Emma Cooley, the heartbroken mother of Sydney Palmer, confronted her son-in-law, Michael Edgington, in a Kansas courtroom on Monday. Michael had been sentenced for shooting and killing Sydney during a domestic dispute last year. Emma didn’t hold back, expressing her anger and heartbreak as she recounted the torment Michael had caused her family, even after Sydney’s tragic death.
“She loved you,” Emma said tearfully, standing just feet away from the man who had taken her daughter’s life. “Even in her last breath, she didn’t want to admit you killed her. She was always trying to protect you.”
Emma revealed shocking details about Michael’s behavior after Sydney’s death. She said the first thing he asked her about wasn’t his guilt or remorse, but rather something bizarre: he wanted his PlayStation back. Emma brought the gaming console to court and placed it on a bench near him, saying, “Well, here’s your PlayStation.”
Sydney, only 25 years old, lost her life on July 3 during a fight with Michael at their home in Sumner County, Kansas. According to police reports, Sydney had thrown a small concrete figurine at Michael, hitting him on the head. An officer noted a bump on Michael’s forehead in the incident report. In response, Michael grabbed a 9 mm pistol and shot her.
At his sentencing, Michael admitted, “I understand I did something wrong,” but added, “I don’t feel I am a threat to society.” The Sumner County District Court judge, William Mott, didn’t share that view and handed down the maximum sentence of 61 months in prison—just over five years—for second-degree murder. Michael will also serve 36 months of probation after his release and is permanently barred from owning firearms.
Emma shared another disturbing detail: Michael got remarried inside the same house where Sydney had been killed. “This is the place where you killed your ex-wife and my daughter,” Emma said. “And you have a wedding there as if she hadn’t existed.”
Throughout the ordeal, Michael defended his actions by claiming self-defense, even blaming Sydney for her own death. He told police that Sydney had been struggling with manic episodes and had been taken off her medication, which led to her becoming angry. Michael said the argument started over him not taking out the trash, escalating into Sydney throwing the figurine.
But Emma painted a much darker picture of Michael’s character. She accused him of littering at Sydney’s grave and disrespecting her memory. “She loved you,” Emma said again, her voice filled with pain. “She was always trying to protect you.”
This tragic case has left a lasting impact on Sydney’s family, who continue to mourn her loss while seeking justice for the life taken too soon.
