Salem man gets 25 years in 3-year-old’s death

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to at least 25 years in prison for the death of a 3-year-old girl in Salem.

The Marion County District Attorney’s Office says David Elliott pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday for the assault and murder of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old and assault of her 5-year-old sibling.

He was sentenced to life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 25 years.

The girl was found face down in a bathtub in April 2013.

The State Medical Examiner’s Office says the girl died of cerebral anoxia due to near drowning after blunt force abdominal trauma. Elliott admitted to causing the blunt force trauma which contributed to her death.

The children’s mother, Mercedes Alvarado, is serving 10 years in prison for manslaughter in the case.