A 3-Year-Old Was Found Dead In A Shallow Grave. It Was The Man Who Reported Her Missing That Put Her There.

A man sparked a fake AMBER Alert after beating a 3-year-old to death and burying her in a shallow grave.

Now it will be decades before he can hurt another person.

Recently, a judge in Missouri sentenced Howard Jansen III to 29 years in prison for his role in killing 3-year-old Olivia Jansen, according to KSHB. He previously pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, three counts of aggravated endangerment of a child, abuse of a child and interference with law enforcement.

Jansen’s girlfriend, Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and abuse of a child under the age of 6. She was sentenced to more than 31 years in prison.

On July 10, 2020, Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an AMBER Alert after Howard reported the child missing out of Kansas City, Kansas, according to KSHB.

Jansen said he woke up two hours earlier to find the 3-year-old missing and the back door of his home open, according to Law & Crime.

But Jansen had abused the child by keeping her locked in a dog kennel and forcing her to stand in the corner for hours, Law & Crime reported. Other kids also said Kirkpatrick pushed the child’s head into walls.

After the alert, Olivia’s body was found dressed in her pajamas in a shallow grave. She had bruising on her face, arms and legs and cuts to the back of the head, according to Law & Crime.

Her death was ruled a homicide and the cause was a severe brain bleed.

Both Jansen and Kirkpatrick were arrested the evening the toddler’s remains were found.