Cult Leader Charged In Life Insurance Murder Has Trial Reset

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Sedgwick County judge has rescheduled the murder trial of the leader of a Kansas commune that lived off life insurance payouts on its dead members.

Daniel U. Perez had been scheduled for trial next week. District Judge Clark Owens on Thursday reset the trial for Nov. 26.

Perez is charged with premeditated first-degree murder in the 2003 death of Patricia Hughes at the group's compound near Wichita. The death was initially listed as accidental.

Perez was known for years under the false name of Lou Castro. He also faces multiple counts of rape, sodomy, sexual exploitation of a child and lying on applications for life insurance and auto credit.