Month: July 2020

Father, girlfriend face first-degree murder charge in death of 3-year-old girl

Howard Jansen III
Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick

Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree today announced charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child endangerment and criminal desecration in the death of 3-year-old Olivia Jansen.

The charges were filed against Howard Jansen III, who is Olivia’s father, and Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick, who is Jansen’s girlfriend.

Olivia originally was reported missing on Friday morning, July 10, near 44th and Gibbs, according to police. Later in the day, after a search, her body was found shortly after 5:30 p.m. in a wooded area near 34th and Steele, according to police.

Jansen and Kirkpatrick are being held in the Wyandotte County Jail. Bond was requested at $500,000.

Dupree urged anyone in the community who has more information about this case to call the police.

He thanked the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department, FBI and KBI for their work on this case. They moved quickly, he said, and were able to get information about the case leading to the charges.

He said his office will continue to seek justice for Olivia. He also said the investigation is still ongoing, and the information he could provide is limited.

“This is a very difficult time, and there is nothing I could say to ease the pain of what you’re going through,” Dupree said he would say to other relatives of the child. He offered his condolences and asked the community to stand with the other family members.

Jansen and Kirkpatrick face a possible sentence of life in prison with eligibility for parole after 25 years on the murder charge; five to 17 months on the aggravated endangerment of a child charge; and up to one year on the misdemeanor charge of desecration.

Police notes

Aggravated assault reported

A victim told police on Saturday that a suspect pulled out a box cutter and threatened to kill her, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

As officers arrived near 64th and Tauromee, the suspect was taken into custody after attempting to walk away from the scene, police stated.

Victim suffers wound on arm

A victim told police he was cut on the forearm after a verbal argument with a suspect on Saturday near 38th and Washington, according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.

Officers located the suspect on a car stop, and took her into custody without incident, according to the report.

Faith news

Wyandotte County is in Phase 3 under Kansas Ad Astra reopening plan. Local health officials said under Phase 3, people should keep a distance of 6 feet between themselves and others. They may sit closer to people who live in their households. Also, people should wear masks and should wash hands or use hand sanitizer. There is now a mask order in effect in Kansas and Wyandotte County, requiring masks to be worn inside any public space.

Some faith groups will continue holding online or video services. In Wyandotte County, those who are older than 60 or who have other medical conditions should continue being very cautious, according to the Wyandotte County health officials Those who are sick should stay home, according to officials.

More details about Wyandotte County health guidelines for churches are at https://www.wycokck.org/WycoKCK/media/Health-Department/Documents/Communicable%20Disease/COVID19/COVID-19GuidelinesForChurches.pdf.

Residents are advised to visit the social media page of their church or faith organization, or to call them or email them, to see changes that have been made to regular schedules, or if there are video services planned on Sunday.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has information about churches reopening and also Masses, including a Mass at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 12, from the Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas, at https://www.facebook.com/archkck.

Blessed Sacrament, Christ the King and Our Lady and St. Rose Catholic churches have resumed in-person Masses. For more information, visit the churches’ websites or Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/Christ-the-King-Parish-KCKS-1392808997677579/, https://www.facebook.com/BlessedSacramentkck and https://www.facebook.com/ourladyandsaintrose/. Mass is livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/BlessedSacramentkck.

Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, Kansas City, Kansas, will have services in person with social distancing at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, July 12. There also will be livestream services at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, on the church’s website https://www.opendoorkc.com/.

Stony Point Christian Church, 149 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas, plans to livestream at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, July 12, on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StonyPointChristianChurch, and people are welcome to attend the service in person, using social distancing and other health measures. Preschool is starting at 10:15 a.m. Sunday. Sunday school for all ages will begin at 9 a.m.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, Kansas City, Kansas, has a Mass online for Sunday, July 12, at https://www.facebook.com/StPatrickKCK/videos/607621976536296. St. Patrick Church also has returned to in-person Masses.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Kansas, is planning livestream services on Facebook on Sunday, July 19. See stpaulskck.org and https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsKCK/.

Sunset Hills Christian Church, 6347 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, plans to livestream at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday on the Facebook page of Pastor Mike Barnett, https://www.facebook.com/mike.barnett.528. Services are also provided through checkout of DVD or SD Card and can be sent by email upon request. People are welcome to attend the service in person using social distancing and other health measures. Masks are available or bring your own to wear.

Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Ave., is planning a livestream Sunday, July 12. For more information visit Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Wyandotteumc/ or online on the website at www.wyandotteumc.com.

Information about other church services in Wyandotte County may be available from the church’s social media page.
To send in items for the Faith News, email information to [email protected]. Please include your name and contact information.