Mo. Army sergeant accused of killing 2-year-old child at wife's illegal day care

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (TCD) -- A federal grand jury recently indicted a 40-year-old Army staff sergeant for allegedly killing a 2-year-old child at his wife's illegal home day care center on a military base in 2019.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri, the jury returned the indictment Tuesday, June 27, charging Kevin Long with first-degree murder and making a false statement.

The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges that on Nov. 6, 2019, Long "physically assaulted" the victim, and she died of blunt force injuries in the "perpetration of child abuse."

Long and his wife were reportedly caring for the victim at his wife's illegal day care center operated out of their home on Fort Leonard Wood, where Long was stationed.

During an interview, Long allegedly knowingly made a false statement, telling authorities he was "unaware of Army regulations that restricted the operation of a day care at Fort Leonard Wood."

Long is set to appear in court for a detention hearing Thursday, July 6, and remains held in federal custody.

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• Staff Sergeant at Fort Leonard Wood Indicted for Killing a Child - U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri