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Iowa man reaches plea deal in infant’s death

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November 26th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — A southwest Iowa man has reached a plea deal in connection with the death of a 13-month-old girl he was babysitting. The Council Bluffs Nonpareil reports 23-year-old Colby Puckett, of Pacific Junction, pleaded guilty Monday in Mills County Court to second-degree murder in the February 2012 death of Aliyanna May. The plea deal drops charges of first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death.

Puckett was dating the infant’s mother when he was watching the girl and two of her siblings. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says the infant sustained extensive injuries to her head and eyes while in Puckett’s care. Aliyanna was treated at a hospital and died. Officials later ruled her death a homicide.

Puckett is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 13.