FactFinder 12 Investigators have learned a former employee of Dr. George Tiller has purchased the clinic on east Kellogg. The building has sat vacant since his murder in 2009.
The building was purchased by the Trust Women Foundation. The executive director of the Trust Women Foundation is Julie Burkhart. Burkhart worked for Tiller as his spokeswoman.
Burkhart declined to discuss the details of the sale, but property tax records available online list the appraised value of the property as $734,100. Burkhart said she can't say yet exactly when the new clinic will open or how many doctors will work there.
"It's about more than abortion. We're about serving the needs of women," Burkhart said during a telephone interview with the Associated Press. "Thousands of women right now have to travel three hours-plus for medical services. It's a burden on women. It's a burden on women's families."
Burkart released the following statement Wednesday afternoon.
"Trust Women is pleased to confirm the recent purchase of Dr. Tiller's former office building. This represents one step closer to the goal of providing full-spectrum health services for area women, including abortion services. Currently, local women must travel upwards of three hours to obtain this simple medical procedure. This reestablishment of local services will alleviate burden and expense of travel. While this is a big step, we still have a long way to go. We will continue our work to improve access and reduce the stigma associated with abortion. This is not about politics or ideology for us. It is about serving the needs of women and community."
Dr. George Tiller was among a few U.S. doctors known to perform abortions in the final weeks of pregnancy, but Burkhart said the new clinic won't offer such services, largely because Kansas legislators have tightened restrictions on late-term procedures. But she said the new clinic will perform abortions earlier in pregnancy as part of a wide range of obstetrical and family care.
Until recently, the clinic was owned by Tiller's widow. But Jeannie Tiller's attorney, Erin Thompson says last week she was informed that the building was sold.
Wichita police confirm there have been conversations with the group interested in opening an abortion clinic. They've been described as courtesy conversations more than planning sessions. Lt. Doug Nolte says at this time, the police department has no security plans in the works.
"We need to gear up again and to do exactly what we did when this place was under the management of abortionist Tiller," said Coalition director Mark Gietzen.
