Captain Jason Gearman of the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office says the stepfather of an 18-month-old boy has been arrested and charged in the child's death in Dell Rapids.

"We brought all the people to the Law Enforcement Center and conducted interviews of them along with other people in the Dell Rapids community. We ended up charging Keith Cornett with second degree murder. The State's Attorney Aaron McGowan attended the autopsy. He had amended the charges---one count of first degree murder, one count of second degree murder, two counts of first degree manslaughter, two counts of child abuse and several drug related charges."

Gearman says the investigation of the child's death is continuing.

"I am assuming we will interview more people as things come up. We are trying to wrap up things right now. But, these things are not fully wrapped up for some time."

Gearman says Keith Cornett was the last person with the child before he was found injuried.

The boy's mother and Cornett, her husband, had been staying at the home with the couple who was renting the house.


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