James William Miller, 39, of Pevely has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with the death of his 5-month-old daughter in February 2015, according to court records.
In December, Miller pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, a class B felony, and on Wednesday (Feb. 20), Jefferson County Div. 5 Circuit Judge Victor Melenbrink sentenced him to the 15- year sentence, court documents show.
Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney Shannon O’Neal handled the case.
The baby, Mya Miller, died at St. Louis Children’s Hospital on Feb. 27, 2015, four days after Pevely Police were called to a home in the 800 block of Larkin Drive about the baby having difficulty breathing, the probable-cause statement said.
Physicians at Children’s Hospital reported that the baby had broken ribs and internal head injuries. In addition, she had numerous previous broken ribs in various stages of healing, according to the probable-cause statement.
An autopsy indicated the most significant injury to the baby was “bleeding in the head with no reasonable account of how it happened and a pattern consistent with inflicted injuries,” the report said.
James Miller, who was 36 at the time, told authorities he was the only one caring for the baby when her health problems started. He said he had left his daughter and her 17-month-old brother together while he went to get a bottle, and when he returned, the boy was sitting on his sister’s chest, Pevely Police reported at the time.
“Upon examination, doctors concluded the infant’s injuries are not consistent with the father’s explanation of the injuries,” authorities reported.
In addition, the examining physician discredited Miller’s statement that the baby’s “health gradually declined.” The doctor said the child “would have been instantly symptomatic from head trauma when it occurred.”
At the time of the baby’s death, Pevely Police reported that her mother was not at home, and Children’s Division removed the 17-month-old boy from the home.
Initially, Miller was charged with abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, a class A felony punishable by 10 to 30 years or life in prison. However, the charge was later reduced.
As of this afternoon (Feb. 22), Miller was being held in the Jefferson County Jail.