OLATHE, Kan. — A Missouri man who is charged with capital murder in the deaths of three people at two Kansas Jewish centers last year is demanding $200,000 to defend himself.
Frazier Glenn Miller Jr., 74, of Aurora, Mo., filed a motion Wednesday seeking the funds because he doesn't trust the stand-by lawyers appointed to assist him, The Kansas City Star reported.
"I demand to be the boss, fully in charge of all aspects of my defense -- simple as that," he wrote.
Miller is accused of killing William Corporon and his grandson, Reat Griffin Underwood, at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, and Terri LaManno at the nearby Village Shalom care center. He has told media outlets that he wanted to kill Jewish people before he died of chronic emphysema, and that he didn't know all three of the victims were Christians.
Miller fired his attorneys last month, saying that's the only way he would be allowed to speak for himself in court.
Johnson County District Judge Kelly Ryan agreed to let him represent himself, but ordered the attorneys to remain available and help Miller with routine tasks such as filing documents and working on courtroom strategy.
Miller said $200,000 would be "sufficient for now," but indicated he would be willing to negotiate a smaller amount. He said the money is needed to hire medical and mental health experts and to pay for travel, meals and lodging for witnesses he intends to call at the trial, which is scheduled to start Aug. 17.
He said his daughter would control the money and keep "strict records."
Also on Wednesday, Miller filed a motion that he passed out to media members last week requesting that charges against him be dismissed, and that he be immediately released from custody. The motions are expected to be addressed at Miller's next scheduled court appearance on July 17.