Joshua Orlando, a 29-year-old Kansas man, pleaded guilty this week to felony murder in the first degree and aggravated kidnapping for fatally shooting his estranged wife during an argument over a Nintendo Switch gaming console at their Wichita apartment complex.
Background
The shooting occurred on April 17 at the Remington Apartments on East 37th Street North in Wichita, according to the Wichita Police Department. Officers arrived at the scene minutes past 8 a.m. and found 25-year-old Ivy Unruh near "Building 5" suffering from a gunshot wound to her upper body. A firearm was discovered nearby.
Unruh was rushed to a hospital where she died several days later. Court records indicate that in August 2025, she had filed for divorce from Orlando, describing the marriage as one marked by a history of abuse.
Investigators obtained a statement from the leasing agent at Unruh's apartment complex, who said when Unruh rented the unit, she explained she wanted to escape her abusive ex and was particularly interested in the building's security features. The leasing agent also recounted that Unruh had asked not to be contacted by her former landlord because that person was a friend of her ex-husband.
In the divorce petition regarding distribution of assets, Unruh specified that Orlando would maintain possession of his pistol while she would keep the Nintendo Switch.
The Investigation
Orlando himself placed the 911 call reporting the shooting, according to court documents obtained by Hutchinson-based CBS affiliate KWCH. In the call, the defendant allegedly provided a detailed account of what led to the violence.
"My wife and I got into a fight," Orlando said. "She hit me … with a …"
The caller continued: "I came to drop some stuff off and she got really mad that I was there. We were arguing and she hit me. She hit me and I tried to defend myself. I thought she was going to swing again with…"
Orlando later admitted to firing the shot, saying: "I shot her, I shot her," according to the probable cause affidavit.
When law enforcement arrived, Orlando was placed in handcuffs but pleaded with emergency responders to help Unruh. Through tears, he allegedly said: "I know she didn't mean to hurt me."
The charging document describes the crime scene in detail. Unruh was lying on her back with her head on the bottom step of a stairway with blood coming from her nose. She had a black backpack strapped to her right shoulder and clutched a plastic bag containing the Nintendo Switch in her right hand; her purse was on her left arm—apparently ready to leave. A black Sig Sauer P365 semiautomatic 9 mm handgun lay near her body.
According to police, Orlando told investigators that he went to Unruh's apartment that day carrying the gaming console in a bag and waited at the foot of the stairs. When she saw him, he said she exclaimed "Holy s—!" with an angry expression. After handing over the console, another argument ensued. He alleged that Unruh then "swung the bag with the Nintendo and struck him on the left side of his face."
Orlando claimed the blow hurt, caused him to see lights, and triggered memories of a prior incident where Unruh attacked him with a replica Zelda sword after he threw a slipper at her. After being hit, Orlando said he pulled out his handgun, used his left arm to cover his face, and "blind fired" a single round.
Key Takeaways
- Joshua Orlando, 29, pleaded guilty to felony murder in the first degree and aggravated kidnapping for killing Ivy Unruh, 25
- The shooting stemmed from an argument over a Nintendo Switch gaming console during their divorce proceedings
- Unruh had filed for divorce in August 2025, describing the marriage as marked by abuse
- Orlando made the 911 call himself, admitting "I shot her" while also claiming self-defense
- A minimum sentence of 38 years and nine months in state prison is expected before parole eligibility
What's Next
Orlando is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 28 in Sedgwick County District Court. He faces a lengthy term behind bars following his guilty plea to the most serious charges.