Murder of Emily Sander

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Emily Irene Sander
Image:EmilySander.jpg
Birthdate: 26 February 1989
Birth location: Olathe, Kansas[1]
Birth name: Emily Irene Sander
Date of death: 24 November 2007
Height: 5 feet 3 inches
Weight: 105 lbs.
Eye color: Blue
Hair color: Brunette
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Alias(es): Zoey Zane

Emily Irene Sander (26 February 1989[1] – 24 November 2007[2]) was an 18-year-old American student at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas[3] who worked as an internet porn model. Reported missing on November 23, 2007[4] and found dead six days later,[5] her disappearance was widely covered in the mainstream news media. A man identified as a suspect in her murder has been arrested and charged.[6]

Contents

[edit] Circumstances of disappearance

Photo of suspect charged with Sander's murder.
Photo of suspect charged with Sander's murder.

According to police, Sander and a man they identified as Israel Mireles were seen leaving a bar in east El Dorado on November 23, 2007. This was the last time Sander was seen alive.[7] Later, blood was discovered in Mireles' motel room next door to an Italian restaurant where he worked as a waiter[8] and Sander's car was found still parked at the bar. The rental car Mireles was driving was found abandoned on November 27 in Vernon, Texas, where he has relatives.[9]

Six days after Sander's disappearance, on November 29, investigators found a body 50 miles east of El Dorado which they said matched a preliminary physical description of Sander.[10] On December 1, 2007, police confirmed the body to be that of Sander, but refused to comment on the condition of the body. An autopsy was performed, but the results and cause of death were sealed.[11]

El Dorado, Kansas Police Chief Tom Boren said a special task force of FBI and Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents was assigned to the case.[12]

[edit] Apprehension

Police in Mexico apprehended the 24-year-old Israel Mireles on December 19, 2007, in Melchor Muzquiz, Mexico. He has been charged in the U.S. with capital murder, rape and aggravated sodomy.[6] When captured, Mireles was with his 16-year-old pregnant girlfriend Victoria Martens.[6][13] Although prosecutors promised to not file charges against her, Martens initially refused to return to Kansas.[14]

According to Sandy Martens (the mother of Victoria Martens), her daughter had called her on November 24 to tell her Mireles had been involved in an altercation when another man attempted to rob him.[15] Sandy Martens also claimed to have received a text message from her daughter days after the couple fled that said she "had a lot to tell her mother."[15] Later the mother said she believed her daughter thought her trip with Mireles to Mexico was a vacation.[16] Victoria later called home and was picked up at the border. She was taken to Texas, where she is in juvenile custody. Because Mireles is suspected of being her unborn baby's father, he's also charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child.[16]

Because Mireles, who was in the United States legally, went to his home country of Mexico, there could be added complications to the case. Before extraditing a suspect, Mexico requires that authorities submit the most serious charges that the suspect could face. Although the nation will not release someone who could face the death penalty, according to Boren, Mireles will not face the death penalty. The maximum penalty he could face would be life in prison without the possibility of parole.[17][6] U.S. authorities are currently attempting to have Mireles extradited.[14]

[edit] Online activity

After several days of speculation[11] following her disappearance, it was revealed that Emily Sander was an Internet pornography model under the pseudonym Zoey Zane.[18][19] Friends of Sander said that she was recruited for an internet pornography site during the summer of 2007, shortly after her 18th birthday.[20] She apparently kept her career mostly to herself, and only close friends knew about her pornography career in addition to working as a secretary.[20] According to Sander's grandmother, Shirley Sander, her family knew nothing of her pornography site and did not believe the reports.[21] Following reports of her modeling, the case drew international attention.[21][22][23]

Her friends claimed that when informed about her pornography site, her boyfriend broke up with her.[20]

Investigators said they do not believe that Sander's involvement in porn was connected with her disappearance.[24]

[edit] Criticism of the news media

The Zoey Zane porn site featured a statement criticizing the media, saying they had blown Sander's porn career out of proportion. The statement reported that it was a shame that the site drew more viewers after the death of Emily than it had drawn previously.[25] The Zoey Zane site is now currently put to other uses, and no longer displays any mention of Emily Sander.

[edit] Aftermath

Sander's death had an impact both at and beyond Butler Community College. A memorial was created for her.[26] Sander's funeral took place on December 6, 2007.[27]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Services set for Emily Sander". The Augusta Daily Gazette (2007-12-03). Retrieved on 2007-12-20.
  2. ^ "Online Memorial and Obituary of Emily Sander". Carlson Colonial Funeral Home (2007-12-03). Retrieved on 2007-12-20.
  3. ^ Stan Finger and Tim Potter (2007-11-26). "Police suspect missing Butler student 'was victim of violence'". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved on 2007-12-20.
  4. ^ Tim Potter and Hurst Liviana (2007-11-30). "Body found; may be Emily Sander". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
  5. ^ Mike Carney (2007-11-30). "Family grieves likely death of 18-year-old Emily Sander". USA Today. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
  6. ^ a b c d Roxana Hegeman. Arrest in Student-Porn Actress' Death. The Associated Press. Retrieved on 2007-12-20.
  7. ^ David Schoetz (2007-11-28). "Bedspread Clue in Kansas Teen's Disappearance". ABC News. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
  8. ^ Tim Potter (2007-12-05). "Mom pleads to hear from daughter". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
  9. ^ Roxana Hegeman (2007-12-13). "Body of Secret Porn Star Found in Kansas". AOL NEWS. Retrieved on 2007-11-30.
  10. ^ Roxana Hegeman (2007-11-29). "Body matches description of missing girl". The Associated Press. Retrieved on 2007-11-30.
  11. ^ a b Jeff Freeland (2007-12-2). Emily Sander as Zoey Zane: Internet Porn Star Meets Tragic End. National Ledger. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  12. ^ Tim Potter (2007-11-29). "Emily Sander case takes an unusual twist". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
  13. ^ Roxana Hegeman (2007-11-24). "Foul play suspected in disappearance of Kansas teen". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved on 2007-11-29.
  14. ^ a b David Lohr (2007-12-20). "Mexican Authorities Arrest Israel Mireles". Court TV Crime Library. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
  15. ^ a b The Associated Press (2007-12-4). "Mother pleads for pregnant daughter to call". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
  16. ^ a b "Girlfriend of Slaying Suspect Returns". Associated Press (2007-12-28). Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
  17. ^ The Associated Press (2007-12-1). "Flight to Mexico could complicate prosecution in student's death". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
  18. ^ Emily Sander. "FOX News. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
  19. ^ David Schoetz (2007-11-29). Body Found in Search for Teen Porn Star. ABC News. Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
  20. ^ a b c Rozana Hegeman (2007-11-28). Missing Student May Have Been Porn Star. Fox News. Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
  21. ^ a b Online Reporter (2007-11-30). Body Find in 'Porn Star' Case. The Sun (UK). Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
  22. ^ Associated Press (2007-11-28). Missing student an Internet porn star?. Edmonton Sun. Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
  23. ^ Online Reporter (2007-12-21). Man held over teenage web porn star killing. news.com.au. Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
  24. ^ The Associated Press (2007-12-1). "Autopsy Slated for Secret Porn Star". WIBW News. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
  25. ^ L.A. Vess (2007-12-4). "Adult Site Slams Media on Portrayal of Slain Student Emily Sander". GayWired.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
  26. ^ Natasha Trelfa (2007-11-30). BCC Plans Vigil for Emily Sander. WIBW News. Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
  27. ^ Funeral Set for Emily Sander. WIBW News (2007-12-03). Retrieved on 2007-12-03.

[edit] External links

Sander's grave at Find A Grave


Persondata
NAME Sander, Emily
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Zane, Zoe
SHORT DESCRIPTION
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH 2007
PLACE OF DEATH