Waubay Man Convicted of Murdering 2-year-old Daughter

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A Waubay man has been convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter.

A federal jury in Sioux Falls deliberated about 2 ½ hours Thursday evening before convicting 35-year-old Mario Contreras of second-degree murder and assault resulting in serious injury. He faces up to life in prison when he's sentenced Nov. 1.

Aleeyah Cook died in January 2012. The attorney for Contreras argued during the trial that the girl died as the result of falling from a chair, and that she had pre-existing head injuries. She primarily lived with her mother in Sisseton.

Prosecutors said Contreras punched Aleeyah in the head, leading to her death.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.