SerpApi.Org
Court documents released Tuesday say that a Wichita couple accused of murder following the June death of their 4-month-old lived in filthy conditions and were flagged by child welfare professionals nine days before the child’s death.
Prosecutors last month charged Krystian Manning, 30, and Destiny Manning, 27, with murder and several other crimes after the June 12 death of Rhysand W. Manning, one of the couple’s four children.
The first-degree felony murder charges allege 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.
According to matching seven-page affidavits, the Mannings lived with their four children, all under the age of 5, in a home near Harry and Seneca when police and emergency medical responders were called June 12.
Responders arrived just before 12:45 p.m. and found Destiny Manning performing chest compressions on Rhysand, who was wearing only a diaper, on a sidewalk outside the home.
Rhysand was pronounced dead by emergency responders five minutes after they arrived, according to the affidavit. He had “dried liquid” coming from his mouth and nose when responders arrived.
Investigators from the Wichita Police Department found three other children in the home, which included Rhysand’s twin sister, a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old. The other children were found with dirt on their bodies and bug bites, and appeared to be malnourished, according to the affidavits.
The 4-year-old, according to the affidavits, told responders that her brother was dead. The 4-year-old and 1-year-old were later found to have various bruises on their bodies.
On June 2, according to the documents, a pediatric nurse who had examined the Mannings’ four children alerted Kansas Department for Children and Families officials that she was concerned about possible “neglect” and “no parental care,” along with other red flags.
The Mannings are being held in the Sedgwick County Jail in lieu of $2 million bond each.
Each faces eight other aggravated child endangerment and child abuse felonies related to the alleged mistreatment of the couple’s children.
While previously living in Washington, the couple faced allegations of child neglect there, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, the Mannings’ home was plagued with cockroaches and had a large stack of used diapers piled on top of a trash can. The home is in the 1700 block of West Esthner.
The three surviving children were taken into protective custody last month. The Mannings are scheduled to appear next in Sedgwick County District Court in October.
