A Willow Springs man pleaded guilty Monday to abusing a 2-year-old in 2014. 37 year old Jamie Curnutt, was facing three felony charges including first-degree murder, abuse/neglect of a child and endangering the welfare of a child. Curnutt previously pleaded not guilty to all charges. However, on the first day of the jury trial Monday, Curnutt changed his plea to guilty for the charge of abusing/neglecting a child. Curnutt was sentenced to 15 years. All other charges were dismissed. Curnutt was accused of beating the toddler to death. Autorities were called to Curnutt’s Home and found the toddler unresponsive. The boy was flown to Mercy in Springfield but died that evening. The toddler had severe head injuries, a lacerated liver, and bruises.
Court records show Curnutt told officers he had been distracted by a phone call and when he returned to the boy he was unresponsive on the floor.