Dominic Thomas, a 19-year-old from Wichita, Kansas, at the time, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempted first-degree murder after trying to drown his pregnant 17-year-old girlfriend in September 2020. The attack stemmed from his rage over baby shower photos she posted on Facebook, which exposed his secret relationship with another woman. He lured her to a pond under the pretense of a walk, dragged her into the water by her feet, and held her head underwater despite her pleas about their unborn child.​
Triggering Events
Thomas sent threatening texts the day before the assault, declaring he was “sick of living knowing ur in my life” and promising to act without remorse. The girlfriend confronted his infidelity after the photos surfaced, prompting his fury and warnings like “It ain’t a threat it’s a promise”. She responded defiantly, noting the baby would die with her, but he dismissed it.​
Attack Sequence
At the pond near 37th Street North and Sullivan, Thomas mentioned eating pizza as his “last free meal” before admitting he was “going to jail”. He then headlocked her, dragged her into the water after she lost a shoe, and submerged her head while she screamed for help. He stopped only when she invoked their child, later confessing to police that he acted to punish her for complicating his other relationship.​
Legal Outcome
Arrested the next day, Thomas admitted during interrogation that he followed through on threats made at the pond, asking if she thought it was a “joke”. Convicted after a 2024 trial, he received the sentence on January 7, 2026, as announced by the Sedgwick County District Attorney. Initially charged with attempted murder and aggravated kidnapping, the case highlighted domestic violence risks.
