03/12/2026
On March 12, 2026, Jeremy R. Vanmeter entered a guilty plea to the class A felony of 1st degree endangering the welfare of a child (death of a child) for events occurring on March 31, 2021, at 600 East 17th, here in Lamar. Vanmeter was watching his 16-month-old child, and the child was placed in a pack n play. The top of the pack n play was covered with a side rail from a crib, and a computer tower was placed on top of the side rail for weight to keep the child from climbing out of the pack n play. Approximately 4 hours after placing the child in the pack n play, Vanmeter checked on the child and found the child’s neck was caught between the top of the pack n play and the crib rail and the child was not breathing. The child was transported to Cox Barton County hospital where the child was pronounced dead. Sentencing for Vanmeter has been set for May 14, 2026.
