Rountree gets eight years in prison for daughter’s death

Posted on February 6, 2020
Richard Rountree, 31, of Normal. (Photo Normal Police Department)

 

By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – The father of murder victim Rica Rountree pleaded guilty Thursday in McLean County Court to a felony charge of endangering his daughter’s life.

Richard Rountree was sentenced was sentenced to eight-years in prison for his guilty plea to a felony child endangerment charge, according to our news partner Heart of Illinois ABC.

A jury late last year found Rountree’s girlfriend, Cynthia Baker, guilty of fatally beating the eight year old girl in Normal in 2019. Baker has not been sentenced yet.

As for Rountree’s punishment, McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp issued a statement.

“Acknowledging that no sentence can ever adequately counterbalance the loss of life, we believe this sentence is appropriate,” said Knapp.

WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]

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