WICHITA, KS – A late-night argument inside a quiet Sedgwick County home ended with a young woman’s life cut short, a newborn fighting for survival, and a jury left to untangle the harrowing events that led to a conviction for murder.
Matthew Criscenzo, 20, was convicted Monday on multiple charges, including premeditated first-degree murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and aggravated battery, after jurors heard evidence detailing how he shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend, Naomi Oglesby, in May. The incident unfolded at Criscenzo’s father’s house on South Laura Avenue, where the couple often stayed.
According to investigators, the deadly confrontation stemmed from an escalating dispute. Tensions reached a breaking point when Oglesby turned off Criscenzo’s video game controller to announce she was leaving. What followed, prosecutors argued, was a violent response rooted in jealousy and desperation.
Criscenzo fired a Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun, striking Oglesby in the head. She was 37 weeks pregnant at the time. Emergency responders rushed her to the hospital, where doctors delivered her baby via emergency cesarean section. Despite their efforts, Oglesby was pronounced dead minutes after the birth. The child survived but was left with significant brain trauma due to a lack of oxygen.
Witness reports and court documents revealed a troubled relationship marked by volatility and threats. Friends and ex-partners described Criscenzo as controlling and abusive. One friend recounted an incident just a week before the shooting, in which he allegedly bit Oglesby and threatened her life while under the influence.
Criscenzo’s father, who was at home baking a cheesecake at the time of the shooting, told officers he heard the gunshot from his bedroom and rushed out to find Oglesby on the floor, his son standing nearby holding the weapon. He disarmed Criscenzo, who reportedly expressed disbelief and regret in the immediate aftermath.
Authorities say that as police arrived and took Criscenzo into custody, he made repeated, remorseful statements indicating shock and confusion. He lamented his actions, admitting to officers that he “should have let her leave” and questioning why he had his finger on the trigger.
Defense attorneys maintained that their client’s actions, while tragic, did not rise to the level of premeditation. They argued the shooting was reckless rather than intentional, pointing to Criscenzo’s inebriation and his expressions of regret as evidence of a lack of calculated intent.
Inside the home, investigators recovered a spent .40 caliber shell casing, live rounds, an extended magazine, and multiple gun cases—further supporting the prosecution’s account of events. Friends testified to seeing signs of physical and verbal abuse throughout the couple’s tumultuous relationship.
In online tributes, Oglesby was remembered as a kind-hearted young woman whose future was stolen just as she was about to become a mother. A fundraising campaign launched to support her surviving child and family quickly drew an outpouring of support.
As of Tuesday, a sentencing date for Criscenzo had not been set. Defense attorneys have requested immediate sentencing, but the court has yet to announce when he will appear again.