A jury found a Centerville man guilty of murder in an Appanoose County courtroom on Tuesday.
49-year-old Roger Gillespie was convicted of first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death.
Prosecutors say Gillespie played a role in the death of two-year-old Journey Marberry whom he was babysitting on January 19, 2024. Emergency personnel responded to a 911 call from Gillespie regarding the injured child. Journey was transported to a hospital and succumbed to her injuries on January 27.
The State Medical Examiner determined Journey died from blunt force trauma. During the trial, attorneys for Gillespie say Journey died in an accident.
Gillespie will be sentenced at a later date. A first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
