INDIANAPOLIS Ryan Smith, the boyfriend of Kinsleigh Welty's mother, has accepted a guilty plea for neglect resulting in death of a dependent in connection with the 5-year-old's death in April 2024.

According to court documents filed December 3, Smith agreed to plead guilty to a Level 1 felony charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death in exchange for a 20-year sentence in the Indiana Department of Correction.

Smith's pre-trial hearing is scheduled for December 9 at 9 a.m. in Marion County Superior Court 32.

The 29-year-old Smith will serve the full 20 years in prison with no suspended time under the agreement. However, the plea is being taken under advisement pending the resolution of his co-defendants' cases.

As part of the deal, Smith must cooperate fully with prosecutors in

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