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A Kansas man was found guilty of the axe murder of his longtime ex-girlfriend Deborah Ann Stephens, 58, in April 2021. His conviction was obtained thanks to video evidence. The woman was killed at her mobile home at the Coachlight South mobile home park just south of Topeka.

Jon K. "Kelly" Ewing, 63, was convicted Friday of first-degree murder in the commission of a felony. And of unintentional, but reckless second-degree murder. Shawnee County District Court records show.

According to a Shawnee County District Court affidavit obtained by local news station WIBW video evidence was used in the case. 

Assistant District Attorney Will Manly said a home security camera captured footage of Ewing and Stephens fighting outside her home.

Video evidence shows murder

The video shows Stephens leaning into her car's driver’s side door Ewing appears to walk up behind her.

Stephens, “has no reaction until Mr. Ewing is behind her and grabs her about the head and neck area, causing Ms. Stephens to scream out,” the affidavit says.

The two were struggling. And Ewing took Stephens to the ground as she struggled and screamed Ewing hit her multiple times with a large flashlight.

According to the affidavit, Ewing dragged Stephens to the trailer’s stairs, and “Ewing reaches inside the open front door and grabs a long-handled ax and strikes her about the head area several times,” threatening, “I will kill you” once he got her inside.

When Shawnee County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene at 5:30 p.m. they found Stephens dead on a bed in a bedroom. And Ewing was smoking a cigarette next to her.

Defense claims Ewing limited mental capacity

Ewing’s defense attorney, Kevin Shepherd said that all Stephens' head wounds were superficial.

The victim died due to heavy bleeding in her torso due to a rib fracture. She had a high level of methamphetamine in her blood. And there was a long history of methamphetamine abuse.

He also said Ewing had a history of motorcycle accidents and head injuries. He also abused meth. And he does not have the mental capacity to plan a homicide.

Sentencing was set for 9:30 a.m. on May 12.