Kansas Judge Convicts Driver in Teacher's Fatal Crash Case 2026

A Kansas judge has convicted a driver in the vehicular homicide death of school teacher Ashleigh Boyd, a verdict that brings a measure of legal closure to a family already shattered by two tragedies just ten months apart. The ruling against Todd W Armstrong followed a one-day bench trial over an 11 April 2024 traffic collision in Topeka, Kansas, according to the victim's father, Brian Hinck.

The Verdict That Ended a Long Wait for Justice

Judge Andrew Holmes found Armstrong, 55, guilty of vehicular homicide after the defendant had pleaded not guilty. The conviction arrived four days after a separate Louisiana jury found a woman guilty in the drugging death of Boyd's widower, Adan Manzano, who was preparing to cover the 2025 Super Bowl for Telemundo when he died on 5 February 2025 in suburban New Orleans.

Armstrong's sentencing was tentatively scheduled for November, Hinck said. Neither the Topeka district attorney's office nor Armstrong's lawyer could be reached for comment late Monday.

A Family's Double Tragedy

Hinck had publicly discussed how painful it was for him to face Armstrong's trial so soon after the conclusion of the unrelated case involving his son-in-law. He and his wife, Nicole, are now raising Boyd and Manzano's three-year-old daughter, Eleanor, after her parents died just ten months apart.

The emotional weight of the two proceedings has been immense. Hinck described the timing as bitterly disheartening, underscoring the human cost that extends far beyond the courtroom.

Key Takeaways

• A Kansas judge convicted Todd W Armstrong of vehicular homicide in the 2024 crash that killed teacher Ashleigh Boyd.
• The verdict came four days after a Louisiana jury convicted a woman in the separate drugging death of Boyd's husband, Adan Manzano.
• Armstrong is tentatively scheduled for sentencing in November.
• Boyd and Manzano's three-year-old daughter, Eleanor, is being raised by her grandparents.

Comparing the Two Cases

While the two tragedies are legally unrelated, their proximity in time has drawn national attention. The table below outlines the key differences and similarities.

What Happens Next

Armstrong's sentencing will determine the final legal consequences of the conviction. In Kansas, vehicular homicide can carry significant prison time depending on the circumstances and the defendant's criminal history. The Boyd family is expected to provide victim impact statements.

Meanwhile, the Louisiana case against the woman convicted in Manzano's death will proceed to its own sentencing phase. The two cases remain separate, but for the Hinck family, they represent a painful chapter that has reshaped their lives.

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