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A mother has been taken into custody on charges of murder following the tragic death of her young child, initially reported as a choking incident.
Shanna Kay Whitton faces serious accusations, including first-degree felony murder, child abuse, aggravated child endangerment, and aggravated arson. These charges were detailed in a statement released by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Kansas.
Whitton has been incarcerated since October 9, 2025, following charges related to a fire in the bedroom of her 15-month-old son, Matthew. Authorities have classified the fire as deliberate.
The court documents do not currently indicate whether Whitton has submitted a plea regarding the murder allegations.
According to the release, the incident in question occurred in August 2025 when Matthew reportedly choked and lost consciousness. Despite attempts to save him, he tragically passed away at the hospital.
The autopsy found that Matthew died from complications of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy—brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen—resulting from an intentional asphyxiation. His death was ruled a homicide.
“No food bolus or even food particles were identified in Matthew’s airways,” the report, reviewed by Oxygen, noted, adding that medical records indicated “his clinical course is not consistent with a brief choking event.”
While investigating his murder, detectives turned to a July fire that started in his bedroom.
“We did not believe the story that the mother gave to us on the choking incident—and then found out about the fire that had occurred,” Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said, according to KSN. “Basically, a baby’s blanket was put next to the crib and started on fire.”
The family has an extensive history of medical emergencies, according to the autopsy: Matthew was allegedly dropped on the floor and his 2-year-old sister Gypsy Rose died after suffering a presumed airway obstruction while eating grapes in 2024.
Police are now expanding the murder investigation to include Gypsy Rose, a sheriff spokesperson told Oxygen.
An attorney for Whitton did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Oxygen.