Ark Valley News - Prosecutors to seek death penalty against Bluml

Tony Bluml (center) listens to the judge in Sedgwick County District Court Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 15).

Prosecutors to seek death penalty against Bluml
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: October 23, 2014

Tony Bluml pleaded not guilty Wednesday (Oct. 15) to capital murder and other charges and prosecutors said they would be seeking the death penalty.

Bluml and three others are charged in the shooting death of Bluml's adoptive parents, Roger and Melissa Bluml, in 2013.

According to testimony in an earlier hearing, Tony Bluml is accused of arranging the shooting at the couple's rural Valley Center home.

In a notice filed in Sedgwick County District Court, District Attorney Marc Bennett said if Tony Bluml is convicted of capital murder, prosecutors will request a separate sentencing proceeding to determine whether Bluml should be sentenced to death.

Also charged in the case are Braden Smith, Drew Ellington and Kisha Schaberg, who is Tony Bluml's birth mother.

Smith pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier this month, but has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. Smith agreed to testify against the other three defendants in exchange for a lesser charge of second-degree murder.

Arraignment for Ellington is set for 9 a.m. Nov. 20. Schaberg's arraignment date has not been set.

A trial date of Nov. 17 has been set for Bluml, but that likely will be postponed.