George Tiller

Read reporter Cliff Judy's courtroom blog at the bottom of the page. By Chris Durden & Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.) District Judge Warren Wilbert gave prosecutors what they wanted, the "Hard 50" sentence for Scott Roeder. That means Roeder won't be eligible for parole for at least 50 years. In January, a jury convicted Roeder of shooting Dr. George Tiller while he served as an usher at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita. On Thursday, Roeder scolded the judge presiding over his sentencing hearing, saying he denied the defense he wanted to bring.

by Kim Hynes (WICHITA, Kan.) "Another human being lost his life simply because he lived by his conscience," said Connie Pace-Adair. One by one, people emerged from a crowd in Old Town to stand up and honor Dr. George Tiller. "When you show up here and tell people I love George Tiller.  George Tiller was a friend of mine and I care about him. I'm sorry he's gone. You've made the most important statement you can make for that man," said Jim Stanford. About 400 people showed up in Old Town for Sunday's candle light vigil.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The church where a Kansas abortion provider was killed held its Sunday worship service, a week after the shooting. The congregation of Reformation Lutheran Church held the 10 a.m. worship service. Last Sunday, George Tiller was shot to death while serving as an usher at the church. An armed police officer stood guard in the sanctuary and police cars were in the parking lot. Pastor Kristin Neitzel called it part of "the journey of healing. " Scott Roeder has been charged in the killing and is being held in a Sedgwick County jail.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The leader of Operation Rescue says a man suspected of fatally shooting abortion doctor George Tiller is not affiliated with the anti-abortion group. The group released the statement from its president, Troy Newman, on Monday saying Scott Roeder "has never been a member, contributor or volunteer with Operation Rescue. " Newman says Roeder may have posted to the organization's open Internet blog, but so have thousands of members of the public not tied to the group.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The suspect in the killing of Kansas abortion provider George Tiller is accusing the president of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue of cowardice. Scott Roeder leveled the charge in a letter sent from jail. Roeder has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the May 31 shooting at Tiller's Wichita church. Operation Rescue president Troy Newman confirmed Friday that he had received the letter, but declined comment other than calling it "more prattle" from Roeder.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The man charged in the slaying of Kansas late-term abortion provider George Tiller says he's "being treated as a criminal" even though he hasn't been convicted. Scott Roeder called The Associated Press on Thursday from the Sedgwick County Jail and disputed characterizations in the media of him as being anti-government, saying he is "anti-corrupt government. " When asked by the AP to discuss the Tiller shooting, the 51-year-old Kansas City, Mo., man refused to comment, saying he would talk about that later.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The head of the Republican Party is calling on President Barack Obama to withdraw Kathleen Sebelius's nomination as Health and Human Services Secretary unless she answers more questions on abortion. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says that Sebelius, the Democratic governor of Kansas, has not been forthcoming about her ties to a Kansas abortion doctor, George Tiller. Steele's statement Thursday came as Republicans blocked action on Sebelius' confirmation in the Senate.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A brother of the man suspected of fatally shooting abortion doctor George Tiller told a Kansas newspaper that the family never foresaw him capable of killing. Scott Roeder was in jail Monday while investigators sought to learn more about his background. He has not been charged in Tiller's slaying at a Wichita church Sunday. David Roeder said in a statement to The Topeka Capital-Journal that the family is "shocked, horrified and filled with sadness at the death of Dr. Tiller" and the possible involvement of Roeder.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Attorneys for abortion provider George Tiller are asking a Sedgwick County court to admonish grand jurors investigation their client to avoid ads from abortion opponents. The request is a response to a campaign by Operation Rescue that includes radio announcements, a phone calling campaign and billboard asking, "Is Tiller Above the Law?" Abortion opponents forced Sedgwick County to create the grand jury to investigate Tiller, one of the few doctors in the country who performs late-term abortions.

by Jim Grawe It's called "Wrath of Angels. " The book chronicles the battle over abortion from before Roe v. Wade up until 1998 when it was published. Authors James Risen and Judy Thomas wrote an entire chapter on Wichita and George Tiller. "(He) was one of those key figures in the battle that was always a lightening rod for everyone," Risen says. The book talks about Tiller's initial ambition to become a dermatologist. But when his father--also a doctor--was killed in a 1970 plane crash, he took over his dad's general practice.

"I thought it was a very ambitious project, and thought it would be great if Wichita could develop the brand new reputation as the pro-life capital of the world," Rob Rotola says. Rotola is pastor at Word of Life Church which owns land at 37th and Meridian which is the planned site for the National Pro-Life Memorial and International Life Center.  Pastor Mark Holick from Spirit One Church is one of the project leaders. "We need a place to come and properly grieve and memorialize the children that we've lost to abortion," Holick says.

Read reporter Cliff Judy's courtroom blog at the bottom of the page. By Chris Durden & Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.) District Judge Warren Wilbert gave prosecutors what they wanted, the "Hard 50" sentence for Scott Roeder. That means Roeder won't be eligible for parole for at least 50 years. In January, a jury convicted Roeder of shooting Dr. George Tiller while he served as an usher at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita. On Thursday, Roeder scolded the judge presiding over his sentencing hearing, saying he denied the defense he wanted to bring.

by Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.) Scott Roeder took the stand Thursday morning with the idea of testifying in his own defense, but it didn't take long for him to admit to killing a Wichita abortion provider.  Late Thursday, Judge Warren Wilbert also ruled jurors will not be allowed to consider the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Roeder had already told media and the court he killed Dr. George Tiller.  Tiller was serving as an usher at his east Wichita church when Roeder walked up behind him, put a .22-caliber handgun to Tiller's forehead, and pulled the trigger.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Online retailer eBay will not allow an auction to raise money for the man charged with killing Wichita, Kan., abortion doctor George Tiller. EBay issued a statement Tuesday saying the auction would violate its policy on "offensive material. " EBay also said it would remove the items if they are posted. Scott Roeder is charged with first-degree murder in the May 31 shooting of Tiller at the doctor's Wichita church. Supporters of Roeder said they wanted to auction off such things as an Army of God manual, which is an underground publication for anti-abortion militants that describes ways to shut down clinics, including bombing.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The suspect in the killing of Kansas abortion provider George Tiller is accusing the president of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue of cowardice. Scott Roeder leveled the charge in a letter sent from jail. Roeder has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the May 31 shooting at Tiller's Wichita church. Operation Rescue president Troy Newman confirmed Friday that he had received the letter, but declined comment other than calling it "more prattle" from Roeder.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The church where a Kansas abortion provider was killed held its Sunday worship service, a week after the shooting. The congregation of Reformation Lutheran Church held the 10 a.m. worship service. Last Sunday, George Tiller was shot to death while serving as an usher at the church. An armed police officer stood guard in the sanctuary and police cars were in the parking lot. Pastor Kristin Neitzel called it part of "the journey of healing. " Scott Roeder has been charged in the killing and is being held in a Sedgwick County jail.

By Eyewitness News (WICHITA, Kan.) Hundreds of people gather for the funeral of Dr. George Tiller.  Nearly 700 mourners filled the sanctuary of the College Hill United Methodist Church Saturday morning. Another 200 watched a closed-circuit television broadcast in another room. Tiller was one of the nation's few providers of late-term abortions. He was killed by a gunman last Sunday in the foyer of Reformation Lutheran Church while serving as an usher. His son, Maury, said the manner of his father's death resulted in an unimaginable outpouring of love and support for the family.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The man charged in the slaying of Kansas late-term abortion provider George Tiller says he's "being treated as a criminal" even though he hasn't been convicted. Scott Roeder called The Associated Press on Thursday from the Sedgwick County Jail and disputed characterizations in the media of him as being anti-government, saying he is "anti-corrupt government. " When asked by the AP to discuss the Tiller shooting, the 51-year-old Kansas City, Mo., man refused to comment, saying he would talk about that later.

by Denise Hnytka (WICHITA, Kan) The man accused of killing abortion provider Dr. George Tiller is formally charged with first degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault. Tiller was gunned down Sunday as he was serving as an usher in church. Police say the aggravated assault charges stem from threats made to other people in the church. Cameras lined up outside the Sedgwick County Courthouse as the man accused of killing George Tiller appeared before a judge. Scott Roeder appeared restless and asked the judge questions about his court-appointed attorney.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The leader of Operation Rescue says a man suspected of fatally shooting abortion doctor George Tiller is not affiliated with the anti-abortion group. The group released the statement from its president, Troy Newman, on Monday saying Scott Roeder "has never been a member, contributor or volunteer with Operation Rescue. " Newman says Roeder may have posted to the organization's open Internet blog, but so have thousands of members of the public not tied to the group.