Stepfather Sentenced To 12 Years For Toddler's Death:

Daniel Lamborn

A man from Cabool who pleaded guilty in April to punching his stepdaughter in the chest and causing her death in November of 2008 has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Twenty five year-old Daniel Lamborn says he hit four year-old Camille Fayte Denis in the chest because she wouldn't mind him. The fatal blow ripped the right atrium from the little girl's heart.

Camille Fayte Denis (family photo)

Texas County Prosecutor Mike Anderson originally charged Lamborn with child abuse resulting in death, but amended the charge to voluntary manslaughter after the case was moved to Phelps County on a change of venue.

During an interview with Sgt. Travis Davis of the Texas County Sheriff's department, Lamborn said he was home alone with his children when a large toy box fell on Camille's chest. When confronted with the autopsy results Lamborn changed his story offering multiple accounts of what happened. The stories ranged from tossing the little girl in the air to stepping on her chest.

He later told detectives that the toy box story was a lie-- that he fell on top of the toddler with his forearm. He then requested an attorney.

Texas County Prosecutor Mike Anderson says that Judge Mary Sheffield has asked that Lamborn not be considered for probation.

Texas County Prosecutor Mike Anderson

Anderson says he and family members of Camille have written letters to the Missouri Department of Corrections asking that they be notified when Lamborn comes up for parole. "We will be at every parole hearing he gets. I want him to spend the full twelve years behind bars."