LAMAR, Mo. -- A man admitted in court that he accidentally killed his ex-girlfriend's 4-month-old son when he shook the baby. Jonathan Rector, 28, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in a plea deal after originally being charged with second-degree murder. His sentence will be limited to 15 years in prison.
During a hearing on Monday in Barton County Circuit Court, Rector admitted he injured Kaiden Stevens by shaking him on Feb. 17 in what he called a fit of rage. He was babysitting the boy while his mother was at work.
Rector initially said the boy was hurt in a fall. During an interview with law officers, however, Rector admitted he shook the child.
Kaiden died at a hospital in Kansas City three days after he was injured.
