SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman convicted in the methadone death of her 2-year-old son arrived in court for sentencing Thursday morning. Kimberly Compass, 25, asked the court for a new attorney and Judge Kevin O’Connor granted that request, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
In May, a jury convicted Compass of first-degree felony murder after her 2-year-old son died from ingesting methadone. A Sedgwick County jury deliberated about two hours Monday before finding her guilty in the death of Zayden Jay Nesahkluah.
Zayden died of a methadone overdose in a Wichita motel on May 31, 2019. Prosecutors accused Compass of mishandling three bottles of methadone, which had been prescribed to help her kick a heroin habit. It remains unclear exactly how the boy got ahold of the methadone.
Her defense attorney argued throughout the trial that Compass didn't know the boy ingested the drug.
The judge has not chosen the new defense attorney and has set no date for her next appearance in court, according to the district attorney's office.