Yuma man pleads guilty to one count of child abuse in death of two-year-old

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - A Yuma man originally set to stand trial in the death of a two-year-old entered a guilty plea in court Thursday.

The details in this story may be disturbing to some viewers.

24-year-old Miguel Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse involving domestic violence.

In exchange for the plea, charges of first-degree murder and concealment of a body were dismissed.

Investigators say Garcia and the child’s mother, 21-year-old Angelina Vasquez, were involved in abuse and neglect that led to the death of the child, known to many as baby Kano.

Prosecutors say the child’s body was burned in a barbecue and placed inside a backpack.

Garcia now faces a presumptive sentence of 17 years in prison, with a possible range of 10 to 24 years. 

Under the plea agreement, his sentence will be capped at 21 years.

His sentencing is scheduled for June 24.

The mother, Angelina Vasquez, previously pleaded guilty in April to child abuse involving domestic violence under a separate plea agreement and is scheduled to be sentenced May 27.