Report: Topeka mother stabbed her child to death

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A newly-released law enforcement report is shedding light on the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office's investigation into the deaths of a local child and his mother.

On June 20, deputies responded to a home in the 3900 block of Southwest Worwick Town Road in the Sherwood Lake neighborhood, according to a written release from the sheriff's office. They found Zerick Ozuna, 9, suffering from multiple wounds to the chest and neck. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene.

Officials said Ozuna's mother, Shyla Goracke, 29, was hospitalized under law enforcement custody following Ozuna's death. She died at a Kansas City hospital four days later on June 24.

According to a Shawnee County Sheriff Office's incident report, Goracke killed Ozuna in an act of intentional and premeditated first degree murder. The report indicates the boy received possible internal injuries and severe lacerations caused by a knife or other cutting instrument. Goracke is suspected of ingesting drugs at the time of the offense, according to the report.

The incident report marks the case as cleared by exceptional means. The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines an exceptional clearance as a certain situation in which elements beyond law enforcement's control prevent the investigating agency from arresting and formally charging an offender. In this case, the report indicates the exceptional clearance date as June 24 with the death of the offender.

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