Judge reviewing autopsy before deciding bond

A Douglas County judge was going over an autopsy report on the death of Carmin D. Ross this afternoon before deciding whether to reduce the $1 million bond for Tom Murray, who is charged with first-degree murder in his ex-wife’s death.

“It may be the most brutal crime that has occurred in Douglas County,” said Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney, who argued to keep the bond at $1 million.

Kenney told Judge Robert Fairchild the bond shouldn’t be reduced because of the crime’s severity, and because of concerns about community safety.

As Kenney told the judge Ross sustained about 17 stab wounds and 11 lacerations, Murray’s attorney, Pedro Irigonegaray, interrupted.

“I just don’t think this is the time to try the case,” Irigonegaray said.

It was the first time it has been made public how Ross was killed. Her body was found on Nov. 14, 2003, at 1860 E. 1150 Rd.

Fairchild said he would review the autopsy report before deciding on the bond. Murray’s attorney has asked for the bond to be reduced to $100,000.

Kenney indicated prosecutors were also worried that Murray, a Kansas State University English professor, would flee the country if bond was reduced.

“We have evidence he had done searches on countries that would not extradite to the United States,” Kenney said.

Irigonegaray said a condition of his client being released on a reduced bond could be that Murray would be attached to a tamper-proof, high-tech GPS-based surveillance unit.