Tulsa, OKLAHOMA

Arrested hours before her funeral.

June 27, 2008 - John Kastner, 50, an English teacher at Webster High School, told authorities that intruders killed his wife early Wednesday morning. He was arrested hours before her funeral.

Lori Kastner, 44, was a former attorney for the Oklahoma Supreme Court. She was shot several times in the head. Kastner was shot in the hand in what he said was a struggle with the intruder.

John Kastner told police Wednesday that the intruder apparently was looking for an acquaintance of his 19-year-old daughter, who was not home at the time. Two other children, age 9 and 15, were in the home at the time of the shooting.

John Kastner recently voluntarily resigned as the school's co-athletic director, a district spokeswoman said Wednesday, but other coaches would not comment about why he resigned.

June 27 - Homicide probe 'intensive' (Tulsa World)
June 27 - Husband arrested hours before murdered wife's funeral (KJHR2)
June 27 - Wife's slaying was part of a cover-up, police say (The Oklahoman)

A high school teacher allegedly shot his sleeping wife twice in the head to cover up his lies and delusions involving claims that he was a member of the Israeli Special Forces and had access to millions from a phony charitable corporation associated with the Israeli military, according to an arrest affidavit filed today.
. . .
The court affidavit says she quit her job last month to go to work for John Kastner’s fictional nonprofit organization.

Kastner told police he woke up about 4 a.m. Wednesday to find an intruder holding his gun, which he said he had left on a table next to a plastic bag containing $5,000. Police discovered he bought the gun 8 days before she was shot, and that he “test fired” the weapon at 3 a.m. the previous day, to see whether any neighbors heard the shot and reported it.

PLANNED INSANITY DEFENSE? June 28 - Suspect made big promises (Tulsa World)
He had pledged to fund several causes, including an endowment fund, at Webster High School. Recently he had offered lots of cash, including one in May as he "brazenly announced at Webster's annual athletic banquet a pledge to award football coach Jim Harper $100,000 if he wins at least five football games in the fall. " There was also a promised donation of $80,000 to $90,000 from Kastner for new football equipment and a promise of $75,000 to $100,000 to pay for driver's education.

Kastner left a voice mail message for a Tulsa World education reporter on Monday, saying he wanted to report instances of "cheating" on student attendance and graduation rates, as well as "illegal athletes" on sports teams.

June 28 - 'Pyramid of lies' alleged
He told his family he was a member of the Israeli special forces. He had access to millions of dollars from an Israeli charitable organization and a private plane chartered by the group. He told police the murderer had taken a bag containing $5,000 from the dining room table, as well as the family's passports, a gold ring and a watch that was in the bag. He also kept a journal.

PRELIMINARY HEARING SCHEDULED - July 28 - A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 25.

Principal recounts odd behavior of Tulsa colleague