CADIZ — Kristopher Merkins received his sentence Tuesday for third-degree felony child endangerment in the death of his daughter, 8-year-old Paityn Merkins.

Harrison County Common Pleas Judge Shawn Hervey handed down a sentence of two and a half years in prison.

Paityn Merkins died on June 27, 2021. Kristopher Merkins, 34, of Cadiz was not at home at the time of her death.

His then-girlfriend, Jessica Lynn Currence, 29, was sentenced in March to five and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to reckless homicide, attempted endangering children and tampering with evidence.

Kristopher Merkins had pleaded innocent to initial charges but changed his plea to guilty in mid-November on the day his trial was scheduled to begin. He originally was charged with complicity in nine counts, including involuntary manslaughter and multiple counts of endangering children.

Harrison County Prosecutor Lauren Knight said according to Merkins’ plea agreement, the state will not object to judicial release after one year. Knight said Merkins was the “less culpable” individual involved in the child’s death.

“It went as expected,” Knight said of the sentencing. “As far as the family goes, four family members gave statements, mostly directed at the conduct … directed at the defendant himself and appalled by his conduct.”

Knight said this was a difficult case for all concerned.

“At the end of the day, they knew he was the less culpable party involved in the death of Paityn. His girlfriend, who was sentenced earlier this year, she was one who was home with the child when the injuries happened and when the child passed, so she was the person more responsible for what had happened.”

Paityn Merkins was described as a “medically fragile child” who was in the custody of her father due to prior abuse at the hands of her biological mother. Knight said Paityn Merkins was burned on her feet and buttocks three days prior to her death, and Currence provided no medical treatment for those injuries. The girl reportedly died in a bathtub prepared for her by Currence.

First responders called to the scene found Paityn Merkins unresponsive on the floor. She was later pronounced deceased at WVU Medicine Harrison Community Hospital. Knight said an autopsy was conducted, and the cause of death listed as thermal and blunt force injuries. Another autopsy performed by a doctor hired by the defense concluded that she died of cardiac arrest from a lack of oxygen. Knight said investigators also uncovered Facebook messages that included “discussions about beating the child and punishments for bedwetting or accidents.”

“At the end of the day, no time will ever be enough, because you have an 8-year-old child who didn’t get to live to her ninth birthday. But as far as things panned out, it was a fair resolution, and I think it’ll help give the family closure and help them try to move forward with their lives as difficult as they are now without Paityn in them.”