EL DORADO, Kan. (AP) — A southern Kansas man has been sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison for the 2012 death of his girlfriend’s 18-month-old daughter.
KWCH-TV reports that a Butler County judge sentenced 31-year-old Justin Edwards on Thursday for aggravated battery, involuntary manslaughter and child abuse in the March 2012 death of Jayla Haag. Edwards entered a no contest plea in the case in January. He originally was charged with first-degree murder.
The girl’s injuries included a broken jaw, missing teeth that had been forcibly removed, severe head injuries and multiple bruises. She also was suffering from malnourishment and tested positive for methamphetamine.
Jayla’s mother, Alyssa Haag, previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. She was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in 2013.