Sedalia man pleads guilty to manslaughter in baby’s death, sentenced to 10 years

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Sedalia man who was originally charged with murder in his child’s death has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Danial Fitzgerald, 26, pleaded guilty in Henry County on Wednesday to fist-degree involuntary manslaughter and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He’s currently being held at the Benton County Jail.

He was originally charged with second-degree murder and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The case was moved in 2024 from Benton to Henry County.

Court documents in previous reporting say a 9-month-old baby was found dead following a “non-injury vehicle crash” on Feb. 7, 2022. The child’s 16-year-old mother and Fitzgerald were at the scene. Troopers noticed the baby had various injuries.

Troopers wrote that Fitzgerald appeared to be more concerned about the state of his car than the child not breathing.