Kansas Man Gets Hard 50 for Killing Family

Kansas Man Gets Hard 50 for Killing Family

Kansas Man Gets Hard 50 for Killing Wife, Son, and Dog

A Kansas man who shot and killed his wife, adult son, and a neighbor’s dog will spend at least 50 years behind bars after pleading guilty to a brutal triple killing in Lenexa.

Todd Donovan, 54, was sentenced Tuesday to a “Hard 50” — meaning he must serve 50 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. He had previously pleaded guilty in April to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty.

The crimes occurred on the night of November 1, 2023. Around 8:20 p.m., Lenexa police responded to an “armed disturbance” at a residence on Hallet Street. Officers arrived to the sound of gunfire coming from the area and quickly began negotiating with the suspect, later identified as Donovan.

Negotiations dragged on for hours. At one point, Donovan exited the home with his hands raised and threw a rifle from the garage. However, he returned inside to take what he later claimed was about 30 Ambien pills to “calm down.” Shortly after, he stopped communicating. Officers later reported hearing him snoring on the phone.

SWAT teams from multiple agencies forced entry around 1:50 a.m. and arrested Donovan, who was transported to a hospital for a possible overdose. Inside, police discovered the bodies of 52-year-old Sheila Donovan and 22-year-old Tyler Donovan. Both had died from gunshot wounds.

Authorities also found that a neighbor’s dog had been shot and killed during the incident.

According to court documents, Donovan had called his brother before being arrested and confessed to the shootings. “I just shot my family. They thought I was sleeping. I could hear them laughing and making fun of me, so I shot them,” he allegedly said. He also made suicidal threats and told officers, “Come and get me… I’m armed to the teeth but I’m not gonna shoot.”

Donovan referred to his wife and son as “traitors” and reportedly expressed disbelief that his family had “turned on him.”

The “Hard 50” sentence was imposed under Kansas law, which allows for a mandatory minimum 50-year sentence for premeditated murder convictions committed after July 1, 2014.

Sheila Donovan was remembered as a woman with “a legacy of love, laughter, and unwavering faith,” according to her obituary. Her greatest pride was her son, Tyler, whom she often spoke about with affection and pride.

Tyler, remembered as selfless and generous, was known for always offering help to others even when he asked for none himself. His obituary called him someone “whose spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”

Donovan will likely die in prison. His crimes stunned the quiet suburban neighborhood and left a trail of grief for friends, family, and neighbors still struggling to understand what led to such an unthinkable act.

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