Watertown daycare provider sentenced to 20-years in death of child

A former childcare provider in Watertown has been sentenced to 20-years in prison.

Amanda Walder earlier pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the 2021 death of a 17-month-old child.

Walder was sentenced Friday in Codington County Court. She pled guilty to the charge in March as part of a plea deal. Walder also was ordered to pay more than $14,000 in restitution.

Walder was watching the toddler at her in-home daycare center in July 2021 when Watertown police were called for a report of an unconscious child. The investigation revealed that the child died of traumatic brain injury caused by assault. Walder pleaded guilty to killing the child in a moment of passion, but in a cruel and unusual manner.

July 17, 2023