A Kansas judge has reportedly delivered a vehicular homicide conviction in the 2024 crash that killed school teacher Ashleigh Boyd, coming just days after a separate jury found another defendant guilty in the death of Boyd’s husband, TV reporter Adan Manzano.
The timing of the two verdicts connects a pair of fatal incidents that affected the same family within months of one another. According to reporting, the Kansas conviction stems from an April 11, 2024 collision in Topeka, while the Louisiana case involved the 2025 Super Bowl coverage.
These parallel legal outcomes highlight how the deaths of two media figures became entangled in separate court proceedings nearly two years apart.
KEY FACTS
- A Kansas judge found Todd W Armstrong guilty of vehicular homicide in Ashleigh Boyd’s death.
- The crash occurred on April 11, 2024 in Topeka, Kansas.
- Ashleigh Boyd died after being struck while her husband Adan Manzano was killed covering the Super Bowl.
- A Louisiana jury convicted a woman of drugging Manzano’s 2025 Super Bowl death.
- Armstrong had pleaded not guilty; sentencing was tentatively set for November.
The Crash That Became a Vehicular Homicide Case
The Kansas case centered on a traffic collision in Topeka that claimed the life of Ashleigh Boyd. According to Boyd family spokesperson Brian Hinck, the accident occurred on April 11, 2024, when Todd W Armstrong struck Boyd’s vehicle.
Armstrong entered a plea of not guilty, but Judge Andrew Holmes ultimately ruled him guilty following a one-day bench trial. The judge’s ruling was reportedly confirmed by Brian Hinck, though official court documents have not yet been released publicly.
A sentencing hearing is tentatively scheduled for November, which could finalize the vehicular homicide conviction and determine Armstrong’s penalty. No additional details regarding the cause of the crash or contributing factors were included in initial reports.
How Did We Get Here?
The broader narrative emerged after Adan Manzano, Boyd’s husband and a Telemundo reporter, was killed while preparing to cover the Super Bowl in Louisiana. That incident led to the arrest and eventual conviction of a separate defendant by a Louisiana jury.
Manzano’s death occurred months before Boyd’s fatal crash, creating a tragic sequence of events involving two journalists linked through marriage. While the cases are legally independent, the proximity of their timelines has drawn public attention to both outcomes.
Each case proceeded through its respective judicial system without overlap in defendants or jurisdictions. However, media coverage of both verdicts has underscored the personal toll on those connected to law enforcement and broadcast journalism.
Who Is Affected and What Comes Next?
Beyond the immediate families, these cases raise questions about accountability in vehicular fatalities and the challenges faced by newsroom staff during live-event assignments. The Kansas conviction may influence future traffic safety protocols if cited in legislative discussions.
Sentencing in the Kansas case remains pending, while the Louisiana conviction stands as closed unless appealed. Both families continue to seek closure through legal channels even as broader conversations around justice persist.
For now, neither court has issued formal statements beyond preliminary findings reported by media outlets.
WHAT WE KNOW — AND WHAT WE DON’T
Verified by the source:
- Todd W Armstrong was found guilty of vehicular homicide by a Kansas judge.
- The incident involved a collision on April 11, 2024, in Topeka.
- Brian Hinck, Boyd’s father, confirmed the verdict.
- A Louisiana jury convicted an unnamed woman in Manzano’s death.
- Manzano was reportedly covering the 2025 Super Bowl for Telemundo.
Still unconfirmed:
- The exact cause or circumstances of Armstrong’s collision remain unclear.
- Whether Armstrong intends to appeal the conviction is unknown.
- The identity of the Louisiana defendant and official court records have not been published.
- Details about sentencing outcomes in either case are pending or unavailable.
- It is unclear how the two cases relate beyond shared victim relationships.
Why It Matters
This pair of verdicts underscores how individual tragedies can ripple across public life when tied to media professionals. It also reflects ongoing national concerns over road safety laws and the risks journalists face while reporting from volatile environments. These outcomes will likely shape conversations among policymakers, news employers, and advocacy groups focused on protecting workers and enforcing traffic regulations.
What to Watch
Sentencing in the Kansas vehicular homicide case is tentatively scheduled for November, and any appeals in either matter could extend litigation timelines significantly.