Wichita man found guilty by jury in crash that killed pregnant woman

8 June 2023

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A jury has returned a verdict to a judge for Javan Ervin, who was found guilty of causing a crash that killed a pregnant Wichita woman.

Ervin was found guilty of seven of eight counts he was charged with:

Murder in the First degree; In the commission of a felony

Aggravated battery; Reckless deadly weapon to cause great bodily harm/disfigurement or death

Flee or attempt to elude LEO by engaging in wickless driving

Flee or attempt to elude; Motor vehicle accident or damage property

Criminal possession of weapon by felon; Convicted within 5 years

Failure to stop at accident; resulting in death

Drive while license cancelled/suspended/revoked


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Ervin was found not guilty of criminal possession of a weapon by a felon.

Prosecutors said Ervin was a robbery suspect and took off from officers when he crashed into a car at Central and Ridge. The impact of that crash killed Samantha Russell, but doctors were able to save her baby.

Ervin’s case was initially declared a mistrial in April because a juror allegedly told the judge another juror made comments about media coverage in the jury room.

Senenticing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 26.

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