Wichita parents charged with murder in infant son’s death, held on $2M bond
Prosecutors on Tuesday charged a Wichita mother and father with murder in connection with the death of their 4-month-old infant son.
Destiny Manning, 27, and Krystian Manning, 30, are being held in the Sedgwick County Jail in lieu of $2 million bond each in the June 12 death of their baby boy, Rhysand W. Manning. The couple is also facing aggravated child endangerment and child abuse charges related to other children in their home.
The first-degree felony murder charge alleges the Mannings killed Rhysand while they were committing another “inherently dangerous felony,” specifically aggravated endangering a child, a complaint filed in court against them says. It does not give any specifics about what happened.
Another child under the age of six was the victim of child abuse involving torture, cruel beating, cruel striking or cruel kicking, the complaint alleges. Seven endangerment charges accuse the couple of “unlawfully and recklessly” causing three children “to be placed in a situation in which the child’s life, body or health is endangered.” No other details were provided.
Wichita police last week said first responders found the baby dead at a home in the 1700 block of West Esthner, near Harry and Seneca, after someone called 911 saying the baby boy wasn’t breathing. Three other children under the age of 5 were taken into police protective custody due to the state of the home and their physical conditions, police records say.
Police last week said the exact cause of Rhysand’s death was under investigation.
The Mannings each made a first appearance in Sedgwick County District Court on Tuesday. Their next court date is scheduled for June 30.
