Former Lima anesthesiologist, Mark Wangler, was sentenced to 25 years to life in March for murdering his first wife, Kathy, through carbon monoxide poisoning.  However, Wangler's current wife continues to fight for his innocence and freedom.
Esther Wangler says she is able to visit her husband once a week at the Toledo Correctional Facility. She says he's getting used to prison routine, and he often corresponds with family and friends through a prison email network.Â
Wangler's attorneys plan to file an appeal of the aggravated murder conviction, but first they need the transcripts of the trial. Transcripts typed by long time court employee Patty Breitigan, who is married to lead detective Clyde Breitigan. Esther believes that's a conflict of interest.
"I hesitate to be critical of the courts since that's they way it's been, but that's not the way it's done in other counties. It's certainly a conflict of interest in our case since it was her husband who was the lead detective," said Esther Wangler. "I just don't understand why someone else wasn't assigned."
As for the investigation and trial itself. Esther has some problems with that as well. She wants the prosecution to provide tissue samples from Kathy Wangler's lungs for testing. She also doesn't understand why Judge Richard Warren didn't allow a defense witness to testify on information she believes was critical to her husband's case.
"There were just so many turns in which rulings were not made in our favor. So many surprises in terms of what our attorney's experience has been in other counties," said Esther.  "There was just a great deal that was not addressed and not ruled to be on our favor and what we considered to be fair."
Esther believes her family and others in Allen County have suffered for no reason while waiting to appeal.
"My heart goes out to other people who've been sentenced in Allen COunty and haven't had the resources we're blessed to have.  People who've sat in prison and just had to wait and wait," said Esther.
