Butler Twp. shooting suspect to remain jailed in Kansas; Second court appearance scheduled

BUTLER TWP. — The man suspected of shooting and killing four people in a Butler Twp. neighborhood Friday made his first appearance in a Kansas courtroom, following his capture over the weekend

Stephen Marlow, 39, has been charged with 13 counts including eight murder charges in Vandalia Municipal Court stemming from the killings of Clyde and Eva Knox, and Sarah and Kayla Anderson last week. Following a nationwide manhunt, Marlow was captured Saturday in Lawrence, Kansas.

Marlow appeared in a Douglas County, Kansas courtroom at 4 p.m. EDT, the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office confirmed with News Center 7.

During the hearing, a judge ruled to keep Marlow held in jail with no bond, as requested by the original jurisdiction that charged him, the district attorney spokesperson told News Center 7.

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An attorney was appointed for the extradition part of his case and Marlow will make his next appearance in Douglas County court Wednesday afternoon for a status hearing, the spokesperson said.

The extradition part of Marlow’s hearing will determine when Butler Twp. police can get him from Kansas and bring him back to face charges in Montgomery County.

The spokesperson added they’re expecting to learn if Marlow will waive the extradition hearing or not. If Marlow does not waive extradition, it will set a formal extradition proceeding, the spokesperson said.

The Douglas County DA’s Office confirmed Marlow is not facing any charges in Kansas.

The charges against Marlow in Vandalia Municipal Court are:

8 counts of aggravated murder
4 counts of aggravated burglary
1 count of weapons under disability

Newly-obtained court records indicate Marlow spoke to a neighbor in between the deadly shootings at two homes on Hardwicke Place.

The witness told investigators he watched Marlow leave the home of Sarah and Kayla Anderson after the first shots were fired.

“(The witness) watched Stephen exit the garage of (the Anderson’s home) and spoke to him. (The witness) stated he watched Stephen holster a gun and Stephen made a vague threat to him. (The witness) was able to positively identify Stephen in a photo lineup,” investigators said in a court filing in Vandalia Municipal Court, obtained in a News Center 7 public records request.

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Investigators also outlined the series of events during the deadly shootings. Investigators allege Marlow first went into the open attached garage where the Andersons lived and shot and killed both Sarah and Kayla. The killings were caught on security cameras that were at the house, court records indicate.

Marlow then went to the home of Clyde and Eva Knox, which is one house to the south from the home where the Andersons lived, entered through the Knox’s detached garage and killed them, investigators allege in the court filings.

A second witness told investigators he heard the gunshots at the Knox’s home, looked outside and saw Marlow getting into a white Ford SUV moments before Marlow drove away, investigators allege in the court documents.

After the killings Marlow fled the area, sparking a nationwide search. Lawrence, Kansas police provided new details on the capture of Marlow Saturday, saying they were notified about 30 minutes before his arrest that Marlow was suspected to be in the Lawrence area.

A Lawrence officer spotted Marlow’s car, attempted a traffic stop in a grocery store parking lot, and Marlow was taken into custody without incident, Lawrence Patrol Lt. David Ernst said in a media availability Monday.

We’ll continue to update this story as we learn more.

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