Olathe

Son appears in court in death of mother, aunt

A man accused of killing his mother and aunt asked for a court-appointed lawyer Thursday.

Charles “Tre” Peeler III, 19, of Olathe is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Lucy Peeler, 44, and her aunt, Nina Pilcher, 74.

In a brief hearing in Johnson County District Court, Peeler requested a court-appointed lawyer but was not required to enter a plea. He is being held on $1 million bond.

Lucy Peeler’s battered body was found Sunday morning in a bathtub inside the family’s Olathe apartment.

Pilcher, 74, of Kansas City, Kan., was found dead Tuesday night on farm property in Caldwell County, Mo., that is owned by Tre Peeler’s grandfather.

At Thursday’s hearing, District Judge Thomas Bornholdt appointed the public defender’s office to represent Peeler. His next court hearing was scheduled for Thursday.

WICHITA

Dead inmate’s brother plans to sue jail

A relative of a man who died in the Sedgwick County Jail is planning a $1.5 million lawsuit.

John Mires, 50, died in December 2001 after a deputy shoved him back into his cell, causing him to strike his head on a wall and eventually die. He had been arrested for drunken driving.

His brother, Ron Mires, has filed a letter of intent to sue the county for wrongful death.

Sheriff Gary Steed said investigations by the District Attorney’s Office and Kansas Bureau of Investigation cleared the deputy of misconduct.

“This was an unfortunate, tragic incident,” he said. “We have the greatest empathy for the family, John Mires and the deputies involved.”

Ron Mires said that while his brother was in the hospital, he heard conflicting stories about what had happened.

The county has 120 days to resolve the claim. After that, Mires can file a formal lawsuit.