West Plains, MO. – A 28-year-old West Plains man has pleaded guilty to charges related to the death of an infant, according to Missouri Courts.
Levi M. Coffel is facing a charge of abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death. His sentencing trial is set for September 23, 2024.
According to the original probable cause affidavit from the West Plains Police Department, officers responded to a residence on August 9, 2023, after receiving a call for medical assistance for a six-month-old female infant. Despite efforts to revive the child, she was pronounced dead at the scene. West Plains officers detained Coffel, who was found to be under the influence of intoxicants while solely responsible for four small children, including the infant.
During an interview, Coffel admitted to consuming intoxicants while caring for the children. He placed the infant in a bathing seat with the water running, believing the drain was unplugged, but later admitted he had forgotten to unplug it. Coffel left the bathroom to retrieve the infant’s diaper bag, estimating that she was left unattended in the bathtub for “a few minutes.” When he returned, he found the infant submerged in water, took her downstairs, and called for emergency assistance.
