A Fort Riley soldier who entered a plea agreement in the February 2014 murder of a five week old baby was sentenced Monday in Riley County District Court to 191 months with the Kansas Department of Corrections. Judge Meryl Wilson announced the sentence for Alexander McConnell, which involved 123 months for the murder count, and 34 months each for the other two child abuse related counts against McConnell, to run consecutively.
Assistant Riley County Attorney Kendra Lewison suggested that sentence, while mentioning the “senseless death” of the five week old, who is missed–adding while the baby’s family is deprived of joy, the sentence gives the family closure. McConnell made a very brief statement which was difficult to understand, saying he wished “to forgive those who took part,” but he wished them all happiness.
Defense Attorney Lora Ingels asked that all attorney fees be waived as McConnell would not be able to pay for the next 15 years, and that was granted.
An affidavit released shortly after McConnell’s arrest indicates McConnell was alone with the child for just a few minutes but sustained internal bleeding, a bruised lung, and broken neck. The child was transferred from Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan to Children’s Mercy in Kansas City and later died.
