WICHITA, KS – Shock and heartbreak reverberate through Sedgwick County after the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Naomi Oglesby, who was nearly full-term in her pregnancy when her life was cut short. The young woman was remembered by friends and family as vibrant, loving, and hopeful for the future as she prepared to welcome her child into the world.
According to authorities, the tragedy unfolded inside the home of Matthew Criscenzo’s father on South Laura Avenue in Wichita, where Oglesby and her boyfriend often stayed. On a May evening, prosecutors say an argument between the couple ended in violence, marking the culmination of a troubled and tumultuous relationship that friends say had been marked by escalating threats and controlling behavior.
Police were dispatched to the residence after Criscenzo’s father reported hearing a gunshot just outside his bedroom. He told officers he found Naomi lying on the ground with a fatal wound, while Matthew stood nearby with a handgun in his hand. Investigators later recovered a spent .40 caliber shell casing and additional ammunition from the scene.
Medical personnel raced to save Oglesby and her unborn child. Doctors delivered the baby via emergency C-section, but despite efforts, Oglesby was declared dead less than three minutes later. The baby survived, but testing revealed severe brain trauma, likely caused by oxygen deprivation at the time of the shooting.
Naomi’s loved ones expressed deep sorrow, recalling her as someone who “brought light into every room.” Friends described her anticipation about becoming a mother and her commitment to building a new life for her baby.
Court documents detail a history of alleged abuse leading up to the shooting. Investigators learned that friends and former partners considered Criscenzo violent and controlling. One friend told detectives that, just a week prior to the incident, Criscenzo was physically and verbally abusive towards Naomi, threatening her life while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Prosecutors revealed that the argument on the night of the fatal shooting started over the couple’s gaming console. Oglesby reportedly turned off Criscenzo’s controller as she announced she was leaving, which escalated the conflict to its tragic conclusion.
After the shooting, authorities noted Criscenzo was visibly distraught and made a series of spontaneous, self-incriminating statements both at the scene and while in police custody. He repeatedly expressed disbelief and remorse, confessing to officers that he “never meant for it to happen” and recognizing the finality of his actions. Despite his plea of not guilty, a Sedgwick County jury found Criscenzo guilty on charges including premeditated first-degree murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and aggravated battery.
During the investigation, police discovered evidence of extensive weapons and ammunition at the home, further emphasizing the potential for violence. Criscenzo’s defense argued that he acted recklessly, not with premeditation, but jurors sided with prosecutors’ account of deliberate intent.
A fundraising campaign started in Naomi’s memory describes her as a beautiful soul whose future was stolen too soon, and calls for support for her surviving child. As the community mourns Naomi Oglesby, the tragic circumstances of her death highlight the devastating impact of domestic violence and the lives left shattered in its wake.
Criscenzo’s sentencing has yet to be scheduled, but in the aftermath, loved ones focus on remembering Naomi as a daughter, friend, and mother who never saw her chance to begin that journey.