A man living in a makeshift camp with a homeless 5-year-old Kansas girl and her father has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and rape in connection with the child’s death. The man, aged 26, admitted to suffocating the girl with a pillow in a tent in Topeka when he was alone with her. Doctors found injuries consistent with sexual assault, and DNA evidence pointed to the man.
The man's guilty plea means he will not face the death penalty due to evidence of an intellectual disability. He will be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 25 years, with the possibility of 50 years without parole.
The sentencing is scheduled for June, with the defense seeking time to investigate the man's interactions with the Texas foster care system as a minor. The man made conflicting statements before admitting to the crimes, stating he was alone with the girl for almost five hours.
The child welfare department had investigated the family multiple times but couldn't confirm neglect or drug use allegations. The girl's mother was arrested for driving drunk with the girl in the car, and the family declined help repeatedly.
Neighbors reported seeing the girl neglected and hungry, with police records showing multiple calls to the mother's home. The man had prior involvement with the family and had been living in Amarillo, Texas, before moving to Topeka.
In court, the man mentioned taking medication for anxiety, depression, and ADHD. His history includes instances of homelessness and minor offenses in Texas.
