A Kansas man has pleaded not guilty to murder after being accused of fatally shooting his pregnant girlfriend during a heated argument over a PlayStation controller.
Police say 20-year-old Matthew Criscenzo, of Sedgwick County, shot and killed his 20-year-old girlfriend, Naomi Oglesby, on May 25. At the time of her death, Oglesby was 37 weeks pregnant. Her child, a baby girl named Zy’nia, was delivered by emergency C-section but suffered severe brain trauma from oxygen loss and remains under medical care.
According to court documents, the fatal encounter took place at Criscenzo’s father’s home in the 700 block of South Laura Avenue, where the couple frequently stayed. Criscenzo’s arrest affidavit alleges that the confrontation began after Oglesby grabbed his PlayStation 5 controller and turned it off, telling him she was going to leave.
In statements later recorded by police, Criscenzo allegedly admitted, “I pointed my gun at her and she swatted it and it went off.” He also reportedly told himself in the interview room, “She loved me and I killed her,” along with repeated expressions of disbelief, such as “This is not real” and “I can’t believe I pulled the trigger.”
Criscenzo’s father told investigators that he was baking a cheesecake when the incident occurred. After placing it in the oven, he went to his bedroom and moments later heard a gunshot. He rushed out to find Oglesby lying on the ground and his son standing over her with a Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun. He quickly disarmed his son, placed the weapon on the porch, and called 911.
Emergency personnel responded swiftly, but Oglesby was pronounced dead just two minutes after her baby was delivered. The newborn has since been intubated and treated for seizures. Doctors warned that the child’s long-term prognosis is uncertain, with concerns she may not survive or may have little quality of life.
Following the shooting, Criscenzo allegedly made numerous spontaneous statements to officers, saying, “I can’t believe I did this, just f—ing kill me” and “I didn’t mean to, I just didn’t want her to go and I thought she was gonna leave me.”
Investigators recovered a spent .40 caliber cartridge casing from the living room, along with live rounds, an extended magazine, and multiple firearm cases in Criscenzo’s bedroom.
The affidavit also revealed troubling details about the couple’s relationship. A week before the shooting, a friend of Oglesby told police she witnessed Criscenzo drunk and high, allegedly assaulting Naomi. The report states he bit her hand and threatened her with a gun, saying he was going to kill her.
Despite this history of alleged violence, Oglesby remained with him until the fatal night in May.
Criscenzo has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery. He entered a not guilty plea during a court appearance on Thursday. He remains behind bars at the Sedgwick County Jail and is scheduled to return to court on October 8.
The case has shaken the Wichita-area community, both for the tragic loss of a young mother and the heartbreaking condition of her child. Friends and family described Oglesby as a “beautiful young soul” in a GoFundMe campaign launched to support her baby and loved ones.
“She was taken far too soon,” the fundraiser notes. “Her baby Zy’nia is still alive but doctors have said she may not survive or have any quality of life.”
For prosecutors, the case underscores the deadly consequences of domestic violence and the devastating ripple effects it leaves behind. For Oglesby’s family, the fight now lies in caring for the infant she never had the chance to raise.
As the court process moves forward, authorities have urged patience, reminding the public that the investigation is still ongoing. Meanwhile, the tragedy stands as a grim reminder of how quickly domestic disputes can escalate into irreversible acts of violence.
