Stepfather: Proposed Law Could Have Saved LMT 7-Year-Old's Life

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA — Brian Sherlock was pleased Friday to be discussing an issue important to him that had gotten the support of local lawmakers. And, at the same time, he wished he didn't have to be doing it.

Sherlock, of Lower Makefield, is the stepfather of Kayden Mancuso and one of two people who discovered the 7-year-old girl's lifeless body at the home of her biological father last year. Now, his family is working to keep the same thing from happening to other children through a new bill introduced in Harrisburg.

"Everything's bittersweet that we do from here on out," said Sherlock, during a call promoting Senate Bill 868 — dubbed Kayden's Law by its supporters. "We're thrilled that we can get this bill in front of the House and Senate but, the reason we're here, I wish I didn't have to be here.

"It's kind of the life we have now."

Sen. Steve Santarsiero, a Democrat who represents Lower Makefield, introduced the senate bill, which he said he and fellow lawmakers have spent 10 months crafting. In the House, local Rep. Tina Davis plans to introduce a companion bill with the support of Rep. Perry Warren, whose district also includes Lower Makefield.

According to Santarsiero, SB 868 makes critical changes to Pennsylvania's child custody laws and ensures that the paramount factor in custody cases must be the health and safety of the child.

Histories of abuse and domestic violence must be considered, under the bill, as must allegations of child abuse or violence.

In custody cases in which those issues are a factor, a court hearing to consider them would be required before custody can be awarded.

The legislation also calls on Pennsylvania's court system to require training for judges and other court officers to make sure they understand issues surrounding child abuse and domestic violence.

A link to the legislation can be found here.

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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.

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.

"One of the most important, if not the most important, responsibilities we have as elected officials is ensuring the health and safety of our constituents. Within that group, the greatest responsibility is protecting children," Santarsiero said Friday during a call with reporters. "Pennsylvania law currently does not do enough to ensure that safety and protection."

The lawmakers thanked Kayden's family for the work they've done since her death to promote just such a law. They've founded Kayden's Corner in their 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.

For his part, Brian Sherlock thinks the new legislation could be a big step in that fight in Pennsylvania — and could have saved Kayden's life had it been in place last year.

"I think if this was in place prior to last August, she would still be here," he said.