By Rachael Gray - Special to The News
LEOTI - Miranda Schumacher says she loves her dad, Todd Schumacher. She also said, during his Friday preliminary hearing for charges of the murder of her mother, that he's the one who pulled the trigger.
Todd Schumacher, 44, of Leoti, was bound over for trial Friday in Leoti District Court on charges of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated child endangerment in the shooting death of his ex-wife, Ann Schumacher.
Schumacher's arraignment has been set for Sept. 7. He was arrested on allegations of the crimes March 23 after turning himself in to the Wichita County Sheriff.
During Friday's preliminary hearing, Miranda Schumacher testified that she watched from a chair as her father pulled a gun from his jacket, placed his hand on her mother's shoulder and shot her.
Before that, the 15-year-old Schumacher had grabbed a digital camera to record her parents' conversation.
According to earlier testimony from Todd Schumacher's sister-in-law, Laura Schumacher, Miranda Schumacher's parents were involved in a custody battle.
Barry Disney, assistant attorney general and prosecutor to the case, played the digital camera audio for the court before Miranda Schumacher's testimony.
The audio is of a male voice, followed by a loud pop, then Miranda Schumacher and her brother Matthew, 11, screaming and crying and yelling to call 911, according to testimony from Miranda Schumacher.
Miranda and Matthew Schumacher are now living in Johnson County with Ann Schumacher's sister, and it's where Miranda Schumacher said she prefers to live.
Defense attorney Billy Rork, Topeka, asked Miranda Schumacher if anyone had coached her or told her what to say and asked her if she knew custody decisions would be made from her testimony.
"No one suggested I should do anything but say the truth," Miranda Schumacher said.
Miranda Schumacher said she is telling the same story she told law enforcement back in March immediately after the alleged crime.
Wichita County Sheriff Randy Keaton, who responded to the call at Ann Schumacher's home, said he found Schumacher lying in front of the doorway to the home, face down, with a wound under her chin. He said he saw no signs of life upon examining her.
Marnie Johnson, who was dating Todd Schumacher at the time of the alleged crime, said the night before Ann Schumacher died, Todd Schumacher had received custody papers from his ex-wife, which upset him.
"He said he wanted to kill her," she said.
Laura Schumacher said she had been on the phone for 50 minutes with her brother-in-law the night before the alleged crimes and said she thought he had calmed down after the conversation and was going to stay the night at a friend's home.
Laura Schumacher and Johnson said at the time Todd Schumacher was upset, it was clear he had been drinking.
No blood-alcohol-content tests were taken upon his arrest, according to Undersheriff Mike Wilson.
The State of Kansas also is represented by Laura Lewis, Wichita county attorney, in the case.
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