Clearwater mother jailed in arson case charged with murder in 15-month-old’s death
A Clearwater mother jailed for allegedly setting a fire in her young son’s bedroom is now facing a first-degree felony murder charge in the death of the 15-month-old boy.
Shanna Kay Whitton of Clearwater was formally charged Monday with first-degree felony murder, as well as abuse of a child, aggravated child endangerment and aggravated arson, according to a press release from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.
The charges were prompted by an investigation carried out by the department into the August 2025 death of Whitton’s son, Matthew Jon Whitton.
Police were called to Whitton’s residence in the Mimosa Arms Apartments in Clearwater the evening of Aug. 25 after Matthew lost consciousness while reportedly choking on food.
Matthew was taken via ambulance to a hospital in critical condition where, on Aug. 28, he died.
An autopsy, however, determined that Matthew’s death was the result of a lack of blood or oxygen flow to his brain caused by “an intentionally inflicted asphyxia event,” the department’s press release detailed.
His death was ruled a homicide.
In the subsequent investigation, detectives revisited an apartment fire that had happened one month earlier on July 26.
“Investigators determined the fire started in Matthew’s bedroom while he was inside,” the Sheriff’s Office press release read. “Fire investigators concluded the fire was intentionally set.”
On Oct. 15, she was charged with six counts of aggravated arson and two additional counts of arson. She was in jail on suspicion of those charges when, on Monday, her case was amended to include the charges connected to Matthew’s death.
Additional incidents involving Whitton, Matthew and another deceased child are part of the ongoing investigation, the Sheriff’s Office said. Additional facts will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for consideration as detectives continue their investigation.
This story was originally published April 13, 2026 at 6:10 PM.
