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{{Short description|2007 murder in El Dorado, Kansas}}
{{Female adult bio
{{Infobox person
|name= Emily Irene Sander | name = Emily Irene Sander
|photo= ]
| image = EmilySander.jpg
|birth= ] ]
| caption =
⚫ |location= ]<ref name=AugustaGazette>{{citeweb|url=http://www.augustagazette.com/state_news/x1720552982|title="Services set for Emily Sander"|date=2007-12-03|publisher=''The Augusta Daily Gazette''|accessdate=2007-12-06|}} </ref>
|birthname= Emily Irene Sander | birth_name = Emily Irene Sander
| birth_date = {{birth date|1989|02|26|mf=yes}}
|death= ] ]
⚫ | birth_place = ]<ref name=AugustaGazette>{{cite web|url=http://www.augustagazette.com/state_news/x1720552982 |title=Services set for Emily Sander |date=2007-12-03 |publisher=The Augusta Daily Gazette |access-date=2007-12-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211151145/http://www.augustagazette.com/state_news/x1720552982 |archive-date=December 11, 2007 }}</ref>
|measurements=
| death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2007|11|24|1989|2|26}}
|height= 5 feet 3 inches
| death_place = ]
|weight= 105 lbs.
| disappeared_date = November 23, 2007
|eye color= Blue
| disappeared_place = ]
|hair color= Brunette
| death_cause = Murder
|ethnicity= ]
| body_discovered = November 29, 2007
⚫ |alias= Zoey Zane
| spouse =
|homepage=
⚫ | alias = Zoey Zane
}} }}
⚫ '''Emily Irene Sander''' (] ]<ref name=AugustaGazette> </ref> – ] ]<ref name=Carlson> {{citeweb|url=http://www.carlsoncolonial.com/obituary.jsp?site=0104&id=25246|title="Online Memorial and Obituary of Emily Sander"|date=2007-12-03|publisher=''Carlson Colonial Funeral Home|accessdate=2007-12-08|}}</ref>) was an 18-year-old American student at ] in ], ]<ref name=WEagle2>{{citeweb|url=http://www.kansas.com/197/story/238605.html|title="Police suspect missing Butler student 'was victim of violence'"|author=Stan Finger and Tim Potter|date=2007-11-26|publisher=''The Wichita Eagle''|accessdate=2007-12-01|}}</ref> who worked as a nude model. Reported missing on ], ]<ref name=WEagle1>{{citeweb|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/story/241852.html|title="Body found; may be Emily Sander"|author=Tim Potter and Hurst Liviana|date=2007-11-30|publisher=''The Wichita Eagle''|accessdate=2007-12-01|}}</ref> and found dead six days later,<ref name=USAtoday1>{{citeweb|url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/11/family-grieves.html|title="Family grieves likely death of 18-year-old Emily Sander"|author=Mike Carney|date=2007-11-30|publisher=''USA Today''|accessdate=2007-12-01|}}</ref> her disappearance was widely covered in the mainstream news media.


⚫ '''Emily Irene Sander''' (February 26, 1989<ref name="AugustaGazette" /> – November 24, 2007<ref name=Carlson>{{cite web|url=http://www.carlsoncolonial.com/obituaries/Emily-Irene-Sander-25246/|title=Online Memorial and Obituary of Emily Sander|date=2007-12-03|publisher=Carlson Colonial Funeral Home|access-date=2011-12-13}}</ref>) was an 18-year-old student at ] in ], ], United States,<ref name=WEagle2>{{cite news|url=http://www.kansas.com/197/story/238605.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070621095537/http://www.kansas.com/197/story/238605.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-06-21 |title=Police suspect missing Butler student 'was victim of violence' |author=Stan Finger and Tim Potter |date=2007-11-26 |newspaper=The Wichita Eagle |access-date=2007-12-20 }}</ref> who was reported missing on November 23, 2007<ref name=WEagle1>{{cite news|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/story/241852.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070621095537/http://www.kansas.com/news/story/241852.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-06-21|title=Body found; may be Emily Sander|author=Tim Potter and Hurst Liviana|date=2007-11-30|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle|access-date=2007-12-01}}</ref> and found dead six days later.<ref name=USAtoday1>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/11/family-grieves.html |title=Family grieves likely death of 18-year-old Emily Sander |author=Mike Carney |date=2007-11-30 |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=2007-12-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116201514/http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/11/family-grieves.html |archive-date=January 16, 2008}}</ref> Her disappearance was widely covered in the mainstream news media. Israel Mireles was named as a suspect; he was arrested in Mexico<ref name=assocpress /> and in February 2010 found guilty of her ].<ref name=salina>{{cite news|url=http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/KSNEWS-NewsInKansas020310|title=Court readies for trial in Kansas porn model's death|agency=Associated Press|date=2010-02-03|newspaper=The Salina Journal|access-date=2010-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927153936/http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/KSNEWS-NewsInKansas020310|archive-date=2011-09-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Circumstances of disappearance==
⚫ ] According to police, Sander and a man they have identified as Israel Mireles were last seen leaving a bar in east El Dorado on ], ].<ref name=ABC1>{{citeweb|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3925266&page=1|title="Bedspread Clue in Kansas Teen's Disappearance"|author=David Schoetz|date=2007-11-28|publisher=''ABC News''|accessdate=2007-12-01|}}</ref> Later, blood was discovered in Mireles' motel room next door to an Italian restaurant where he worked as a waiter<ref name=eag001>{{citeweb|url=http://www.kansas.com/213/story/246460.html|title="Mom pleads to hear from daughter"|author=Tim Potter|date=2007-12-05|publisher=''The Wichita Eagle''|accessdate=2007-12-05|}}</ref> and Sander's car was found still parked at the bar. The rental car Mireles was driving was found abandoned on November 27 in ], where he has relatives.<ref name=AOL@News>{{citeweb|url=http://news.aol.com/story/_a/body-of-secret-porn-star-found-in-kansas/20071128210409990001|title="Body of Secret Porn Star Found in Kansas"|author=Roxana Hegeman|date=2007-11-30|publisher=''AOL NEWS''|accessdate=2007-11-30|}}</ref>


==Disappearance==
Six days after Sander's disappearance, on ], investigators found a body 50 miles east of El Dorado which they said matched a preliminary physical description of Sander.<ref name=RawStory>{{citeweb|url=http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Police_say_body_matches_description_11292007.html|title="Body matches description of missing girl"|author=Roxana Hegeman|date=2007-11-29|publisher=''The Associated Press''|accessdate=2007-11-30|}}</ref> On ], ], police confirmed the body to be that of Sander, but refused to comment on the condition of the body. An ] was performed, but the results and cause of death have been sealed.<ref name=Nationalledger />
⚫ ] According to police, Sander and a man they identified as 24-year-old Israel Mireles were seen leaving a bar in east El Dorado on November 23, 2007. This was the last time Sander was seen alive.<ref name=ABC1>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3925266&page=1|title=Bedspread Clue in Kansas Teen's Disappearance|author=David Schoetz|date=2007-11-28|publisher=ABC News|access-date=2007-12-01}}</ref> Later, blood was discovered in Mireles' motel room next door to an Italian restaurant where he worked as a waiter<ref name=eag001>{{cite news|url=http://www.kansas.com/213/story/246460.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070621095537/http://www.kansas.com/213/story/246460.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-06-21|title=Mom pleads to hear from daughter|author=Tim Potter|date=2007-12-05|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle|access-date=2007-12-13}}</ref> and Sander's car was found still parked at the bar. The rental car Mireles was driving was found abandoned on November 27 in ], where he has relatives.<ref name=AOL@News>{{cite web|url=http://news.aol.com/story/_a/body-of-secret-porn-star-found-in-kansas/20071128210409990001|title=Body of Secret Porn Star Found in Kansas|author=Roxana Hegeman|date=2007-12-13|publisher=AOL NEWS|access-date=2007-11-30 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071201122433/http://news.aol.com/story/_a/body-of-secret-porn-star-found-in-kansas/20071128210409990001 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-12-01}}</ref>


Six days after Sander's disappearance, on November 29, investigators found a body {{convert|50|mi|km}} east of El Dorado,<ref name=RawStory>{{cite web|url=http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Police_say_body_matches_description_11292007.html|title=Body matches description of missing girl|author=Roxana Hegeman|date=2007-11-29|publisher=The Associated Press|access-date=2007-11-30 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071202171007/http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Police_say_body_matches_description_11292007.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-12-02}}</ref> later confirmed to be Sander's. An ] was performed, but the results and cause of death were sealed until the trial, when it was revealed that she had been stabbed multiple times and strangled to death with a telephone cord.<ref name=KWCH>{{cite web|url=http://articles.kwch.com/2010-02-08/capital-murder_24077819 |title=Israel Mireles Trial: Day One |author=Denise Hnytka |date=2010-02-08 |publisher=KWCH |access-date=2014-09-27 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627035245/http://articles.kwch.com/2010-02-08/capital-murder_24077819 |archive-date=June 27, 2015 }}</ref>
Police are searching for the 24-year-old Israel Mireles, whom they have identified as a suspect.<ref name=eag001 /> Police believe he is with his 16-year-old pregnant girlfriend Victoria Martens and that he might have gone to or is preparing to go to ].<ref name=HoustonChronicle>{{citeweb|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/5334173.html|title="Foul play suspected in disappearance of Kansas teen"|author=Roxana Hegeman|date=2007-11-24|publisher='']''|accessdate=2007-11-29|}}</ref> According to Sandy Martens (the mother of Victoria Martens), her daughter called her on November 24 to tell her Mireles had been involved in an altercation when another man attempted to rob him.<ref name=kc111>{{citeweb|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/389221.html|title="Mother pleads for pregnant daughter to call"|author=The Associated Press|date=2007-12-4|publisher=''The Kansas City Star''|accessdate=2007-12-05|}}</ref> 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."<ref name=kc111 />


== Apprehension ==
Following the discovery of the body, a monetary reward was established for information leading to the capture of Mireles.
El Dorado Police Chief Tom Boren said that a special task force of ] and ] agents was assigned to the case.<ref name=WEagle32>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/story/240927.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070621095537/http://www.kansas.com/news/story/240927.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-06-21|title=Emily Sander case takes an unusual twist|author=Tim Potter|date=2007-11-29|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle |access-date=2007-12-03}}</ref> On December 19, 2007, local police apprehended Mireles in ], ], Mexico. He was subsequently charged in the U.S. with capital murder, rape, and aggravated ].<ref name=assocpress>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/12/19/national/a102343S51.DTL|date=2007-12-19 |title=Arrest in Student-Porn Actress' Death|author=Roxana Hegeman|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212011340/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2007%2F12%2F19%2Fnational%2Fa102343S51.DTL|archive-date=2008-02-12|url-status=dead}}</ref> When captured, he was with his 16-year-old pregnant girlfriend, Victoria Martens.<ref name=assocpress /><ref name=HoustonChronicle>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/5334173.html|title=Foul play suspected in disappearance of Kansas teen|author=Roxana Hegeman|date=2007-11-24|newspaper=Houston Chronicle |access-date=2007-11-29}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Although prosecutors promised not to file charges against her, she initially refused to return to Kansas.<ref name=ctv002>{{cite web|url=http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/1207/2001_zoey_zane1.html|title=Mexican Authorities Arrest Israel Mireles|author=David Lohr|date=2007-12-20|work=Court TV Crime Library |access-date=2007-12-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071223025218/http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/1207/2001_zoey_zane1.html |archive-date = 2007-12-23}}</ref>


According to Victoria Martens' mother, Sandy 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,<ref name=kc111>{{cite news|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/389221.html|title=Mother pleads for pregnant daughter to call|agency=Associated Press|date=2007-12-04|newspaper=The Kansas City Star|access-date=2007-12-05 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071208203316/http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/389221.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-12-08}}</ref> and her daughter had also sent her a text message days after the couple fled saying she "had a lot to tell her mother".<ref name=kc111 /> Sandy Martens later said she believed her daughter thought the trip with Mireles to Mexico was a vacation.<ref name=girlfriend>{{cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iL-Ac3d21ksUICW7OAQqUNRwQERAD8TQ5JI00 |title=Girlfriend of Slaying Suspect Returns |date=2007-12-28 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=2007-12-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101154639/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iL-Ac3d21ksUICW7OAQqUNRwQERAD8TQ5JI00 |archive-date=January 1, 2008}}</ref> Victoria Martens later called home and was picked up at the border and taken to Texas, where she was put in juvenile custody. Mireles was suspected of impregnating her and also charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child.<ref name="girlfriend" />
If Mireles, who was in the United States legally, fled to his home country of Mexico, it could add serious complications to the case. Before extraditing a suspect, Mexico requires that authorities submit the most serious charges that suspect could face. The nation will not release someone who could face the death penalty, according to El Dorado, Kansas Police Chief Tom Boren.<ref name=WEagle5>{{citeweb|url=http://www.examiner.com/a-1079900~Flight_to_Mexico_could_complicate_prosecution_in_student_s_death.html|title="Flight to Mexico could complicate prosecution in student's death"|author=The Associated Press|date=2007-12-1|publisher='']''|accessdate=2007-12-05}}</ref>


Mireles was a Mexican citizen who had been in the United States legally and had returned to his home country. A potential complication of the case was that before ] a suspect, Mexico requires that authorities submit the most serious charges that the suspect could face, and will not allow extradition of someone who could face the death penalty, thus the maximum penalty Mireles could have faced was ];<ref name=assocpress /> By June 26, 2009, he was extradited to the US.<ref name=Extradition>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_on_re_us/us_slain_student;_ylt=ArkwkQfzpJMA4smAWiOmCqpH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTE1bjc2a2o5BHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bi1jaGFubmVsBHNsawNzdXNwZWN0aW5rYW4-|title=Suspect in Kansas porn model slaying back in US|date=2009-06-26|agency=Associated Press |work=Yahoo News |access-date=2009-06-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629004412/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_on_re_us/us_slain_student|archive-date=2009-06-29}}</ref>
Boren said a special task force of ] and Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents has been assigned to the case.<ref name=WEagle32>{{citeweb|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/story/240927.html|title="Emily Sander case takes an unusual twist"|author=Tim Potter|date=2007-11-29|publisher=''The Wichita Eagle''|accessdate=2007-12-03|}}</ref>


==Online activity== == Trial ==
Mireles' trial on charges of capital murder, rape and aggravated criminal sodomy was held from February 8 to 12, 2010.<ref name=salina /> He was convicted of rape and capital murder; the aggravated sodomy charge was dropped as part of the capital murder charge.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://cjonline.com/news/state/2010-02-12/man_convicted_in_model_slaying |title=Man convicted in model slaying |newspaper=Topeka Capital-Journal |agency=Associated Press |date=2010-02-12 |access-date=2019-04-08 }}</ref> On March 31, 2010, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://cjonline.com/news/state/2010-03-31/man_gets_life_for_killing_model |title=Man gets life for killing model |newspaper=Topeka Capital-Journal |date=2010-03-31 |access-date=2019-04-08 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
After several days of speculation<ref name=Nationalledger>{{citeweb|url=http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272617499.shtml|title=Emily Sander as Zoey Zane: Internet Porn Star Meets Tragic End|author=Jeff Freeland|date=2007-12-2|publisher=''National Ledger''|accessdate=2007-12-02}}</ref> following her disappearance, it was revealed that Emily Sander was active as an Internet ] under the pseudonym Zoey Zane.<ref name=ABCNews>{{citeweb|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3930064&page=1|title=Body Found in Search for Teen Porn Star|author=David Schoetz|date=2007-11-29|publisher=''ABC News''|accessdate=2007-11-30}}</ref> Friends of Sander say that she began to pose nude during the summer of 2007, shortly after her 18th birthday.<ref name=rox_fox_nov_28/> She apparently kept her career mostly to herself, and only close friends knew that she modeled in addition to working as a secretary.<ref name=rox_fox_nov_28/> According to Sander's grandmother, Shirley Sander, her family knew nothing of her internet modeling and did not believe the reports.<ref name=theSUN>{{citeweb|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article529393.ece|title=Body Find in 'Porn Star' Case|author=Online Reporter|date=2007-11-30|publisher=''The Sun'' (UK)|accessdate=2007-12-05}}</ref>


In 2013, Mireles appealed to the ] requesting a new trial;<ref>{{cite news |author=John Hanna |url=https://www.hutchnews.com/article/20130306/News/303069842 |title=Kan. Supreme Court hears appeal in student's death |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Hutchinson News |date=2013-03-06 |access-date=2019-04-08 }}</ref> the court upheld his conviction.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Hurst Laviana |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article1115100.html |title=Kansas Supreme Court upholds conviction in Emily Sander murder |newspaper=The Wichita Eagle |date=2014-08-08 |orig-year=2013-05-10 |access-date=2019-04-08 }}</ref>
⚫ Her friends claim that when informed about her modeling, her boyfriend broke up with her.<ref name=rox_fox_nov_28>{{citeweb|url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Nov28/0,4670,MissingPornStar,00.html

==Career as a pornographic model==
After several days of speculation following her disappearance,<ref name=Nationalledger>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272617499.shtml|title=Emily Sander as Zoey Zane: Internet Porn Star Meets Tragic End|author=Jeff Freeland|date=2007-12-02|newspaper=National Ledger |access-date=2007-12-02|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204122635/http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272617499.shtml|archive-date=2007-12-04}}</ref> it was revealed that in addition to being a secretary, Emily Sander worked as an Internet ] model using the pseudonym Zoey Zane.<ref name=photos>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,2787,00.html |title=Emily Sander |publisher=Fox News |access-date=2007-12-31 |date=2007-11-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229225538/http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,2787,00.html |archive-date=2007-12-29 }}</ref><ref name=ABCNews>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3930064&page=1|title=Body Found in Search for Teen Porn Star|author=David Schoetz|date=2007-11-29|publisher=ABC News|access-date=2007-12-13}}</ref>

⚫ Friends said she had been recruited for an internet porn site in summer 2007, shortly after her 18th birthday.<ref name=rox_fox_nov_28>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Nov28/0,4670,MissingPornStar,00.html
|title=Missing Student May Have Been Porn Star |title=Missing Student May Have Been Porn Star
|author=Rozana Hegeman|date=2007-11-28|publisher=Fox News|access-date=2007-12-03 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071130230330/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Nov28/0,4670,MissingPornStar,00.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-11-30}}</ref> She apparently had kept her career mostly to herself and only close friends knew about it.<ref name=rox_fox_nov_28 /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/World/2007/11/28/4692751.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224180314/http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/World/2007/11/28/4692751.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-12-24|title=Missing student an Internet porn star?|agency=Associated Press|date=2007-11-28|newspaper=]|access-date=2007-12-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22957416-2,00.html |title=Man held over teenage web porn star killing |date=2007-12-21 |website=news.com.au |access-date=2007-12-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221093832/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22957416-2,00.html |archive-date=December 21, 2007 }}</ref>
|author=Rozana Hegeman|date=2007-11-28|publisher=''Fox News''|accessdate=2007-12-03}}</ref>


Investigators said they did not believe that Sander's involvement in porn was connected with her disappearance.<ref name=WIBW1>{{cite news|url=http://www.wibw.com/news/headlines/11994036.html|title=Autopsy Slated for Secret Porn Star|agency=Associated Press|date=2007-12-01|publisher=WIBW News |access-date=2007-12-01 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071204001013/http://www.wibw.com/news/headlines/11994036.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-12-04}}</ref> A statement on the Zoey Zane porn site criticized the media, saying they had blown Sander's porn career out of proportion and that it was a shame that the site drew more viewers after her death than it had drawn previously.<ref name="gWired111">{{cite web|url=http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=66&id=17409|title=Adult Site Slams Media on Portrayal of Slain Student Emily Sander|author=L.A. Vess|date=2007-12-04|website=GayWired.com|access-date=2007-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202214314/http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=66&id=17409|archive-date=2008-02-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> The site was later redirected to an online memorial for Sander.
The last entry in Sander's website was apparently made two days before her disappearance; the website has since then been replaced by a statement describing her as a "solo nude model" and offering a reward for information leading to the return of Israel Mireles.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.zoeyzane.com|title=Help Bring this Man in for Questioning!|accessdate=2007-12-03}}
http://www.zoeyzane.com/</ref> Investigators say they do not believe that Sander's modeling was connected with her disappearance.<ref name=WIBW1>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wibw.com/news/headlines/11994036.html|title="Autopsy Slated for Secret Porn Star"|author=The Associated Press|date=2007-12-1|publisher=''WIBW News''|accessdate=2007-12-01|}}</ref>

== Criticism of the news media ==
The creator of Sander's original website later released a statement criticizing the media, saying they had blown Sander's nude modeling career out of proportion by referring to her as a "porn" star.<ref name="gWired111">{{citeweb|url=http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=66&id=17409|title="Adult Site Slams Media on Portrayal of Slain Student Emily Sander"|author=L.A. Vess|date=2007-12-4|publisher=''GayWired.com''|accessdate=2007-12-04|}}</ref>


==Aftermath== ==Aftermath==
Sander's death had an impact both at and beyond Butler Community College. A memorial was made which included messages of support for Sander's family,<ref name=wibw>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wibw.com/kakeheadlines/headlines/11989231.html|title=BCC Plans Vigil for Emily Sander|date=2007-11-30|author=Natasha Trelfa|publisher=''WIBW News''|accessdate=2007-12-02}}</ref> and a tribute was created for her.<ref name=p2p1>{{citeweb|url=http://www.p2pnet.net/story/14196|title=Emily Sander/Zoey Zane laid to rest|date=2007-12-03|author=Jon Newton|publisher=''p2pnet news'' (Canada)|accessdate=2007-12-05}}</ref> Sander's funeral took place on ], ].<ref name=wibw2>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wibw.com/kakeheadlines/headlines/12078651.html|title=Funeral Set for Emily Sander|date=2007-12-03 |publisher=''WIBW News''|accessdate=2007-12-03}}</ref><ref name=p2p1>{{citeweb|url=http://www.p2pnet.net/story/14196|title=Emily Sander/Zoey Zane laid to rest|date=2007-12-03|author=Jon Newton|publisher=''p2pnet news'' (Canada)|accessdate=2007-12-05}}</ref> A vigil was held for Sander at Butler Community College.<ref name=wibw>{{cite web|url=http://www.wibw.com/kakeheadlines/headlines/11989231.html |title=BCC Plans Vigil for Emily Sander |date=2007-11-30 |author=Natasha Trelfa |publisher=WIBW News |access-date=2011-12-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928114350/http://www.wibw.com/kakeheadlines/headlines/11989231.html |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }}</ref> Her funeral took place on December 6, 2007.<ref name=wibw2>{{cite web|url=http://www.wibw.com/kakeheadlines/headlines/12078651.html |title=Funeral Set for Emily Sander |date=2007-12-03 |publisher=WIBW News |access-date=2007-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219211802/http://www.wibw.com/kakeheadlines/headlines/12078651.html |archive-date=2007-12-19 }}</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
* {{cite web |url=http://www.emilysander.com |title=Emily Sander memorial website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407140604/http://emilysander.com/ |archive-date=April 7, 2016 }}
*
*

<!-- Metadata: see ] -->
{{Persondata
|NAME= Sander, Emily
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Zane, Zoe
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=
|DATE OF BIRTH=
|PLACE OF BIRTH=
|DATE OF DEATH=]
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Sander, Emily}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sander, Emily}}
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Latest revision as of 09:18, 18 November 2024

2007 murder in El Dorado, Kansas
Emily Irene Sander
BornEmily Irene Sander
(1989-02-26)February 26, 1989
Olathe, Kansas
DisappearedNovember 23, 2007
El Dorado, Kansas
DiedNovember 24, 2007(2007-11-24) (aged 18)
El Dorado, Kansas
Cause of deathMurder
Body discoveredNovember 29, 2007
Other namesZoey Zane

Emily Irene Sander (February 26, 1989 – November 24, 2007) was an 18-year-old student at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, United States, who was reported missing on November 23, 2007 and found dead six days later. Her disappearance was widely covered in the mainstream news media. Israel Mireles was named as a suspect; he was arrested in Mexico and in February 2010 found guilty of her murder.

Disappearance

Israel Mireles, convicted of Sander's murder

According to police, Sander and a man they identified as 24-year-old Israel Mireles were seen leaving a bar in east El Dorado on November 23, 2007. This was the last time Sander was seen alive. Later, blood was discovered in Mireles' motel room next door to an Italian restaurant where he worked as a waiter 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.

Six days after Sander's disappearance, on November 29, investigators found a body 50 miles (80 km) east of El Dorado, later confirmed to be Sander's. An autopsy was performed, but the results and cause of death were sealed until the trial, when it was revealed that she had been stabbed multiple times and strangled to death with a telephone cord.

Apprehension

El Dorado Police Chief Tom Boren said that a special task force of FBI and Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents was assigned to the case. On December 19, 2007, local police apprehended Mireles in Santa Rosa de Múzquiz, Múzquiz, Mexico. He was subsequently charged in the U.S. with capital murder, rape, and aggravated sodomy. When captured, he was with his 16-year-old pregnant girlfriend, Victoria Martens. Although prosecutors promised not to file charges against her, she initially refused to return to Kansas.

According to Victoria Martens' mother, Sandy 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, and her daughter had also sent her a text message days after the couple fled saying she "had a lot to tell her mother". Sandy Martens later said she believed her daughter thought the trip with Mireles to Mexico was a vacation. Victoria Martens later called home and was picked up at the border and taken to Texas, where she was put in juvenile custody. Mireles was suspected of impregnating her and also charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Mireles was a Mexican citizen who had been in the United States legally and had returned to his home country. A potential complication of the case was that before extraditing a suspect, Mexico requires that authorities submit the most serious charges that the suspect could face, and will not allow extradition of someone who could face the death penalty, thus the maximum penalty Mireles could have faced was life in prison without the possibility of parole; By June 26, 2009, he was extradited to the US.

Trial

Mireles' trial on charges of capital murder, rape and aggravated criminal sodomy was held from February 8 to 12, 2010. He was convicted of rape and capital murder; the aggravated sodomy charge was dropped as part of the capital murder charge. On March 31, 2010, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In 2013, Mireles appealed to the Kansas Supreme Court requesting a new trial; the court upheld his conviction.

Career as a pornographic model

After several days of speculation following her disappearance, it was revealed that in addition to being a secretary, Emily Sander worked as an Internet pornography model using the pseudonym Zoey Zane.

Friends said she had been recruited for an internet porn site in summer 2007, shortly after her 18th birthday. She apparently had kept her career mostly to herself and only close friends knew about it.

Investigators said they did not believe that Sander's involvement in porn was connected with her disappearance. A statement on the Zoey Zane porn site criticized the media, saying they had blown Sander's porn career out of proportion and that it was a shame that the site drew more viewers after her death than it had drawn previously. The site was later redirected to an online memorial for Sander.

Aftermath

A vigil was held for Sander at Butler Community College. Her funeral took place on December 6, 2007.

References

  1. ^ "Services set for Emily Sander". The Augusta Daily Gazette. 2007-12-03. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  2. "Online Memorial and Obituary of Emily Sander". Carlson Colonial Funeral Home. 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  3. Stan Finger and Tim Potter (2007-11-26). "Police suspect missing Butler student 'was victim of violence'". The Wichita Eagle. Archived from the original on 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  4. Tim Potter and Hurst Liviana (2007-11-30). "Body found; may be Emily Sander". The Wichita Eagle. Archived from the original on 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
  5. Mike Carney (2007-11-30). "Family grieves likely death of 18-year-old Emily Sander". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
  6. ^ Roxana Hegeman (2007-12-19). "Arrest in Student-Porn Actress' Death". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2008-02-12.
  7. ^ "Court readies for trial in Kansas porn model's death". The Salina Journal. Associated Press. 2010-02-03. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  8. David Schoetz (2007-11-28). "Bedspread Clue in Kansas Teen's Disappearance". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
  9. Tim Potter (2007-12-05). "Mom pleads to hear from daughter". The Wichita Eagle. Archived from the original on 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  10. Roxana Hegeman (2007-12-13). "Body of Secret Porn Star Found in Kansas". AOL NEWS. Archived from the original on 2007-12-01. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  11. Roxana Hegeman (2007-11-29). "Body matches description of missing girl". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2007-12-02. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  12. Denise Hnytka (2010-02-08). "Israel Mireles Trial: Day One". KWCH. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  13. Tim Potter (2007-11-29). "Emily Sander case takes an unusual twist". The Wichita Eagle. Archived from the original on 2007-06-21. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  14. Roxana Hegeman (2007-11-24). "Foul play suspected in disappearance of Kansas teen". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  15. David Lohr (2007-12-20). "Mexican Authorities Arrest Israel Mireles". Court TV Crime Library. Archived from the original on 2007-12-23. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  16. ^ "Mother pleads for pregnant daughter to call". The Kansas City Star. Associated Press. 2007-12-04. Archived from the original on 2007-12-08. Retrieved 2007-12-05.
  17. ^ "Girlfriend of Slaying Suspect Returns". Associated Press. 2007-12-28. Archived from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  18. "Suspect in Kansas porn model slaying back in US". Yahoo News. Associated Press. 2009-06-26. Archived from the original on 2009-06-29. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  19. "Man convicted in model slaying". Topeka Capital-Journal. Associated Press. 2010-02-12. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  20. "Man gets life for killing model". Topeka Capital-Journal. Associated Press. 2010-03-31. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  21. John Hanna (2013-03-06). "Kan. Supreme Court hears appeal in student's death". The Hutchinson News. Associated Press. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  22. Hurst Laviana (2014-08-08) . "Kansas Supreme Court upholds conviction in Emily Sander murder". The Wichita Eagle. Associated Press. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  23. Jeff Freeland (2007-12-02). "Emily Sander as Zoey Zane: Internet Porn Star Meets Tragic End". National Ledger. Archived from the original on 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  24. "Emily Sander". Fox News. 2007-11-29. Archived from the original on 2007-12-29. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  25. David Schoetz (2007-11-29). "Body Found in Search for Teen Porn Star". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  26. ^ Rozana Hegeman (2007-11-28). "Missing Student May Have Been Porn Star". Fox News. Archived from the original on 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  27. "Missing student an Internet porn star?". Edmonton Sun. Associated Press. 2007-11-28. Archived from the original on 2007-12-24. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  28. "Man held over teenage web porn star killing". news.com.au. 2007-12-21. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  29. "Autopsy Slated for Secret Porn Star". WIBW News. Associated Press. 2007-12-01. Archived from the original on 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
  30. L.A. Vess (2007-12-04). "Adult Site Slams Media on Portrayal of Slain Student Emily Sander". GayWired.com. Archived from the original on 2008-02-02. Retrieved 2007-12-14.
  31. Natasha Trelfa (2007-11-30). "BCC Plans Vigil for Emily Sander". WIBW News. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  32. "Funeral Set for Emily Sander". WIBW News. 2007-12-03. Archived from the original on 2007-12-19. Retrieved 2007-12-03.

External links

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