Poplar Bluff man pleads guilty to death of 4-year-old

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff man faces up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to causing the death of a 4-year-old girl left in his care in February.

Jeremy E. McIntosh, 28, pre-empted his trial, slated for Jan. 26 and 27, by pleading guilty to child abuse before Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis. He was accused of the Feb. 17 death of Zoey Slagler, who died of blunt force trauma.

In exchange for McIntosh's plea, Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour said, the state was recommending a sentencing cap of 25 years in prison.

During the hearing, McIntosh said he had been babysitting Zoey and that her injuries were the result of him spanking her for crying.

When Lewis asked whether McIntosh did "more than spank her," McIntosh said: "They say I did."

McIntosh also said he had been "smoking some weed."

Referring to the probable-cause statement, Lewis asked McIntosh about his saying he had struck Zoey in the head and body and what he did to cause her death.

McIntosh said he didn't recall.

According to Barbour, then Poplar Bluff Police Capt. Mike Elliott said McIntosh admitted to disciplining Zoey by spanking her and throwing her on the couch, as well as striking her five to seven times behind the head.

Barbour said McIntosh told the officers he lost control, which resulted in Zoey's death.

McIntosh answered affirmatively when asked whether he had told the officers "those things" and whether they were true.

Lewis ordered a sentencing assessment report set sentencing for 10 a.m. March 6.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, MO