Lenexa man sentenced to ‘Hard 50’ life sentence for murders of his wife, son
A judge sentenced a Lenexa man this week to at least 50 years in prison in the killing of his wife and son last year, according to court documents.
Todd Michael Donovan was sentenced in Johnson County District Court Tuesday to life in prison without parole for 50 years — what Kansas calls a “Hard 50” sentence — on two charges of first-degree murder, according to court records.
In April, Donovan pleaded guilty to killing his wife Sheila Donovan, 52, and their son Tyler Donovan, 22, on Nov. 1, 2024.
Donovan also received a 30-day prison sentence for a cruelty to animals charge for shooting and killing a neighbor’s dog. The sentences will be served concurrently, court records show.
Police standoff after murders
Lenexa police responded around 8:30 p.m. to the Donovan family home in the 7900 block of Hallet Street for a reported armed disturbance. When officers arrived, they could hear multiple gunshots coming from the home, Officer Danny Chavez, a police spokesman, said at the time.
Lenexa officers spoke on the phone with a man suspected of firing shots and learned he was inside his residence on Hallet Street.
The man, later identified as Donovan, barricaded himself in the home and refused to comply with officers’ requests to come outside peacefully, Chavez said.
Officers surrounded the home in an armed standoff for five hours before entering to take Donovan into custody, Chavez said.
Donovan stopped responding to officers around two hours into the negotiation, and allegedly told officers he was taking pills, Chavez said.
Around 1:50 a.m., the Lenexa Tactical Team used drones and robots to help enter the home, and took Donovan into custody. Donovan was immediately taken to a hospital on a suspected overdose, Chavez said.
Inside the home, officers found Sheila and Tyler Donovan dead on the floor with multiple gunshot wounds.
Wrongful death lawsuit
Sheila Donovan’s parents Karen and Jerry Kraft and Sheila’s sister Darcy Sly filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Todd Donovan in March 2025.
The suit, still ongoing in Johnson County District Court, seeks compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering prior to Sheila Donovan’s death.
According to her obituary, Sheila Donovan enjoyed crafting, exercising and gardening. Family said they remember her as a funny, resilient and spiritual woman who loved motherhood and her friendships.
Tyler Kenneth Donovan was born in Olathe and graduated high school in the Shawnee Mission School District, according to his obituary. Tyler Donovan studied electrical work at Metropolitan Community College and was a certified lineman, who most recently worked in Florida to assist victims of Hurricane Milton.
Tyler enjoyed hunting with his relatives and playing video games with his friends, and particularly enjoyed spending time on his family’s farm, his obituary reads.
This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 3:08 PM.
