The Evanston podiatrist suspected in the slaying of one of his former patients was ordered to remain in jail in a federal hearing Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Blanche Manning denied Ronald Mikos’ motion to be released from custody because she found him to be a “danger to the community,” said Randall Samborn, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

The judge determined that there is no combination of arrangements that would ensure that Mikos could not cause harm to other people, despite the defense’s plea that Mikos be released on house arrest with electronic surveillance, Samborn said.

Authorities have identified Mikos as the “lead suspect” in the investigation of the Jan. 27 slaying of Joyce Brannon. Brannon was a former patient who served as a witness in a federal investigation of allegations that Mikos committed Medicare fraud.

Mikos first was ordered to be detained Feb. 11, four days after a criminal complaint charged him with with witness tampering and obstructing justice.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said Mikos should remain in prison because he has failed to present any new evidence in support of his motion to be released. Officials also noted that new evidence tying Mikos to Brannon’s slaying has been introduced since his detention hearing.

Since Mikos’ initial detention, investigators searching the doctor’s car found a piece of paper with handwritten notes identifying Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago, the church where Brannon worked and lived, according to Fitzgerald’s office. Investigators also found a bulletin in Mikos’ car outlining church events scheduled for the day Brannon was murdered.

In addition to evidence connecting Mikos to the slaying, new evidence suggesting that the doctor is “a danger to the community” also has been discovered.

Investigators recently found two .44-caliber revolvers hidden in the ceiling tiles of Mikos’ office, as well as a shotgun hidden in the attic of his home.

Authorities have yet to find the .22-caliber rifle they believe was used to shoot Brannon.

Mikos has not been charged with murder, and will not appear in court to face obstruction of justice charges until Fitzgerald elects to file an indictment.

Fitzgerald has about seven weeks to issue an indictment or file for an extension before Mikos is eligible to be released, Mikos’ attorney said.