Weedling pleads guilty to murder of toddler

MARSHALL COUNTY, Ind. -

The Marshall County Prosecutor's Office says the man accused of killing 2-year-old Serenity Wilson pleaded guilty to murder on Tuesday.

In exchange for his guilty plea, the state dropped the neglect of a dependent and possession of marijuana charges against Shane Weedling.

Weedling was watching Serenity Wilson on September 18, 2015 when he messaged Serenity's mother on Facebook and said he had broken a hairbrush spanking the 2-year-old and if she didn't come home he would continue to beat her, according to Plymouth Police.

Serenity's mother, Krysti Lavanway arrived at the motel around 11:45 a.m. By that time Serenity had been lying on the floor unconscious for nearly three hours, police said.

Friday afternoon at 2:21 p.m., Lavanway took Serenity to the emergency room.

Serenity died the following day, on September 19, of blunt force trauma.

Lavanway pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent causing death and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Weedling will be sentenced on the murder charge October 6.