DCF received reports about Clearwater toddler before he died. They were unsubstantiated
The state’s child welfare agency says it received two reports expressing concerns about how a Clearwater mother was treating her toddler son who is now the suspected victim of medical child abuse in the months before he died. They found both complaints to be unsubstantiated.
The Kansas Department for Children and Families this week released a summary of previous reports alleging abuse or neglect involving 15-month-old Matthew Jon Whitton, following a request from The Eagle for information about the agency’s involvement with the boy; his late 2-year-old sister, Gypsy Rose Whitton-Marley; and their mother, Shanna Kay Whitton.
Prosecutors charged Whitton earlier this month with first-degree felony murder, child abuse, aggravated child endangerment and aggravated arson in connection with her treatment of Matthew leading up to his Aug. 28, 2025, death, which the coroner ruled a homicide.
The children’s autopsy reports detail an alarming pattern of behavior that has led to questions about whether their deaths were the result of incompetent parenting or Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare form of maltreatment now known as medical child abuse. They include:
- Gypsy Rose being admitted to a hospital on Aug. 11, 2022, at eight weeks of age for a fractured collarbone reportedly caused by falling off of a couch
- Whitton apparently never taking newborn Matthew to a follow-up appointment with a pediatric cardiologist after he was diagnosed with a heart defect at birth
- Multiple 911 calls where Whitton reported Gypsy Rose falling and hitting her head
- Gypsy Rose being admitted to a hospital on July 21, 2024 — about two months after Matthew’s birth — after her mother reported finding her unresponsive while sleeping with a blanket and possibly a plastic bag over or near her face
- Another hospital admission the next day, on July 22, 2024, after Gypsy Rose reportedly choked on grapes that her mother gave her. She died a few days later, on July 24, 2024
- Whitton dropping Matthew onto the floor less than a month after his sister’s death, on Aug. 21, 2024, after she reported passing out while holding him
- Matthew being admitted to the hospital again three weeks after that, on Sept. 13, 2024, after Whitton reportedly saw him having trouble breathing and his skin turning blue while they were at home
- Whitton dropping Matthew on the floor while feeding him the next day, on Sept. 14, 2024, while they were still in the hospital
- Whitton calling emergency medical services for help a few weeks after that, on Oct. 8, 2024, concerned that Matthew might have hypothermia from being put in cold bath water
- A hospital admission for “an asphyxial event” that same month, on Oct. 27, 2024, after Whitton reported co-sleeping with Matthew and waking up on top of him
- A “near-drowning event” the next year, on June 14, 2025, that resulted in another trip to the hospital after Whitton reported Matthew spending a few seconds underwater in the bathtub after slipping and hitting his head; doctors found fluid in his lungs and other evidence that he had nearly drowned
- Whitton asking Matthew’s pediatrician to check him for a heart murmur and for a referral to a pediatric cardiologist on July 14, 2025, even though the pediatrician found no irregularities
- Whitton setting a fire in Matthew’s bedroom six weeks after the near drowning, on July 26, 2025, that arson investigators later determined was intentional
- Matthew’s final admission to the hospital on Aug. 25, 2025, after his mother claimed her son choked on meatballs. Medical staff found no food blocking his airway. He died three days later
The summary DCF provided to The Eagle lists two reports it received about Matthew prior to his death: a June 16, 2025, report alleging “lack of supervision” against Whitton involving the near-drowning episode in the bathtub and June 27, 2025, allegations against Whitton for “lack of supervision” also involving Matthew’s near drowning and the unsafe co-sleeping.
The finding of both reports is the same: unsubstantiated.
The records do not explain why DCF made those findings.
DCF provided no information about whether it had received any reports about Matthew’s older sister, Gypsy Rose, saying the records are closed under state law because her death “has not officially been determined to be from abuse or neglect nor has there been a filing of criminal charges related to the child’s death.”
DCF did say that it had referred Matthew for family preservation services and that a family-in-need-of-assessment case was opened on Sept. 24, 2024 — two months after Gypsy Rose died. The family preservation services were provided, the summary says.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said earlier this month that it is also investigating Whitton’s treatment of her daughter, but she is not currently facing any criminal charges where Gypsy Rose is the listed victim. The death of the 2-year-old, who was also called Jolene Naomi Whitton, was ruled accidental at the time.
The child shares a name with well-known Munchausen syndrome by proxy victim Gypsy-Rose Blanchard, who spent time in prison after conspiring to kill her mother following years of forced medical treatments she didn’t need.
Whitton’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
Whitton’s next court date is scheduled for May 7. An April 21 court order indicates she will receive care and treatment at Osawatomie State Hospital and will be returned to the Sedgwick County Jail when her treatment is complete. The order does not say what condition will be treated.
Osawatomie State Hospital provides care and treatment to adults with psychiatric disorders.
Whitton was previously deemed competent to stand trial, according to a February order.
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 4:48 PM.
