Lamar man sentenced to 15 years for child endangerment that led to death

Judge David Munton sentenced Jeremy R. Vanmeter (DOB 1990), Lamar, to 15 years in prison May 14 for first-degree endangering the welfare of a child- death of a child.

Vanmeter pleaded guilty March 12 in Barton County Circuit Court to the crime, which occurred March 31, 2021 at 900 E. 17th Street, Lamar.

The crime was described in a March 12 news release from the Barton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office:

Vanmeter was watching his 16-month-old child, and the child was placed in a pack n play. The top of the pack n play was covered with a side rail from a crib, and a computer tower was placed on top of the side rail for weight to keep the child from climbing out of the pack n play. 

Approximately 4 hours after placing the child in the pack n play, Vanmeter checked on the child and found the child’s neck was caught between the top of the pack n play and the crib rail and the child was not breathing. 

The child was transported to Cox Barton County hospital where the child was pronounced dead.