RAPID CITY, S.D. – A Rapid City woman charged in the death of a 2-year-old child in Box Elder two years ago has changed her plea.
After pleading guilty but mentally ill to first-degree manslaughter, the state dropped an alternative charge of murder against 24-year-old Precious Black Elk. She now faces a possible life behind bars when she’s sentenced on March 10 but the state agreed to ask for no more than 60 years behind bars.
Black Elk’s attorney presented the factual basis for the plea, saying Black Elk was watching the child, and hit the child with her hand and what appeared to be a wooden part of a bed frame after the child wouldn’t sleep. The attorney also said Black Elk wrapped the child’s head in a blanket. The autopsy stated the most likely cause of death was asphyxiation.
