Crime & Safety
In Case You Missed It: Man Convicted in 2008 Death of West Des Moines Baby
Matthew Elliott won a second trial in the death of Alexis Gilbert. A Polk County jury convicted him in the new trial today; he faces up to 35 years in prison.
Last week, a Polk County jury convicted a man in the 2008 death of a 7-month-old West Des Moines baby, reports KCCI-TV.
The jury on Wednesday found 30-year-old Matthew Elliott guilty of child endangerment causing death and willful injury causing serious injury in the death of Alexis Gilbert in January 2008, the TV station reports.
Elliott faces up to 35 years in prison.
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Prosecutors say he slammed the baby into the floor of her family's home in West Des Moines. His lawyer blames the baby's death on her then-16-year-old mother.
Elliott was originally charged with first-degree murder. A jury in 2009 convicted him of child endangerment and willful injury, according to KCCI.
Find out what's happening in West Des Moinesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Iowa Supreme Court in December granted a new trial, ruling a lower court wrongly admitted hearsay testimony that was biased against him.
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