A 20-year-old man from Sedgwick County, Kansas, has been sentenced to 74 years in prison for the fatal shooting of his pregnant girlfriend in May 2024. Matthew Criscenzo was convicted in February of premeditated first-degree murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and aggravated battery in the death of 20-year-old Naomi Oglesby.
The incident occurred at Criscenzo’s father’s residence on South Laura Avenue in Wichita. According to court documents, the shooting happened after Oglesby grabbed Criscenzo’s PlayStation 5 controller, turned it off, and told him she was leaving their relationship. Criscenzo responded by pointing a firearm at her, a Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun, which discharged and struck Oglesby in the head.
Criscenzo’s father, who was home at the time, discovered the scene after hearing a gunshot. He found Oglesby on the ground with Criscenzo standing over her, holding the weapon. The father immediately disarmed his son and contacted emergency services.
Oglesby was 37 weeks pregnant when the shooting occurred. Medical staff performed an emergency cesarean section to deliver the baby, who survived but sustained severe brain trauma due to oxygen deprivation. The infant, named Zy’nia, now lives with permanent disabilities including cerebral palsy and inability to swallow food.
During Tuesday’s sentencing, the child’s foster mother described the extensive medical challenges facing the now nearly one-year-old girl. She explained that the child cannot eat normally and will likely never be able to enjoy typical childhood experiences, including eating her own birthday cake.
District Judge Jeff Goering imposed the maximum sentence, noting that had the infant not survived, Criscenzo would have faced capital murder charges. The sentence breaks down to 618 months to life for murder, 228 months for kidnapping, and 43 months for aggravated battery. If granted parole, Criscenzo would still need to serve an additional 271 months.
Prosecutor Shannon Wilson emphasized the preventable nature of the tragedy, stating that Criscenzo could have simply allowed Oglesby to leave the residence. Instead, his actions ended her life and permanently altered the future of their child.
Investigators revealed that Criscenzo had a history of violent and controlling behavior. Friends and former partners described previous incidents of domestic violence and threats. One witness reported seeing Criscenzo assault Oglesby just one week before the murder, during which he allegedly bit her hand and threatened to kill her while intoxicated.
When police arrived at the scene, Criscenzo made several incriminating statements, expressing disbelief at his actions and stating he didn’t want Oglesby to leave because he thought she would abandon their relationship.
The defense argued for a reduced sentence, citing Criscenzo’s learning disorders, memory processing deficits, and mental health issues including suicidal ideation. However, Judge Goering rejected these arguments, maintaining the severity of the sentence was appropriate given the circumstances.
Ashley Stewart, Oglesby’s sister, addressed the court about the devastating impact on their family. She emphasized that her niece’s life has been permanently altered, with uncertain prospects for reaching adulthood given her severe medical conditions.
During his statement to the court, Criscenzo claimed he never intended for Oglesby to die or for their child to be harmed. However, the judge and prosecution maintained that his controlling behavior and refusal to let Oglesby leave the residence directly led to the tragic outcome.
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