Key People

Mary MillerMary E. Miller, victim
Age: 46

Mary Miller was technology coordinator for Watson Library's reference department at Kansas University. She often came into contact with students who needed help using computers to do research for papers.

Marty MillerMartin K. Miller, defendant
Lives in: Lawrence
Age: 46

Miller grew up in Lawrence and is the son of locally well-known 1960s activists Ocoee and Keith Miller, who started Penn House in February 1969. He is a carpenter, a former chairman of the board of Veritas Christian School, and a member of Victory Bible Church. Prosecutors allege he murdered his wife so he'd be free to pursue sexual relationships with other women.

Charles Branson, district attorney
Lives in: Lawrence.
Age: 35
Education: Bachelor's, KU, 1993; law degree, KU, 1995.

Branson is in his first term as district attorney after defeating incumbent Christine Kenney in November. He ran on a campaign platform that included a pledge to spend time in court trying cases.

Brandon Jones, assistant district attorney
Lives in: Gardner
Age: 30
Education: Bachelor's, KU, 1997; law degree, KU, 2000.

Jones was hired as a Douglas County prosecutor in August 2003. Before that, he worked as a Franklin County prosecutor.

Mark Manna, defense attorney
Lives in: Lawrence
Age: 37
Education: Bachelor's, Washburn University, 1990; law degree, Washburn, 1993.

Manna is a member of the state's death-penalty defense team. Miller does not face the death penalty, but the state recently began asking Douglas County judges to appoint salaried members of the death-penalty team to handle high-level cases instead of paying private attorneys by the hour.