Man charged with murdering mom took sister to see body before arrest, affidavit says
A 42-year-old man charged with murdering his mother earlier this month took his sister to see the body before he was arrested and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail, according to an arrest affidavit.
The affidavit, released Monday, suggests Denyce Breit, 67, was beaten to death with her son’s bare hands on Oct. 6 at the Goddard-area trailer park where she lived. The coroner determined she died from blunt force trauma that resulted in several bruises, cuts and chest wall fractures, the affidavit says.
Kyle Romey, who reportedly has a history of violence against family members, is charged with one count of first-degree premeditated murder in her death. His court-appointed lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The affidavit, which gives previously undisclosed details about the circumstances surrounding Breit’s killing, says Romey showed up at his sister’s Wichita home around 8 a.m. on Oct. 6, “acting odd” and wanting a hug because “it may be the last hug we get to have.”
The sister told authorities Romey then smoked what she thought was meth out of a clear glass pipe and “told her she needed to go with him” because “he had something to show her.”
They got into their mother’s vehicle, which Romey was driving, and headed to the Goddard-area trailer park where Breit lived, 15301 W. U.S. 54.
On the drive, Romey told his sister that he “wanted to spend time with her” because “he was going to go back to prison” but refused to tell her why, the affidavit says.
After they arrived at their mother’s home, the sister followed Romey inside and saw Breit lying dead on the living room floor with a “swollen and bruised” face and bloodied head, the affidavit says.
The sister told authorities Romey laid down next to their mother’s body, sobbed, apologized and covered her with a blanket. He then picked up a broken necklace at Breit’s feet, handed it to his sister and told her, “this is yours now.”
Romey told his sister that before their mother died, she had been “cold and thirsty” and that “there was an argument” when he refused to give her vodka, the affidavit says.
He told his sister that he had blacked out and saw his mother dead on the floor after he regained control over his senses around 6 a.m., the affidavit says.
The sister told authorities Romey took her cellphone when she tried to call the police from the crime scene. She rode back with him to Wichita even though she was afraid and discussed the killing with her boyfriend, who called 911 twice to ask that law enforcement check on Breit.
Deputies found her dead when they forced their way into her home, Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said previously.
When authorities arrested Romey in the area of Taft and McLean in Wichita, he had dried blood on his hands and cuts and scratches on his fingers, chest and arm. His right hand was also swollen, the affidavit says.
Easter has said previously that Romey has been involved in arguments and physical violence with his family before, some of which led to a prison sentence. He has been on parole since April.
Breit’s family is raising money to help pay for her funeral expenses. Donations may be made at https://everloved.com/life-of/denyce-breit/.
