MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — A man convicted of second-degree murder in the death of a 2-year-old New Hampshire boy was sentenced to 45 years to life in prison.
An autopsy showed that Jacob Pelletier, of Manchester, died of blunt force trauma to the abdomen in 2017. He was found unconscious in his family’s apartment.
Mark Heath, who lived in the same apartment as Pelletier, was arrested. He pleaded not guilty and suggested that Jacob’s mother could have caused the injuries. Prosecutors said Heath was babysitting the child and was the only one home at the time. They said Heath became enraged when Jacob spilled food on his bed and had a messy diaper.
Five years could be suspended from Heath’s sentence if he meets certain conditions. He was sentenced Wednesday.
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