Missouri Man Accused of Beating His 6-Year-Old Daughter to Death with a Baseball Bat

Mar. 15, 2025

On Sept. 2, police handcuffed Dustin Beechner after the 37-year-old father allegedly led investigators to the body of his daughter, Jozlyn Marie Beechner.

Jozlyn’s body, the probable cause statement notes, had been placed on the roof of Beechner’s home, beneath a white sheet.

As of Monday morning, Beechner was facing a single felony count of child abuse resulting in death.

A judge denied him bond last week. At this point, online records fail to identify an attorney for Beechner.

According tothe St. Joseph News-Press, Beechner addressed the judge last week in court but was quickly cut off.

Jozlyn Marie Beechner.Meierhoffer Funeral Home

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“I’ve been doing good for a year and a half in recovery,” he told the judge during a court hearing held Wednesday. “Some things have been going on in my life …”

The judge interrupted Beechner, noting that anything he said in the presence of the prosecution could be used against him at trial.

Police have yet to comment on a possible motive.

A candlelight vigil for Jozlyn will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Remington Nature Center in St. Joseph on Sept. 15 — what would have been the girl’s 7th birthday.

According to her obituary, Jozlyn was a student at Parkway Elementary School in St. Joseph.

“Jozlyn was sweet, smart, sassy, ornery and happy all wrapped up in one little body with giant blue eyes,” the obituary reads. “She loved to color and dance. She liked to laugh and tease with her friends and family. She loved pink and purple, rainbows, unicorns, glitter, and bows.”

source: people.com