Sneak peek: My Mother's Murder Trials | Forensic Files

[Music] They were found uh Sunday afternoon, July 7th. My dad and his fianceé Karen were
shot and killed in their beds. I was 17 and my brother was 15. And there was just shock.
The killer made it downstairs, shot Karen Harkness multiple times, shot Mike Cisco multiple times. Whoever it was
that did this hated these people. The only person that hated them was my mom. Dana, what should people understand
about the fact that you, Dana Chandler's daughter, thinks Dana Chandler killed your father? I do have a mind of my own
and I'm not biased in this situation. I don't want it to be her. I want the truth to come out. I wanted to
help the police. So, I started to record my conversations with her. I think that the
only way I can really move on with a relationship with you is if we can get it, you know, if you can just tell me
yourself that you did it. You know, number one, I didn't do it. And number one, I number two, I don't know what
happened. Did you know anything about the death of Michael and Karen? I have no idea what happened. I hit a point
where I didn't know if justice would ever be served. both hands out of the car. I needed justice for my dad and for
Karen. We the jury find the defendant guilty of the crime of murder in the first degree. I feel better in the sense
that my dad's killer is paying for their actions. I don't feel better that my mom
is capable of killing my dad. And then the Kansas Supreme Court comes and says, "This is prosecutorial misconduct. We're
going to go ahead and overturn her conviction. You have a new trial. My liberty, my freedom is hanging in the
balance." If she could bring out something to prove she didn't do it, that's for her and her own freedom. But
she can't and she hasn't. I did not kill Mike Cisco. She would not hesitate to get revenge on me. I did not kill Karen
Hartness. I know the truth. I am an innocent woman. The truth is that she murdered them.
She scares me. Your mom scares you? Yeah.

SATURDAY 9-11 p.m.ET: A daughter suspects her mother of a double murder. Years later, courtroom drama brings unsettling answers. CBS News chief correspondent Jim Axelrod reports in a two-part "48 Hours" airing Saturday, May 31 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Crime. Social justice. Impact. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

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Brief Summary

The episode examines the murder case of Mike Cisco and Karen Harkness, focusing on accusations against Dana Chandler and its impact on their children.

Key points

A Daughter's Doubt. Dana Chandler's daughter grapples with the possibility that her mother killed her father.
The Verdict. The jury finds the defendant guilty of first-degree murder, but the case takes a turn.
Overturned Conviction. The Kansas Supreme Court overturns the conviction, leading to a new trial for Dana.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

I don't want it to be her. I want the truth to come out.

Dana Chandler's daughter expressing her desire for the truth about her father's murder.

0:50WatchMay 29, 2025

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