In a shocking development, a mother whose toddler was initially thought to have died from choking has been arrested and charged with murder. Shanna Kay Whitton is facing serious accusations, including first-degree felony murder, child abuse, aggravated child endangerment, and aggravated arson. These charges stem from an incident involving her 15-month-old son, Matthew, as detailed in a press release from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Kansas.

Whitton has been held in custody since October 9, 2025, following charges related to a fire that investigators determined was intentionally set in her son’s bedroom. The young boy’s tragic death has been a focal point of the investigation, with new findings adding a grim layer to the case.

Matthew’s death, originally thought to be an accident, occurred in August 2025. Reports indicated that he choked and became unconscious. Despite emergency interventions, the toddler passed away in the hospital. However, an autopsy later revealed a more sinister cause.

The medical examination concluded that Matthew succumbed to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a condition involving brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. Significantly, this was attributed to intentional asphyxiation, leading authorities to classify his death as a homicide.

As the case unfolds, it remains unclear whether Whitton has entered a plea concerning the murder charges. The community, grappling with the tragic details, awaits further developments in this heart-wrenching case.

The autopsy found that Matthew died from complications of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy—brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen—resulting from an intentional asphyxiation. His death was ruled a homicide.

“No food bolus or even food particles were identified in Matthew’s airways,” the report, reviewed by Oxygen, noted, adding that medical records indicated “his clinical course is not consistent with a brief choking event.”

While investigating his murder, detectives turned to a July fire that started in his bedroom.

“We did not believe the story that the mother gave to us on the choking incident—and then found out about the fire that had occurred,” Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said, according to KSN. “Basically, a baby’s blanket was put next to the crib and started on fire.” 

The family has an extensive history of medical emergencies, according to the autopsy: Matthew was allegedly dropped on the floor and his 2-year-old sister Gypsy Rose died after suffering a presumed airway obstruction while eating grapes in 2024.

Police are now expanding the murder investigation to include Gypsy Rose, a sheriff spokesperson told Oxygen. 

An attorney for Whitton did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Oxygen.