Guilty Plea in Murder of 18 Month old Girl

MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (AP) — A Maplewood man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend's young daughter.

Thirty-five-year-old Leb Mike Meak pleaded guilty Tuesday. A criminal complaint says police were called to his home in February and found the girl unresponsive with bruising on her face and body.

Meak was taking care of the girl. He said at a Ramsey County District Court hearing that he squeezed, hit and threw her after she threw CDs off of a shelf.

Prosecutors said Meak hadn't shown interest in the plea deal until he was told the state might seek a grand jury indictment on first-degree murder charges.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the girl's mother has been charged with manslaughter and child endangerment for her role in her daughter's death.