Central Missouri Man Sentenced in Death of Baby

A central Missouri man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in the death of his then-girlfriend's 8-month-old baby.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that 33-year-old Cody M. Baker was sentenced Monday to second-degree murder for the Feb. 28, 2014, death of Finley Steele. Her autopsy showed she had been beaten and shaken. Baker has denied killing the infant.

Baker and Finley's mother, Anna Steele, met in late 2013 while working at a Columbia restaurant. Baker later moved into Steele's apartment in east Columbia.

Steele, 25, pleaded guilty last week to abuse or neglect of a child and first-degree child endangerment, both felonies.

Baker won't be eligible for parole until he serves 25 ½ years of the sentence.