LAWRENCE — A newly released police affidavit says two Lawrence toddlers were briefly left alone before one of them was fatally shot. One-year-old Autumn Grace Smith was killed in September 2017 at her family’s home in Lawrence. Her father, 32-year-old Chance Smith, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and two counts of aggravated endangerment of a child. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Autumn and a 2-year-old were at the home. According to the affidavit, Smith told police he left the toddlers watching TV for 5 to 10 minutes to let his dogs out and smoke a cigarette. When he returned, he found…
Author: KMAN Staff
WELLINGTON — A Kansas mother has been charged in the death of a 7-month-old girl who died of multiple head injuries. The Wichita Eagle reports that 26-year-old Shelby Dawn Johnson, of Oxford, was booked into the Sumner County Jail on Thursday. She is being held on $250,000 bond on a first-degree murder charge in the death of her daughter, Jesslinn Hulett. The girl was taken to a hospital on April 1, Easter Sunday, and died four days later. Court documents say Johnson killed her infant daughter either by “cruelly beating” or “shaking” the baby. The documents say the girl needed…
TOPEKA — Authorities have found a possible bomb while serving a search warrant at the home of one of the three suspects in a double homicide in Topeka. Topeka police Lt. Andrew Beightel says the discovery was made Thursday as officers searched for evidence related to the killings of 28-year-old Lisa Sportsman and her cousin, 17-year-old Jesse Polinskey, in the small Washington County town of Greenleaf. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that details about the suspicious item weren’t made available Thursday afternoon. Police say the two victims were pronounced dead Monday at a residence in Topeka’s Hi-Crest neighborhood after paramedics arrived.…
A 1st Infantry Division soldier was found dead in Grandview Plaza Wednesday. The body of 19-year-old Pfc. Spencer Rose of Connersville, Indiana was discovered in his apartment. He was an aircraft structural repairer with the 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Officials say Rose’s death is still under investigation. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Pfc. Spencer Rose,” said Lt. Col. Glenn McQuown,1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade commander. “Our thoughts, prayers and support go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.” Rose had been…
Friday’s guests were Riley County Police Department Director Brad Schoen and Jackson County School Resource Officer John Calvert of Topeka.
Riley County Public Works is beginning geological testing at the Keats Bridge site on Anderson Avenue on Monday, July 30th. Officials said in a release that traffic will be allowed through the work zone, but the road will be reduced to one lane strictly in the vicinity of the bridge. Residents should expect delays. The testing is anticipated to last for 2 work days, barring any unexpected or weather-related delays. If you have questions concerning the project, contact the Riley County Public Works Department at 6215 Tuttle Creek Boulevard in Manhattan or call 785-537-6330.
OVERLAND PARK — Authorities say three suburban Kansas City police officers have resigned and more than 200 traffic tickets dismissed after an internal investigation into false seat belt citations. The Kansas City Star reports that Overland Park, Kansas, police Chief Frank Donchez Jr. says the officers overlooked traffic violations like speeding and instead cited motorists for not wearing seat belts when they’d actually been buckled up. He says he doesn’t know what motivated the officers, suggesting that perhaps they were “cutting someone a break.” He says the officers turned off their dash camera audio, possibly to hide their actions. Not…
HUTCHINSON — A dog named Lucifer has saved a Kansas man from an early morning house fire. The Hutchinson News reports that Larry Moore was asleep in his Hutchinson home when his dog woke him about 2:15 a.m. Wednesday. Fire Battalion Chief Jeremy Unruh says Moore, Lucifer and another dog, named Angel, made it out safely. But Unruh says Moore returned at least twice to the home to retrieve items and had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Moore’s neighbor, Clarissa Swenson, described Lucifer, whose nickname is Lucy, as an “old mutt” who Moore and his late wife have owned…
TOPEKA — Topeka police say a woman was injured when a sport-utility vehicle slammed into a cafe. Shawnee County Sheriff’s Sgt. Eric Frey says the woman was a customer at Banjo’s Cafe when the vehicle hit the business early Thursday. Frey said an elderly female driver was pulling into a parking space in front of the cafe when her vehicle went over a parking curb and into the restaurant. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the vehicle struck several tables, including one where at least three people including the woman who injured were sitting. The woman was taken away in an ambulance.…
Thursday’s guests were Manhattan Kiwanis Bluemont Hill Overlook Project Secretary Kitty Pursley and Assistant Director of Manhattan Parks and Recreation Wyatt Thompson, Ruth Nicolaus of the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo, Pawnee Mental Health Director Robbin Cole, as well as Karen Hawes of the Back to School Bike Swap in Ogden.