Mom who drove car into Kansas River, killing her daughter, sentenced to life in prison

The Columbia, Missouri, woman who pleaded guilty after driving a car into the Kansas River in an attempt to kill herself has been sentenced to life in prison. On Aug. 3, 2018, Scharron R. Dingledine, 26, drove a vehicle into the Kansas River near Lawrence, Kansas. Dingledine and her 1-year-old son were pulled from the water.Dingledine's 5-year-old daughter, Amiyah Bradley, was found dead the next day. Court records show Dingledine had been involved in several domestic incidents in Columbia the week before the incident. Dingledine left Columbia with the kids in her boyfriend's car. She then drove to Mexico, Missouri, where she stole another vehicle. Records say Dingledine said she and the kids spent the night in Kansas City in the stolen vehicle before she drove into the Kansas River the next day in an attempt to kill herself and her children. Police said both children were seated and unrestrained in the vehicle at the time Dingledine purposely drove into the river. Dingledine told police she knew neither child could swim and would likely die. Dingledine pleaded guilty to murder first degree and attempted murder first degree in December. Dingledine was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Tuesday in connection with the murder first degree plea, along with 155 months in prison for the attempted murder charge. This is a "Hard 25" sentence in the state of Kansas. A release from the Douglas County, Kansas District Attorney said any post-release will be determined by the Kansas Department of Corrections Prisoner Review Board.

The Columbia, Missouri, woman who pleaded guilty after driving a car into the Kansas River in an attempt to kill herself has been sentenced to life in prison.

On Aug. 3, 2018, Scharron R. Dingledine, 26, drove a vehicle into the Kansas River near Lawrence, Kansas. Dingledine and her 1-year-old son were pulled from the water.


Dingledine's 5-year-old daughter, Amiyah Bradley, was found dead the next day.

Court records show Dingledine had been involved in several domestic incidents in Columbia the week before the incident. Dingledine left Columbia with the kids in her boyfriend's car. She then drove to Mexico, Missouri, where she stole another vehicle.

Records say Dingledine said she and the kids spent the night in Kansas City in the stolen vehicle before she drove into the Kansas River the next day in an attempt to kill herself and her children.

Police said both children were seated and unrestrained in the vehicle at the time Dingledine purposely drove into the river. Dingledine told police she knew neither child could swim and would likely die.

Dingledine pleaded guilty to murder first degree and attempted murder first degree in December.

Dingledine was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Tuesday in connection with the murder first degree plea, along with 155 months in prison for the attempted murder charge. This is a "Hard 25" sentence in the state of Kansas.

A release from the Douglas County, Kansas District Attorney said any post-release will be determined by the Kansas Department of Corrections Prisoner Review Board.