Amber Winstead, a 36-year-old from Kentucky, received a nine-year prison sentence for the manslaughter death of her 3-month-old son, Ki’Arri Rayne Winstead, who drowned in a motel bathtub on January 1, 2025. She pleaded guilty in November 2025, with the sentence comprising seven years for manslaughter—serving 85% before parole eligibility—plus two years for a prior parole violation from a 2021 narcotics case.​
Incident Details
Winstead admitted to using narcotics before entering the tub with Ki’Arri at a Motel 6 in Louisville around 4:30 a.m., where she fell asleep. Hours later, another person woke her, finding the infant submerged and unresponsive; first responders pronounced him dead on site. As part of her plea, prosecutors dropped a persistent felony offender charge.​
Court Proceedings
Her attorney, Bryce Dean, requested house arrest pre-sentencing so Winstead could visit her son’s grave, noting her arrest in the funeral home parking lot just before the service. Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Trish Morris expressed empathy and considered the request, calling the case tragic, though it’s unclear if approval was granted. Sentencing occurred Thursday in Jefferson Circuit Court.​
Background on Victim
Ki’Arri, born September 24, 2024, was described in his obituary as a “little angel” with a bubbly personality, infectious joy, and calm demeanor who never cried and deeply touched his family. The case highlights risks of substance use around infants.
