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By FOSS FARRAR
Staff Writer

WINFIELD -- The suspect in Jodi Sanderholm's death appeared this afternoon for the first time in Cowley County District Court on charges of capital murder, rape and aggravated kidnapping.

Justin Eugene Thurber, 23, appeared in handcuffs and shackles before Judge Jim Pringle. He sat silently beside his attorney, Tim Fieden, except to verify his identity when asked by Pringle.

He was returned to Cowley County Jail on $1 million bail. Thurber has been held at the jail since Jan. 6, the day after Sanderholm's disappearance, on misdemeanor charges unrelated to the her death.

Thurber was wearing a white shirt and socks and black pants and shoes. He looked straight ahead during the 15-minute proceeding and appeared calm.

About 20 people were seated in the courtroom gallery including members of the Sanderholm family and Thurber's parents.

Tim Frieden, of the death penalty defense unit at the Kansas State Board of Indigents' Defense Services, represented Thurber in the hearing.

Frieden waived his client's right to a preliminary hearing within 10 days. Instead, another appearance was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27.