13 September 2023
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A jury trial is scheduled for the man accused of Topeka’s first homicide of 2023.
Dustin Kelley had an arraignment hearing Tuesday, Sept. 13, and pleaded not guilty to all charges in this case, according to the Shawnee County District Court. A jury trial is set to start on April 29, 2024. Kelley faces the following charges:
Murder in the 1st degree
Abuse of a child
Aggravated endangering a child
Kelley is accused of killing 1-year-old Jackson Tilton, the first homicide in Topeka of 2023. Topeka police said it was notified of a child abuse case on Jan. 4 when the child was receiving treatment at the hospital. Tilton died on Jan. 8 and Kelley was arrested four days later, according to police.