Kayden's Law, For Slain LMT Girl, Introduced In Harrisburg

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA — Bucks County lawmakers on Friday will gather to promote a bill introduced in memory of a 7-year-old Lower Makefield girl killed in a murder-suicide by her father.

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero has introduced S.B. 868, which he and other supporters call Kayden's Law, in honor of Kayden Mancuso.

Kayden's parents were divorced and had been fighting for custody of her for years when she went to stay with her father in Manayunk last year. On Aug. 6, 2018, her stepfather and grandfather went looking for the Edgewood Elementary student when she wasn't returned on time.

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

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Kayden's mother, Kathryn Sherlock, said there had been warning signs. She had a restraining order against Mancuso because of his violent past and family members have told local media that Mancuso had made death threats against them.

The bill, introduced by Santarsiero, seeks to establish new procedures for handling custody proceedings to better ensure the protection of children in the family court system. In part, it would require supervised visitation for parents with a history of violence and abuse.

A link to the legislation can be found here.

Also attending a press conference Friday will be state Rep. Perry Warren and state Rep. Tina Davis.