Since May, Jeanette Stauffer has incurred more than $16,000 in expenses monitoring the investigation and related matters concerning her daughter's slaying in Costa Rica.
Tuesday, a bill was introduced in the Kansas Legislature on behalf of Atty. Gen. Carla Stovall that would allow Kansas victims of violent crime occurring outside the United States and their families to be eligible for financial compensation.
Stovall is pushing the bill as a result of the May 2001 death of Stauffer's daughter, Shannon Martin. Martin was a Kansas University senior conducting research in Costa Rica when she was killed.
Stauffer, Topeka, said she welcomed Stovall's efforts to expand eligibility for the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Law.
An expanded compensation law "definitely would have helped me," Stauffer said.
Among the expenses Stauffer incurred were numerous long-distance telephone calls, travel and correspondence.
Currently, only Kansas residents who are victims of violent crime committed in Kansas or other states are eligible. Stovall's bill would expand that to Kansas victims of a violent crime that posed a substantial threat, personal injury or death committed outside of the United States for compensation.
State law provides up to $5,000 for compensation and funeral expenses for eligible crime victims and their families.
Stauffer said she has received considerable assistance in the form of advice and information from Stovall's office.
"Without the Attorney General's Office, we would not have been able to accomplish the things we have," she said.
One person has been detained in Costa Rica by justice officials there in connection with Martin's death.
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