WICHITA, Kan. — Stephen Rogers, 29, of Wichita, was sentenced Friday in Sedgwick County District Court after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated endangering a child in connection with the fatal shooting of his mother-in-law, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
Rogers had plead guilty pursuant to a negotiated resolution of the case in February of 2026.
Sedgwick County District Judge Tyler Roush sentenced Rogers to a total of 592 months in prison.
On the night of July 30, 2025, Sharmaine Marlene Burke, 49, called 911 to report that her son-in-law was drunk and had threatened to shoot her. She told dispatchers that her 8-year-old grandson — Rogers' son — was also inside the home at the Longbranch Mobile Home Park near Derby. The 911 call-taker stayed on the line as deputies responded. A few minutes into the call, gunshots were heard and the line went silent. Deputies arrived at 11:41 p.m. and found Burke with multiple gunshot wounds to her upper body. Deputies and Sedgwick County EMS attempted life-saving measures, but Burke died at 11:57 p.m.
Rogers had taken his son from the home and fled. Butler County deputies located and stopped the vehicle at U.S. 54 and Haverhill Road. Rogers was arrested. His son was not harmed.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Shannon Wilson and Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Jameson of the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office.
"This office is committed to holding violent offenders accountable,” the District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “Today's sentence reflects the seriousness of Mr. Rogers' actions and the lasting impact they have had on this family and community."