Lawrence Woman Sentenced Today for July 2014 Homicide and Aggravated Burglary

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces this afternoon Lawrence resident Angelica M. Kulp, 40, was sentenced to 267 months (22.25 years) in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections for the intentional second-degree murder of Ms. Christine Kaplan and 34 months (2.83 years) consecutive to count one for aggravated burglary.  The Court ordered today’s sentence to run consecutive to Kulp’s prior Shawnee County District Court sentences and upon her eventual release from prison that she must register as a violent offender for 15 years.

Christine Kaplan’s sister and son both addressed the Court prior to Kulp’s sentencing.  Her sister shared memories of Ms. Kaplan’s compassion and that she lived a life of service to others.  She described Ms. Kaplan as “fearless and an optimist.”  Ms. Kaplan’s son, a retired Marine, spoke of the impact of the loss of his mother in his life and in the lives of his children, in losing their grandmother.

Law enforcement officers with the Lawrence Police Department were dispatched to a home in the 1100 block of New York Street on July 26, 2014 shortly after 1:00 p.m.  Friends of the victim arrived at her home to do yard work and when they went to the basement of her home to retrieve a broom she kept there, they found her lifeless body.  They immediately called law enforcement.  The victim had been stabbed to death. 

Detectives were working on their investigation of the crime when they received a call from a man who had watched a news story about the murder.  The caller told detectives he was a friend of Kulp and that Kulp told him she had killed someone.  At first, he thought she was delusional and was making up a story, but as soon as he saw the story in the media, he knew she had told him the truth and he contacted law enforcement.  That information combined with evidence found at the scene of the crime led to charges being filed against Kulp.

Today’s hearing was held in the courtroom of the Honorable Barbara Kay Huff.  The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and Senior Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple was the prosecutor.       

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