Shanna Kay Whitton is an alleged killed from Kansas who has been charged with the murder of her fifteen month old son
According to police reports emergency personnel would go to a home in Clearwater Kansas after a 911 call reporting a infant was not breathing after choking on his food. The fifteen month old infant, Matthew Whitton, would be rushed to the hospital however would die days later
An autopsy would reveal that Matthew Whitton was complications of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy caused by an intentionally inflicted asphyxia event and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Shanna Kay Whitton would be questioned by police regarding Matthew Whitton death and an earlier fire that occurred in Matthew room a month earlier where Shanna was arrested on arson charges
Shanna Kay Whitton would be charged with murder.
Now authorities are looking at another case where Shanna Kay Whitton daughter Gypsy Rose would die and whose death was listed as accidental. Authorities are now reopening that case
Shanna Kay Whitton News
A Clearwater woman has been charged with first-degree felony murder in the death of her 15-month-old child last year, the sheriff’s office says.
On Monday, the Sedgwick County district attorney’s office charged 31-year-old Shanna Kay Whitton with one count of first-degree felony murder, one count of abuse of a child, one count of aggravated child endangerment and one count of aggravated arson in connection with the death of her son, Matthew Jon Whitton.
At about 7 p.m. Aug. 25, 2025, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputies, Clearwater Police officers, Sedgwick County EMS and the Clearwater Fire Department responded to the Mimosa Arms Apartments in the 700 block of East Janet Street in Clearwater for an unconscious 15-month-old child who had reportedly choked on food.
Officers found Matthew not breathing and began lifesaving efforts until EMS and fire personnel arrived and took over care. Matthew was taken by EMS to a Wichita hospital in extremely critical condition. Despite continued medical intervention, he died at the hospital on August 28, 2025.
The Clearwater Police Department asked the sheriff’s office to take over the investigation.
An autopsy was conducted on August 31 at the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Center. On January 14, the final autopsy report determined the cause of death was complications of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy caused by an intentionally inflicted asphyxia event and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
During the investigation into the circumstances of Matthew’s death, detectives reviewed a reported apartment fire that occurred on July 26, 2025, at the same residence. Investigators determined the fire started in Matthew’s bedroom while he was inside. Fire investigators concluded the fire was intentionally set. Several apartments in the building were occupied at the time.
Whitton was originally arrested on October 9 on arson-related charges. The district attorney’s office charged her on October 15 with six counts of aggravated arson and two counts of arson in connection with the July 26 fire.
The charges were filed in the 18th Judicial District Court under case number SG-2025-CR-002006, and Whitton has remained in custody since her arrest. On April 3, detectives presented findings related to Matthew’s death to the District Attorney’s Office. The case was amended on Monday to include the aforementioned charges related to Matthew’s death.
Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said cases involving the death of a child are especially difficult.
“These investigations take time because we have a responsibility to get them right,” Easter said. “Our detectives are committed to putting the pieces together and being a voice for children who can’t speak for themselves.”
The sheriff’s office also confirmed it is investigating the death of 2-year-old Gypsy Rose, who died in July 2024. While her legal name is Gypsy Rose, her obituary refers to her as Jolene “Jojo” Naomi.
The sheriff’s office said that as additional facts are uncovered, they will be presented to the DA’s office.
Shanna Kay Whitton will appear in Sedgwick County court for a hearing on May 7 at 2 p.m.
