SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man with a previous abuse conviction who was also accused in the violent death of his 8-year-old daughter entered a plea in the case last week.
Thomas Gatewood, 52, Wichita, plead no contest to first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated battery, abuse of a child, rape, criminal sodomy, aggravated endangering of a child aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated intimidation of a witness, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
On May 8, of 2023 police were dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of N. Oliver in Wichita after report of an unresponsive 8-year-old girl, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. The child was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A warrant was issued for Gatewood's arrest for the murder of his 8-year-old daughter
Wichita Police Officers utilized FLOCK technology and Thomas was quickly located and taken into custody within hours of the warrant being issued.
The Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit and Homicide detectives investigated the incident and presented a case to the District Attorney’s office. Prosecutors say Gatewood had repeatedly beaten and even stomped on the 8-year-old and an autopsy revealed that her heart had ruptured. Another child in the house was also abused.
Court documents show he was previously charged with child abuse in Oklahoma in 2009.
Gatewood was scheduled to face a trial in the case March 11. Sentencing in scheduled for April 25 according to the district attorney's office.
-The aP contributed to this report.