F. Glenn Miller Jr. will stand trial in Jewish center killings

A Johnson County judge on Tuesday ordered white supremacist F. Glenn Miller Jr. to stand trial for killing three people outside Jewish facilities last April in Overland Park.

After a day and a half of preliminary hearing testimony, District Judge Kelly Ryan found that prosecutors had established probable cause to try Miller for capital murder and five other felony counts related to the April 13, 2014, rampage.

Prosecutors wrapped up their case with testimony linking firearms recovered from Miller’s car with shell casings and bullet fragments left at the two shooting scenes. Other testimony focused on the autopsy results.

Miller, 74, allegedly drove from southwest Missouri to Johnson County to kill Jewish people. Three victims, all Christians, ended up dead. Miller, also known as Frazier Glenn Cross Jr., is charged with capital murder in those deaths. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.

William Corporon, 69, and his 14-year-old grandson, Reat Underwood, were shot outside the Jewish Community Center, where Reat was participating in a talent competition. Terri LaManno, 53, was killed a few minutes later outside the Village Shalom care center, where she had gone to visit her mother.

All three victims suffered devastating injuries from shotgun blasts, deputy Johnson County coroner Charles Glenn testified Tuesday.

Corporon and his grandson were shot in the head at close range, Glenn testified Tuesday.

LaManno was shot in the neck and probably died within seconds, he said.

Crime scene investigators with the Johnson County sheriff’s office testified Tuesday about efforts to collect evidence, including spent shotgun shells and bullet shell casings.

Deputies who searched Miller’s car after his arrest found four firearms and a large amount of ammunition.

A 12-gauge shotgun and .38-caliber revolver were on the front passenger seat, according to testimony. Another 12-gauge shotgun and a .30-caliber rifle were found in the trunk.

David Wright, a firearms examiner with the Johnson County crime lab, testified that spent shells recovered from both crime scenes were fired from the shotgun recovered from Miller’s car trunk.

Bullets and bullet fragments found at the community center were fired from the rifle and pistol later taken from Miller’s car, Wright said.

On Monday, several witnesses identified Miller as the man they saw shooting at people that day.

Overland Park police officers testified that when they arrested Miller, the avowed white supremacist asked how many Jews he had killed.

In addition to the capital murder count, Miller was ordered to stand trial on three counts of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm into an occupied building.

Although criminal defendants typically are arraigned after their preliminary hearing, defense attorney Mark Manna asked for a delay to consult Miller about speedy-trial issues. The arraignment is scheduled for March 27.

As he has during most of his court appearances, Miller spoke Tuesday to court spectators as he was being taken from the courtroom, saying his motivation could be found on a particular website linked to white supremacist ideology.

After the preliminary hearing, the court took up a defense motion to allow Miller Internet access to assist in his defense while he is in jail.

Miller reacted angrily when the judge would not let him speak on the issue.

“If I can’t talk, fire them both,” he said, gesturing toward his lawyers and adding that he would represent himself.

Miller said he wouldn’t “participate” in the trial if he wasn’t allowed to speak.

“You’re not going to gag me at this trial,” he said while pointing at the judge.

Ryan did not rule on the request for Internet access, which the sheriff’s office opposes.

This story was originally published March 3, 2015 at 9:57 AM with the headline "F. Glenn Miller Jr. will stand trial in Jewish center killings."