Sep 29, 2020

Murder charges filed in 2016 triple homicide in Kansas

Posted Sep 29, 2020 10:00 AM
 Sanford was being held in lieu of a $1 million bond at the jail in Jackson County, Missouri.
 Sanford was being held in lieu of a $1 million bond at the jail in Jackson County, Missouri.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Capital murder charges were filed Monday in the 2016 triple homicide of a man, woman and unborn child at a Topeka apartment complex, authorities said Monday.

Yanez C. Sanford, 38, was arrested Monday in Independence, Missouri, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said at a news conference.

Sanford faces charges linked to the shooting deaths at the Fairlawn Green Apartments of 23-year-old Dominique Ray, 20-year-old Camrah Trotter and her unborn son, Uriah Trotter. She was in her third trimester of pregnancy.

Authorities declined to say whether Sanford knew the victims.

He faces charges of capital murder, first-degree premeditated murder, attempted murder, rape, kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated burglary, Kagay said.

Police Chief Bill Cochran described the filing of charges as “great moment for the city of Topeka and the Topeka Police Department.”

Detective Victor Riggins, the lead investigator, “never gave up” on the case, Kagay said.

The local Crime Stoppers program recently asked the public for help in identifying the killer, but police would not say whether that brought any tips that led to the charges.

Sanford was being held in lieu of a $1 million bond at the jail in Jackson County, Missouri.