Baxter Springs man to stand trial in death of woman

(AP) A Baxter Springs man who is accused of fatally burning a woman and injuring two police officers has been ordered to stand trial.

The preliminary trial for 50-year-old Harvey Ortberg ended Tuesday with a judge finding sufficient evidence for him to be tried on a first-degree murder charge and six other felonies. The incident occurred in September of last year.

Body camera video showed two officers running inside 65-year-old Sharon Horn’ trailer, where Horn’s 15-year-old granddaughter was crying.

The officers entered the bathroom, where Ortberg was seen with a gas can and lighter in his hands. One officer wrestled with Ortberg, who then doused himself and the two officers with gasoline before flicking the lighter to start the fire.

Horn later died at a Springfield hospital.