Lawrence Woman Sentenced for Voluntary Manslaughter

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces Lawrence resident Marci D. Cully, 27, was sentenced today for her June 20 no contest plea to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Wayne Francisco early on Christmas morning.

Officers with the Lawrence Police Department were dispatched to the 4300 block of West 24^th Place at approximately 3:30 a.m. on December 25, 2013 in reference to a stabbing.  Officers found both Cully and Mr. Francisco at the address.  Officers entered the apartment and found the victim lying on the living room floor.  Even though medical attention was quickly provided to the victim, he passed at the scene.  Officers took Cully to the Law Enforcement Center to be interviewed.  During that interview officers learned Cully and Mr. Francisco had been involved in a domestic disturbance that turned violent and Cully had stabbed Mr. Francisco twice.  Mr. Francisco was stabbed in the chest and in the shoulder.  It was later determined by the coroner it was the stab wound to the chest that proved fatal.   Cully was arrested for Mr. Francisco’s death following the interview.

The Honorable Peggy C. Kittel sentenced Cully to 59 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections.  The Judge ordered Cully to pay $3,483.29 in restitution and upon her release from prison, she will be required to register as a violent offender for 15 years and report for 36 months of post release supervision.

 The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and it was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney David Melton and Assistant District Attorney Alice Walker.

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