opening statements that Mireles claimed another man came into his motel room and became violent in a drug deal that went sour.

Mireles testified Friday that when he returned to the motel room the first thing he saw was blood and then the body. He said he started grabbing things and putting them into his car because he wanted to get to his family and his girlfriend, Victoria Martens. He said he didn't know why he didn't call police.

"I was scared," he said. "I figured the first person they'd blame would be me."

He said he didn't know why he wrapped her body in a blanket and put it in the car. His testimony was expected to wrap up Friday.

On his way to see his girlfriend in Baxter Springs, Mireles dumped Sander's body in a ditch. Mireles and Martens then drove to Texas and on to Mexico.

Authorities later found a knife with Sander's blood on it at the house of Marten's grandmother in Baxter Springs.

A forensic scientist with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation testified Thursday about that knife and said Sander's blood also was on the clothes found in a trash bin at the Baxter Springs house.

Diana Schunn, a nurse who specializes in sexual assaults, testified Sander's sexual injuries were more extensive than any she had ever seen.

The defense began its case Thursday by calling two witnesses who recounted the night Mireles and Sander met.

Keely McFann, a friend of Sander, said Mireles had been asking about buying drugs.

Mireles kept buying drinks, everyone was drunk, McFann said.

Brad Scott testified he saw Mireles flashing money and asking where he could buy cocaine.

"The plan Israel had was to take his money and buy cocaine then have everyone go back to his hotel and party," Scott said.

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Information from: The Wichita Eagle, http://www.kansas.com






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