TOPEKA ? The Kansas Supreme Court today upheld the Douglas County conviction of Michael W. Kesserling, who was sentenced to life in prison for a murder near Lecompton.

A jury convicted Kesselring of Topeka of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping in connection with the death of Dale Miller, whose body was found in 2001.

Miller had disappeared after he was suspected of stealing from a drug syndicate two duffel bags full of cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine

Kesselring denied that he killed Miller. Witnesses testified that he was seen with two co-defendants the night of the crime.

The court today issued a unanimous ruling upholding the conviction.