Jon K. Ewing convicted of murder in the death of his longtime girlfriend
A Scranton man was convicted Friday of crimes that included first-degree murder in the commission of a felony and unintentional but reckless second-degree murder in the April 2021 death near Topeka of his longtime former girlfriend, Deborah Ann Stephens, Shawnee County District Court records show.
Sentencing was set for 9:30 a.m. May 12 for Jon K. "Kelly" Ewing, 63, who was also convicted of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, making a criminal threat and interference with a law enforcement officer.
The charges were linked to death of Stephens, 58, on April 27, 2021, at her mobile home at 801 S.W. 57th, Lot A7, just south of Topeka.
Ewing was initially charged with intentional and premediated first-degree murder but jurors at his trial, which began Monday, opted to instead convict him of the lesser included offense of reckless second-degree murder, court records said.
Here's what the prosecution said
Assistant District Attorney Will Manly said a camera from Stephens' home security system showed Ewing attacking her outside her mobile home, grabbing her by her hair and pulling her toward her mobile home.
Ewing was then shown picking up an axe Stephens kept just inside her front door and using it to strike her on the head repeatedly before shoving her inside, Manly said.
More:Topeka has had 4 domestic violence deaths this month. Help is available, mayor stresses.
Here's what the defense attorney said
Defense attorney Kevin Shepherd countered by presenting testimony indicating that all Stephens' head wounds were found to be superficial.
Stephens died due to heavy bleeding in her torso after she suffered a small rib fracture, while a high level of methamphetamine in her blood and a long history of methamphetamine abuse were key contributing factors, Shepherd said.
He also said Ewing's history of motorcycle accidents and head injuries, as well as his meth abuse, left him without the mental capacity to plan a homicide.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Jon K. 'Kelly' Ewing convicted in death near Topeka of Deborah Ann Stephens
