photo by: McPherson County Sheriff's Office

Mehki McDaniel, left, and Ansley Fogle.

A Topeka man on Monday waived his right to a preliminary hearing in a Douglas County murder case.

The man, Mehki McDaniel, 20, faces one count of second-degree murder in the November 2021 shooting death of Peyton Whitaker, 18, of Topeka. In addition, McDaniel is charged with six felony counts of theft of a firearm.

McDaniel appeared in court Monday with defense attorney Branden Smith.

Smith told the court that he was working on a potential plea agreement with Senior Assistant District Attorney David Greenwald.

McDaniel remains in custody at the Douglas County Jail on a $250,000 bond. His next court appearance is set for April 19.

Also appearing in court on charges related to the shooting was Ansley Fogle, 24, of Topeka. Fogle appeared via Zoom with her attorney, J.C. Gilroy. She also waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

A preliminary hearing is a court proceeding at which a judge determines whether enough evidence exists to order the accused to stand trial.

Fogle is charged with interference with law enforcement and obstructing apprehension or prosecution, both felonies.

She remains out on a $5,000 bond, and her next court appearance is set for May 17.

As previously reported by the Journal-World, McDaniel and Fogle were arrested in December in McPherson County after a coordinated effort by Lawrence police, the Kansas Bureau of Investigations and the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office.

They were arrested in connection with the Lawrence shooting that occurred on Nov. 24, 2021. Police found Whitaker with a gunshot wound at a residence in the 200 block of Yorkshire Drive. Whitaker was pronounced dead at the scene, said Lt. David Ernst with the Lawrence Police Department.