SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man arrested in connection with the drowning death of his 2-year-old son made his first court appearance Monday.
44-year-old William Kabutu of Wichita is charged with first-degree felony murder or in the alternative, 2nd degree felony murder. He is also charged with two counts of aggravated endangering a child.
Just after 10 p.m., July 8, police responded to a neighborhood pool in the 1900 block of E. 54th Street South for a drowning call, according to officer Paul Cruz.
Upon arrival, officers contacted the calling-party, who reported observing a boy floating in the neighborhood pool. Wichita Fire Department (WFD) personnel pulled the child from the pool and attempted life-saving measures. However, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Through a thorough investigation of evidence and interviewing multiple individuals, the investigation revealed the boy and his 4-year-old brother were taken to the pool by their father William Kabutu who was intoxicated, according to officer Charley Davidson.
At the pool, Kabutu allowed the kids to by-pass the pool fence. The 2-year-old entered the pool, was not able to stay above the water, and drowned.
Kabutu was not able to access the pool due to the fence and locked gate. Emergency personnel were called after a passerby arrived and called 911.
Police booked Kabutu into the Sedgwick County Jail Friday afternoon, according to Davidson.
Cases can be charged alternatively if there are two or more theories of how the crime was committed.
Each charge can be presented to a jury and a defendant may be convicted of more than one of the alternative charges. However, the defendant can only be sentenced for one of the alternative counts, that being the most severe offense.
Attorneys are scheduled to discuss the case with Judge Christopher Magana on July 23. Kabutu is being held on a $150,000 bond.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating the drowning death of a 2-year-old boy have arrested 44-year-old William Kabutu of Wichita.
Just after 10 p.m., Tuesday, police responded to a neighborhood pool in the 1900 block of E. 54th Street South for a drowning call, according to officer Paul Cruz.
Upon arrival, officers contacted the calling-party, who reported observing a boy floating in the neighborhood pool. Wichita Fire Department (WFD) personnel pulled the child from the pool and attempted life-saving measures. However, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Through a thorough investigation of evidence and interviewing multiple individuals, the investigation revealed the boy and his 4-year-old brother were taken to the pool by their father William Kabutu who was intoxicated, according to officer Charley Davidson.
At the pool, Kabutu allowed the kids to by-pass the pool fence. The 2-year-old entered the pool, was not able to stay above the water, and drowned.
Kabutu was not able to access the pool due to the fence and locked gate. Emergency personnel were called after a passerby arrived and called 911.
Police booked Kabutu into the Sedgwick County Jail Friday afternoon on a requested charge of felony murder and two counts of aggravated child endangerment, according to Davidson.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the drowning of 2-year-old boy.
Just after 10 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a home in the 1900 block of E. 54th Street South in Wichita for a drowning call, according to officer Paul Cruz.
Upon arrival, officers contacted the calling-party who reported observing the boy floating in the neighborhood pool and calling 911.
Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and the Wichita Fire Department (WFD) pulled the boy from the pool and attempted life-saving measures. However, the child died.
The investigation revealed the boy was with his 44-year-old father and 4-year-old brother in the neighborhood when he managed to by-pass the fence surrounding the pool, and fell into the water, according to Cruz.
Police released no additional details Wednesday afternoon.