A federal judge on Oahu has handed a 10-year prison sentence to a man long connected by investigators to the disappearance and presumed death of an 18-month-old girl, a case that has weighed on the island for years and remains unresolved in state court.
Scott Michael Carter, 52, was sentenced this week after pleading guilty to separate weapons and drug charges. The federal case centers on his admission to being a felon in possession of ammunition and to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. A judge imposed the decade-long term in December, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The punishment, however, does not close out the state investigation into the child’s death.
What Investigators Say About Kytana
Court documents filed in 2021 lay out a grim account. The toddler’s father told police he hit and shook 18-month-old Kytana until she became unresponsive, then wrapped her in a sheet, placed her in a duffel bag and handed the bag to an acquaintance who agreed to “take care of it.” That statement, along with witness accounts describing injuries to the girl and drug use in the home, has guided investigators from the start and remains central to the case. As reported by Hawaii News Now, Kytana’s body has never been found.
Charges and Prior Filings
Honolulu police first arrested Carter in February 2021, charging him with hindering prosecution as detectives tried to piece together what happened to the toddler. As the investigation moved forward, he faced a growing list of state and federal counts. The federal case ultimately led to his December guilty plea on the ammunition and methamphetamine charges that resulted in this week’s sentencing.
The broader paper trail, spanning multiple courts and agencies, has turned into a dense case file, as detailed by Hawaiʻi Public Radio.
Family Reaction and the Ongoing Review
The toddler’s mother, Ashley Ancog, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that what she has wanted all along is closure for her family. The Honolulu prosecutor’s office said the case remains under review, and officials still have the option to pursue state charges related to the child’s death even as Carter begins serving his federal time…