Sedgwick woman dead, husband jailed on suspicion of second-degree murder, police say

A 40-year-old Sedgwick woman is dead and her husband is in jail on suspicion of second-degree murder, officials said.

Officers were called at around 9:18 a.m. Friday to a home in the 7900 block of West 109th Street about an injured woman. The home is south of the City of Sedgwick. Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Col. Brian White said officers found her with “severe injuries and (she) was transported to the hospital in very serious condition.”

Amber Slankard later died from her injuries at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.

Her husband, 42-year-old Craig Thomas Johnston, had originally called 911 and told them her injuries were from an accident, White said.

“We were a little suspicious about what was being told to us,” White said.

Johnston was arrested for domestic battery and criminal threat during a domestic violence call at the home earlier this year, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick. Court records show he was arrested June 22. No charges have been filed in the case, according to court records.

The couple lived alone at the home, White said.

Johnston was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and failing to update his information under the offender registration act, Blick said.

Anyone in an abusive or dangerous relationship can seek help by calling:

• 911

• Harbor House Domestic Violence Shelter, 316-263-6000

• Wichita Family Crisis Center, 316-267-7233

• Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, 316-263-3002

• StepStone, 316-265-1611

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233

This story was originally published October 24, 2020 at 2:32 PM.