OVERLAND PARK, KS – In Johnson County, Kansas, two individuals have been charged with child murder and abuse, both currently held on a $1 million bond. The charges come nearly a year after the grim discovery of child abuse in an Overland Park apartment.
Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe emphasized the importance of justice for vulnerable victims, stating, “In my office it takes a particular note that we have a special duty to those who can’t protect themselves.”
The two suspects, Alexis Williams and Kevin Martenia, face three individual felony counts, including felony first-degree murder for their involvement in a child’s death.
First responders had initially been dispatched to the apartment complex in Overland Park in May 2023. It was there they discovered the scene of the crimes for which Williams and Martenia now stand accused.
When asked about the delay between the discovery and the charges, Howe explained that such timelines are typical in similar cases. They involve a careful vetting process and coordination with the medical examiner’s office and other medical professionals to determine the cause of death.
Both suspects were detained last week and are expected back in court next Thursday. If they are convicted of the crime, they face life in prison without the possibility of parole for a minimum of 25 years.