BEATRICE – Jury selection is set to begin Monday for a Beatrice man charged in a September 2024 fatal shooting that occurred in the east part of the city.

Two weeks have been reserved in Gage County District Court for the trial of 53-year-old Christopher Milke.   He is charged in the death of 53-year-old Tammy Leslie, found shot to death inside the couple’s Hlllcrest Avenue home. He earlier pleaded not guilty to several charges.

Milke faces charges of first-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, two counts of kidnapping and a charge of tampering with evidence.

During a September 8th, 2024 incident, police responded to the Hillcrest home where the couple resided.  A police emergency response team made a forced entry through a locked door of the home to rescue two children, helping them escape the house unharmed.  At the time, authorities said the front and rear doors to the home had been screwed shut. 

After the 19-and-12-year-old children had been aided in escaping from the home, authorities encountered Milke in the house and recovered a handgun. They discovered the victim, Leslie, in a northeast bedroom of the residence, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. 

Christopher Milke was arrested at the scene.  He has been in custody of Gage County authorities, since then.