Teacher led double life, police say

By Latoya Silmon, for NEWS 9

TULSA, Okla. -- A Tulsa high school teacher is accused of killing his wife to cover-up lies, police said.

John Robert Kastner, 50, was arrested Friday on a first-degree murder complaint. His wife, Lori Kastner, 45, a former attorney at the Oklahoma Supreme Court, was shot to death Wednesday morning inside the couple's home in west Tulsa.

John Kastner initially told the police an intruder broke into their home and used the couple's gun to shoot Lori Kastner twice in the head and that he was shot in the hand during a struggle for the weapon.

But police said that story fell apart as investigators quizzed Kastner about details of the crime.

During their investigation, police said they discovered a pyramid of lies. Investigators said Kastner told family and friends he inherited a fortune and had access to millions through an Israeli charitable group called '713 Corporation'.

Police said his wife had quit her job as an attorney to work for the charity.

Police also said Kastner promised to take his family to Israel the day of the murder, but the flight times didn't exist and Kastner's passport was expired.

"There was evidence in a journal that indicates the world was crumbling around him and I'm not sure if he knew of another way out or not," Police Chief Ron Palmer said.

Dr. Stephanie Spring, athletic director for Tulsa Public Schools, said the cross country coach also had recently made several promises to the school system.

"Coach Kastner had been up at the service center discussing helping fund the driver's education program which falls under my umbrella of sports and activities to the tune of $75,000 to $100,000," Spring saud.

Spring said she never received any of the money. Kastner also pledged $80,000 to $90,000 for football equipment, and that he would set up a foundation to disperse $2 million for Webster Academics over three years, officials said.

Police said Kastner was set to meet with school officials to discuss his money plans the day his wife was killed.

"When people make promises like that you just kind of believe it when you see it kind of thing," Spring said. "What I'm disappointed in is the tragedy that a mother has lost her life."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.