Prison escapee to be arraigned

BRISTOW, Okla. (AP) _ A Wisconsin prison escapee accused in the death of his wife will be arraigned next month after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. <br/><br/>Creek County District Judge

Saturday, July 24th 2004, 11:30 am

By: News On 6

BRISTOW, Okla. (AP) _ A Wisconsin prison escapee accused in the death of his wife will be arraigned next month after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Creek County District Judge Joe Sam Vassar ordered Cesar Lira, 33, to stand trial on a second-degree murder charge in the April 16 death of Marilyn Ordonez, who died after a high-speed chase on the Turner Turnpike.

Lira has been held without bail since his speeding car overturned as he left the turnpike at the Bristow exit.

The impact threw Ordonez, 27, Lira and his 6-year-old daughter from the wreckage, killing Ordonez. The child is now is with relatives.

An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper reportedly tried to stop Lira, who was westbound, for an alleged improper lane change. Lira fled, exited the turnpike at Stroud and drove around Stroud before getting back on the turnpike eastbound, authorities said.

He allegedly had escaped the day before from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, officials said.