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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Man sentenced to max for child’s death

A Spokane man has been sentenced to 8½ years in prison for killing his girlfriend’s 18-month-old toddler. Rylee Castner died March 31, 2013, from blunt force trauma to his head. Superior Court Judge James M. Triplet sentenced Joshua Burnett Friday on a first-degree manslaughter conviction following emotional testimony from the child’s family. Burnett reportedly apologized to the Castners in court. Investigators determined the abuse that led to the toddler’s death occurred while Burnett was alone with the child on March 30, 2013, at his then-girlfriend’s home. Later that day, Rylee’s grandmother noticed the child was lethargic and bleeding from his mouth, according to court records. An ambulance took the child to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center where he underwent surgery and died the next day. The Medical Examiner’s office said Rylee suffered a partial skull fracture and had bleeding in his brain.