Kaiden McCullough: Parents detained on murder suspicion after 1-year-old found unresponsive at Walmart

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WICHITA, KANSAS: The Wichita Police Department has verified that parents have been apprehended regarding the demise of a one-year-old child last autumn after an autopsy reported the child died of fentanyl overdose.

Emergency services were dispatched around 9:50 p.m. on October 31, 2023, to the Walmart situated at Pawnee and Broadway, following the mother's report of her one-year-old son, Kaiden McCullough being unresponsive. 

The child was transported by EMS to a Wichita hospital, where he was declared deceased at 11:01 pm.

Parents arrested in connection to death of  Kaiden McCullough

Police spokesperson Juan Rebolledo stated that 31-year-old Brijin McCullough and 36-year-old Wilma Faye Presley were both taken into custody in connection with the death of their one-year-old son Kaiden McCullough on March 06.

Notably, father Brijin McCullough has been in custody since January 5 on multiple drug-related charges and charges of eluding law enforcement as per KWCH.

On Wednesday, suspicion of first-degree murder was added to Brijin’s existing charges. As per court records, neither parent has been formally charged about the child's demise.

The police will present the case details to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for further review, who will then determine the charges to be filed.

What happened to Kaiden McCullough?

According to KaKe, Wichita police have indicated that there is no evidence of foul play following the death of a baby who became unresponsive at a local Walmart and later died at the hospital. 

Emergency responders were dispatched to the Walmart at Pawnee and Broadway around 9:50 pm on Tuesday, following a report from the mother of the 1-year-old boy stating that her son was unresponsive. 

The child was transported to a Wichita hospital by EMS, where he was pronounced dead at 11:01 pm.

Police spokesperson Juan Rebolledo has stated that currently, "no signs of foul play at this time and we will need to wait on the autopsy report."

What did autopsy report say?

According to the autopsy report, Kaiden's father remained in the car while his mother took him inside. 

The coroner noted that it's unclear how long Kaiden was unresponsive before his mother noticed, as she initially thought he was sleeping when they entered the store. 

Kaiden had been living with his maternal aunt since birth, as he was placed in her care due to testing positive for methamphetamine as per Kansas. 

However, he was recently returned to his mother's custody. 

Additionally, the coroner highlighted that neither the EMS nor hospital records indicated any medical administration of fentanyl during the resuscitation period. The cause of death was determined to be accidental due to fentanyl.

Kaiden McCullough’s parents had criminal charges in 2023

Wilma Faye Presley faced additional charges related to drug possession and a traffic violation. Brijin McCullough, who is currently on parole, was apprehended on January 5 and is facing numerous charges, including multiple counts of possessing opiates, opium, narcotics, or certain stimulants, criminal possession of a handgun, evading or fleeing from law enforcement officers, and driving with a suspended license. 

According to court records, the seized drugs include fentanyl and cocaine. 

Additionally, McCullough has prior convictions for aggravated burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, drug offenses, and theft, all documented in the records of the Kansas Department of Corrections. 

These convictions occurred in Sedgwick County, and he was most recently released from prison in February 2023.