KNOXVILLE, Iowa — A Knoxville man has been arrested in connection to the death of an infant in September.

30-year-old Jacob Burns was arrested on Tuesday and is charged with child endangerment resulting in death, neglect of a dependent person, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to court documents, on September 30, 2024, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office was called to 1130 180th Avenue on reports of an unresponsive three-week-old infant.

Police arrived on scene and made contact with Jacob Burns, 30, and Lacey Eiteman, the biological mother of the infant. Burns and Eiteman were the guardians of the infant. The infant was confirmed dead inside an outdoor shed that had been converted into living quarters.

The investigation found that Burns and Eiteman were under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine on September 29th, 2024, and into the early morning hours of September 30, 2024.

Burns and Eiteman fell asleep in bed with the infant, Burns woke up and found the infant lying between them unresponsive and not breathing. The infant had multiple bruises on their body.

Authorities located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on the scene. Eiteman admitted she and Burns consumed methamphetamine and alcohol on September 29, 2024. Blood samples taken from Eiteman and Burns tested positive for methamphetamine.

Burns is being held at the Marion County Jail on a $35,000 bond.