Kansas mother strangles 15-month-old son, claims he was suffocated

A Kansas mother has been arrested after she allegedly strangled her 15-month-old son, but told police he choked on food.

Shanna Kay Whitten She has been charged with felony first-degree murder, child abuse, aggravated child endangerment and aggravated arson in connection with the death of her son, Matthew Wheaton, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a statement. Press release.

Whitten, 31, was originally charged with eight arson-related offenses in October 2025.

The incident occurred on August 25, 2025, at the Mimosa Arms Apartments in Clearwater, Kansas.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said police responded to the home after the boy reportedly choked on food. When police arrived, they found the boy unconscious and not breathing. They did everything they could to save his life until emergency personnel arrived and took him to a hospital in Wichita. Matthew was admitted to hospital in extremely critical condition and died three days later.

An investigation into Matthew’s death was reportedly launched, with detectives looking back at a fire at the apartment building in July 2025. Who are you.

Authorities later learned the fire started in Matthew’s bedroom while the boy was inside. Fire investigators ultimately determined the fire was intentionally set, according to authorities.

Matthew’s autopsy was completed in January, and the medical examiner’s office determined he died from complications of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy caused by an intentional asphyxiation incident. In other words, Matthew was deliberately deprived of oxygen.

Based on the investigation, Matthew’s manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Wheaton remains in custody following his arrest. It was unclear whether she entered a plea or hired an attorney after her arrest.

The defendants are accused of “obstructing their son’s nose and/or mouth to prevent normal breathing or blood circulation” in August 2025, according to the latest criminal complaint. Wheaton is also accused of placing Matthew “in a situation where the life, body or health of a child was in danger” at the time of the fire.

“They put him on a gurney and he never came home,” Wheaton’s downstairs neighbor recently told us Who are you About Matthew’s death.

The neighbor added that Wheaton initially said Matthew choked after eating his food, but pointed out inconsistencies in her story.

“First she told people it was spaghetti and meatballs with sauce,” the neighbor said. “And then there’s the pasta, with the sauce in it.”

Detectives previously presented their findings into Matthew’s death to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office in early April.

“These investigations take time because we have a responsibility to make sure they are investigated correctly,” Sedgwick County Sgt. Jeff East Tell Who are you. “Our detectives are dedicated to piecing the pieces together and giving a voice to children who cannot speak for themselves.”

Detectives are also investigating the death of Whitton’s 2-year-old daughter, Gypsy Rose, who died in July 2024, Easter added. Detectives will notify prosecutors as they obtain more details, he said.