Bollinger hearing slated

A preliminary hearing was set Monday afternoon in the case of murder and arson suspect Brent Bollinger.

Bourbon County Magistrate Judge Rebecca Stephan discussed dates for the proceeding with attorneys in the case during a brief status conference Monday in Bourbon County District Court.

The proceeding, which could last two days, is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 26, and may run into Friday, July 27.

Stephan granted a continuance in the case last month during a status check scheduled in February to give Bollinger's attorney, Paul Morrison, more time to review the large amount of documents and reports associated with the case.

Bollinger was arrested Jan. 27 and charged with one count of first-degree murder, premeditated, an off-grid felony, or in the alternative, felony murder; one count of aggravated arson, a severity level three felony; and one count of aggravated child endangerment, a severity level nine felony.

Assistant Kansas Attorney General Kristiane Bryant and Bourbon County Attorney Terri Johnson are the prosecuting attorneys on the case.

The preliminary hearing determines whether there is enough evidence to require a trial.

During Monday's meeting, Stephan encouraged attorneys in the case to make sure all exhibits for the preliminary hearing are marked, and ensure they have made a full discovery of the case in order to expedite the proceeding.

Bollinger is in the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center on a $1 million cash surety bond.

In October 2011, Bollinger and his 2-year-old son, Bryson, survived a house fire on Grand Road just south of Fort Scott. His wife, Brenna Bollinger, 23, died in the blaze. Brent suffered burns on more than 69 percent of his body.

Bryson was flown to Shriners Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, with critical burns and was released a month later.

Brent Bollinger was flown to the University of Kansas Hospital.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Kansas State Fire Marshal assisted local authorities in the investigation.