WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Kimberly Compass was in court Wednesday, where she was sentenced by a Sedgwick County judge for the death of her 2-year-old son, Zayden Jaynesahkluah, in May 2019.
The judge sentenced Compass to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. She was convicted of first-degree murder in May 2021.
In 2023, Compass requested a new trial because, she argued, her previous counsel was ineffective and that new evidence should be allowed into court, which the prosecution argued against.
“Ms. Compass got a fair trial. Nothing would change the outcome, and counsel has failed to distribute anything that Mick would have done that would have changed the outcome, and two, that these witnesses are not credible and not relevant to the case at hand,” prosecutor Alice Osburn said at the time.
The judge denied that request in July, court records show.
In May 2019, Zayden died from a methadone overdose in the 2300 block of S. Broadway. Methadone is a prescription used to treat opioid addiction.
A probable cause affidavit said an autopsy found that Jaynesahkluah died from ingesting methadone. It also said he had bruises on his face and legs.
The affidavit said Compass called 911, reporting Zayden would not wake up and was not breathing. He was lying in a pool of vomit that was pink in color. EMS arrived at the motel but were unable to revive the toddler.
Court documents show detectives searched Compass’s vehicle and found three bottles of methadone in a child’s Avengers unlocked pencil box in the back seat. One bottle was empty, and the other two bottles had a small amount of methadone. The methadone was in liquid form and was pink.
The report said two drinks inside the motel room tested positive for methadone as well.
Zayden’s father, Caleb Jaynesahkluah, said after Compass was found guilty the verdict was a step toward closure for his family.
“I’m just glad that now I finally have something to say to say to him after I leave here from y’all — I’m gonna go to his grave so I can finally tell my baby boy that there is something,” Caleb Jaynesahkluah said.
