Kayden's Law in honor of slain Bucks County girl heads to governor's desk

Jo Ciavaglia, Bucks County Courier Times
Updated ·3 min read
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Gov. Josh Shapiro is expected to sign into law reform legislation named after Kayden Mancuso, the Lower Makefield girl murdered during an unsupervised visit with her father in 2018, a crime that focused national attention on the family court system.

The bill, known as Kayden’s Law, is named after the 7-year-old Kayden, who lived in Bucks County with her mother and family before she was killed by her biological father on Aug. 5, 2018.

Kayden's Law, a child protection legislation named for Kayden Mancuso, who was killed by her biological father during an unsupervised visit in 2018, was included in the reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act.
Kayden's Law, a child protection legislation named for Kayden Mancuso, who was killed by her biological father during an unsupervised visit in 2018, was included in the reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act.

Kayden's parent sued over death Kayden Mancuso's mother sues Bucks County judge, others she says failed to prevent daughter's death

The House on Monday passed the final version of Senate Bill 55, reforming the state’s child custody statute, which now forward's it to Shapiro's desk. The bill was first introduced in 2019.

“Today we are one step closer to protecting children in custody cases,” said State Sen. Steven Santarsiero. D-10, of Lower Makefield, one of the bill's primary sponsors of the bipartisan legislation.

Gov. Josh Shapiro is expected to sign Kayden's Law, which will strengthen the state's child custody law
Gov. Josh Shapiro is expected to sign Kayden's Law, which will strengthen the state's child custody law

More on Kayden Mancuso 'I can’t let Kayden to have died in vain. I have to do it': A mother's vow to protect kids

What happened to Kayden Mancuso?

Kayden died after her father, Jeffrey Mancuso, struck her in the head at least three times with a 35-pound dumbbell during a court-ordered weekend visit at his Manayunk home. Mancuso left a two-page note on her body that said, "You all get what you deserve," and then killed himself.

The murder-suicide happened three months after Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Trauger issued a final custody order that reduced visitation rights for Mancuso, but allowed unsupervised visits.

Following Kayden’s murder, it was learned Mancuso was diagnosed by a court-ordered psychiatrist as narcissistic, depressed, antisocial, and with suicidal ideation. He also had a history of assault charges, erratic behavior, threats, abused alcohol and prescription drugs, but he had no allegations involving violence against Kayden.

A court-ordered evaluation recommended Mancuso only be awarded unsupervised visits “contingent” on his entering mental health treatment, but Trauger did not mandate it.

After the murder, Kayden's mother, Kathy Sherlock, devoted herself to changing child custody laws and advocating for family court reform and strengthening laws to protect children in similar situations as her late daughter. She had fought in the family courts to restrict Mancuso's access to their child, arguing he was dangerous. Her family created the nonprofit Kayden’s Korner to advocate for legislative changes nationally.

What will Kayden’s Law do?

It requires courts to hold an evidentiary hearing and consider criminal convictions, criminal charges, child abuse and involvement with protective services for any household member, as well as certain custody factors first, when making a determination and ensure any custody order includes safety conditions and restrictions, if necessary.

If the court finds an ongoing risk of abuse or violence to a child, any custody order must include safety conditions and restrictions which can include supervised visitation only.

The bill also encourages, but does not require, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to implement an annual educational and training program for judges and relevant court personnel on child abuse, adverse childhood experiences, family violence, domestic violence, and its impact on children.

The law adds new crimes the court must consider against a parent or household member in custody proceedings. Those new crimes are:

  • Simple assault

  • Recklessly endangering another person

  • Cruelty to animals

  • Animal fighting

  • Possession of animal fighting paraphernalia

  • Interference with custody of children

How the Bucks County Court has responded

The documents related to the Mancuso child custody case are publicly available and they can be accessed here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3wt0ctdax39o0r8/AACS629JWdZHRzJ_V2MgIIGra?dl=0

Bucks County Kayden Mancuso by michelleganassi

On behalf of Judge Jeffrey G. Trauger the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas previously issued a statement that the court’s decision in the Mancuso case was made in compliance with Pennsylvania law and based on the facts of the case and was not appealed by either party.

On Sunday Oct. 15, 2023, Kayden Mancuso would have turned 13. She was murdered six years ago by her father during an unsupervised visit. Her mother, Kathryn Sherlock, of Lower Makefield, hold a protest at the Bucks County Justice Center to bring attention to the need for reforms centers around child custody.
On Sunday Oct. 15, 2023, Kayden Mancuso would have turned 13. She was murdered six years ago by her father during an unsupervised visit. Her mother, Kathryn Sherlock, of Lower Makefield, hold a protest at the Bucks County Justice Center to bring attention to the need for reforms centers around child custody.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: How Kayden's Law will change child custody law in Pennsylvania