Jul 04, 2022

Sex offender enters plea in wife's murder at their Kan. home

Posted Jul 04, 2022 9:00 PM
Johnston-photo KBI offender registry
Johnston-photo KBI offender registry

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A registered sex offender entered a guilty plea to  murder and sex crimes in connection with his wife's death in 2020.

 Just before his trial was to begin, Craig Johnston, 44,  pleaded guilty last week to reckless second-degree murder, attempted rape, attempted aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated sexual battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney. 

On October 23, 2020, deputies responded to the report of an injured woman at a home in the 7900 block of West 109th in Sedgwick, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

When they arrived they found 40-year-old Amber Dawn Slankard with critical injuries.  EMS transported her to Via Christi St. Francis and she later died of her injuries.

Deputies transported her husband Craig Johnston to Sheriff Investigations and later booked him on requested charges of Second Degree Murder and violations of the Offender Registration Act, according to Blick. 

Johnston has a previous conviction from Illinois in 1997 for aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim between the age of 13-16, according to the Offender Registry. Johnston is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, according to the district attorney's office.