The Murder of Emily Sander
Emily Irene Sander was an 18-year-old student at Butler Community College in Kansas, USA. Emily was described as a shy but sweet and friendly girl. It was revealed that at the time of her disappearance she was working as a secretary and a pornographic model using the pseudonym Zoey Zane. The media was criticised for over-reporting Sander's porn career, which was said not to be relevant to her disappearance and led to victim-blaming and sensationalism of the case.
According to reports, Emily and Israel Mireles, a 24-year-old male, were seen leaving a bar together on 23rd November 2007. This was the last time Emily was seen alive. Blood was later discovered in Mireles' motel room and Emily's car was found still parked at the bar. On 29th November Emily's body was found, she had been stabbed mutliple times and strangled to death with a telephone cord, she had also been beaten with a beer bottle. Bloody clothing, a knife and a beer bottle were found in a rubbish bin outside Mireles' girlfriend's house in Baxter Springs. Police began to search for Mireles but he had already fled the country to Mexico.
On 19th December 2007, Mireles was apprehended by police in Mexico. He was with his 16-year-old pregnant girlfriend, American citizen, Victoria Martens who refused to return to Kansas. Mireles was thought to be the father of her unborn child and charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child. Victoria's mother claimed her daughter knew nothing about Emily's murder and thought the trip to Mexico was a holiday. Victoria was handed over to juvenile courts.
Mireles was charged with capital murder, rape and aggravated sodomy against Emily Sander. It was later suggested on internet forums that Mireles had posted the location of Emily's body to the website 4chan before his arrest.
Mireles was convicted of rape and capital murder, the sodomy charge was dropped as part of the murder charge. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
