A West Plains man has been arrested following an investigation into the death of an infant.
According to the West Plains Police Department, on the evening of Aug. 9, the West Plains Fire Department, South Howell County Ambulance and West Plains Police Department responded to a medical emergency on Burke Avenue in West Plains for a report of an infant not breathing. Bystanders and personnel reportedly provided medical assistance to the infant but were unable to revive the child.
Responding officers detained a male subject identified as 27-year-old Levi Michael Coffel, due to him emitting the odor of intoxicants and at the time being the sole person in care, custody and control of four small children including the deceased infant. Coffel was transported to the West Plains Police Department where he was later interviewed.
Prior to being interviewed by detectives, Coffel verbally consented to provide a sample of his breath, which determined his blood-alcohol content to be 0.191.
A search warrant was later obtained to permit authorities to collect a blood sample from Coffel. Authorities state the sample will be submitted to the Missouri State Patrol Crime Laboratory for testing.
During the interview, Coffel stated he had consumed intoxicants while he was at his residence with the children. At an undetermined time, Coffel placed the infant in a bathing seat inside of the bathtub with the water running. Coffel stated he always leaves the drain open on the bathtub, and believed it was at this time, but later admitted the drain was plugged. Coffel allegedly left the infant unattended while he departed the bathroom to retrieve a diaper bag, but then became distracted as he was trying to locate it.
Coffel estimated the child had been left unattended for only a few minutes, and as he returned to the bathroom he found the child submerged under the water while still in the bathing seat.
Coffel stated he immediately took the infant downstairs and multiple people attempted resuscitative efforts until emergency services arrived on scene.
Authorities arrested Coffel on charges of abuse, neglect of a child resulting in death.
The Howell County Prosecutors office filed the charges with a bond of $100,000.
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