Hibbing Man Convicted in Fire Death of Baby

VIRGINIA, Minn. (AP) — A jury has convicted the uncle of a baby who was killed in a house fire in St. Louis County.

KBJR-TV reports the jury found 26-year-old Jesse Lee Bonacci-Koski of Hibbing guilty Thursday on two counts of manslaughter. He'll be sentenced Oct. 24.

Bonacci-Koski was on trial for the August 2017 death of 11-month-old Bentley Koski. Prosecutors say Bonacci-Koski left his nephew home alone that day when a fire broke out.

In closing arguments, the defense argued there was insufficient evidence to convict Bonacci-Koski of manslaughter.

But the prosecution countered that the fact that Bonacci-Koski left the baby home alone was enough to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The cause of the fire has not been determined. But investigators say there is no evidence that Bonacci-Koski started the fire.