A preliminary hearing for an Emporia man accused of killing two Emporia women in Colorado nearly 18 months ago is now coming later this year.
Phillip Lieurance is set for a hearing March 3 in Kiowa County, Colorado.
Lieurance faces single counts of first-degree murder and second-degree murder, reflecting the alleged homicides of Amy Ford and Linda Estrada, respectively. He also faces two counts of tampering with a body as part of the alleged killings Sept. 10, 2023.
Extradition conversations between Kansas and Colorado took place over several months, both during and following criminal court proceedings in Lyon County after Lieurance rammed his SUV into at least one other vehicle on the Kansas Turnpike near Emporia a few days after Estrada and Ford were allegedly murdered. In November, Lieurance pleaded no contest to three counts of aggravated battery, two of which were for driving under the influence. Lieurance was sentenced to 34 months in prison in January.
