1 Year Later, Slain LMT Girl's Mom Works For Change (ICYMI)

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA — It's been one year since 7-year-old Kayden Mancuso died, killed in a murder-suicide by her father, a man with a history of violence who was locked in a custody battle for the girl.

Now, the Lower Makefield girl's mom is working through the grief to try to make sure the same thing doesn't happen to another innocent child.

Kathryn Sherlock has founded Kayden's Corner in her daughter's memory. The nonprofit foundation is dedicated to protecting children involved in domestic custody cases and aims to bring about judicial reform of the family court system.

Specifically, its goal is to educate judges and others in the system about signs of domestic abuse, shine a light on mental health issues in those cases and "lobby government to make the health and safety of children the singular concern of the court system."

As a result of the foundation's work, Bucks County lawmakers in the state legislature currently are crafting legislation geared toward the problem. Kayden's Law would require supervised visitation for parents with a history of violence and abuse. It will be co-sponsored by Rep. Tina Davis and Rep. Perry Warren, according to Sherlock.

The bill also would require training for judges about those types of cases.

"I usually say, it only takes one person," said Sherlock, an emergency room nurse who works in Trenton. "I may have only been one match, but I caused an explosion."

Sherlock had been fighting for years for sole custody of Kayden when the Edgewood Elementary School student went to stay with her father, Jeff Mancuso, last year. On Aug. 6, 2018, her step-father and grandfather went to his Manayunk home when she wasn't returned on time.

They discovered her body, bludgeoned to death, at the home. Jeff Mancuso was found dead in his bedroom.

Since then, Sherlock has said there were numerous warning signs. She had a restraining order against Mancuso because of his violent past and was involved in a prolonged custody battle. Family members have told local media that Mancuso had made death threats against them.
On Tuesday, Sherlock said she had taken vacation with family, including her two sons, and was "trying to think straight." But she shows no signs of slowing down.

Last week a golf outing fundraiser for the foundation was held at Makefield Highlands Golf Club, promising to be the first edition of an annual event. The support she received was "an outpouring" and "like a tidal wave," Sherlock said in a thank you note to those involved.

"Thank you for all of your support thus far," she wrote. "It is beyond touching to each of us, and know together we will continue to make a difference for children."