Goddard man sentenced to life in mother’s 2021 beating death

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - A Sedgwick County District Court judge on Tuesday sentenced a Goddard man, convicted of first-degree murder in the 2021 beating death of his mother, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 653 months (more than 50 years). The sentencing comes about two months after a Sedgwick County jury’s guilty verdict against Romey.

A little after 11 p.m. Oct. 6, 2021, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to conduct a welfare check at a Sedgwick County home after receiving information that 67-year-old Denyce Briet had recently suffered a medical emergency.

The sheriff’s office said deputies arrived at the home in the 15300 block of West US-54 Highway, but no one answered the door. After calling and checking with local hospitals, deputies forced entry into the home where they found Briet with obvious signs of trauma to her body, the sheriff’s office said.

The investigation led detectives to establish probable cause for Romey’s arrest.