Parents of Wichita 2-year-old found dead in crib charged with murder, child abuse

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Zaiden Javonovich’s age.

The parents of Zaiden Javonovich, 2, have been charged with felony murder and child abuse in his death.

Brandi Kai Marchant, 22, and Patrick Javonovich, 28, both face five charges: first-degree murder with alternative underlying felonies of neglect and abuse, two counts of abuse of a child and aggravated endangerment of a child.

Marchant and Javonovich “unlawfully and knowingly torture(d) or cruelly beat” Zaiden and a 4-month-old, the charging documents filed Tuesday say.

Zaiden was found dead in a crib by police the night of April 11 after a neighbor called to report a domestic disturbance about 11:30 p.m.

When police arrived, the parents were walking outside near a home in the 4500 block of South Hydraulic, police said. One of them mentioned two children inside, and police decided to check on them, Wichita police Capt. Brent Allred said.

Police found Zaiden and a 4-month-old boy alone. Zaiden was wrapped in a blanket and may have died days before. The 4-month-old was taken to the hospital and “is doing much better,” Allred said.

“If they (the officers) wouldn’t have went inside and communicated out there, more than likely they would have left, made a report and we wouldn’t have known about this for I don’t know how long,” he said.

Both children had visible injuries and showed signs of neglect, he said.

Allred said the Kansas Department for Children and Families “has reports or has been involved” with the children and the parents. The Wichita Police Department has no record of previous child abuse reports involving Zaiden, the infant, Marchant or Javonovich, police said Friday.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families said it would not provide information related to Zaiden until it concludes its own investigation, according to spokesman Mike Deines.

Bond has been set at $200,000 for each parent.

Marchant and Javonovich had been living together at 4560 S. Hydraulic, according to a financial affidavit filed in the case. Marchant listed Javonovich as her boyfriend.

Both are recently unemployed, according to their financial affidavits, Marchant for two months and Javonovich for a week.

Marchant filled out her financial affidavit by hand. Under the number of dependents, she initially wrote the number four. She then crossed it out and wrote the number three.

This story was originally published April 16, 2019 at 3:31 PM.